Can Chiropractic Care Ease Osteoarthritis Pain? How?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people around the globe. 

Unfortunately, there are few, if any, viable cures for this condition outside of replacing the arthritic joints through surgery. However, many patients find that chiropractic care can decrease their arthritic symptoms significantly. 

So, why is this the case? Let’s take a look!

 

What is Osteoarthritis?

Arthritis, in general, refers to an irritation of the joints. There are many different types of arthritis. Some of the most common forms of this condition are rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

By a large margin, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

This version of the disorder is due to wear and tear on the joints of the body. Often, osteoarthritis develops in older individuals who have been very active throughout their lives. These people have had ample opportunity to wear down their joints over the years. 

That being said, there are other groups who are also at risk for developing osteoarthritis, such as athletes or those who work in highly active jobs. 

 

What are the Major Risk Factors for Developing Osteoarthritis?

As was mentioned earlier, those who put a lot of stress through their joints and older individuals are at the highest risk for developing osteoarthritis.

However, there may be genetic and environmental components that also contribute to OA. For instance, there may be certain inherited genes that increase the risk for the disease. Also, smoking cigarettes and certain types of pollution exposure may also create a higher risk of developing the issue. 

 

What are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Generally, a person with osteoarthritis will experience pain in the affected joints. The pain will typically worsen with prolonged activity, as the joints become more inflamed with activity. Conversely, symptoms will usually resolve with rest.

Additionally, those with osteoarthritis may experience heat or swelling within their joints, especially when they have been extremely active.

 

How is Osteoarthritis Treated?

When it comes to osteoarthritis, the only “cure” offered by the traditional medical model is surgery. Specifically, joint replacement surgery. 

Surgery is often paired with pain medication. As you probably know, pain medication is highly addictive and generally ineffective for resolving pain in the long term.

However, surgery and medication always pose risks to patients. For instance, surgery predisposes patients to higher chances of developing an infection, excessive blood loss, and many other issues.

Interestingly, conservative methods, such as specific exercises, stretches, and other rehab treatments seem to provide relief for these patients.

Also, chiropractic care offers a low-risk, extremely effective treatment for the condition.

 

Chiropractic Care and Osteoarthritis

Chiropractic manipulations provide many benefits to patients. For instance, adjustments can lead to all of the following beneficial outcomes:

• Increased range of motion. Often, individuals with osteoarthritis will experience limited joint range of motion. By manipulating the spine, chiropractors can increase the range of motion within affected joints.

• Decreased pain. Because the spine is intimately involved with pain processing, improving the alignment of this structure tends to lead to less painful symptoms. When a chiropractor identifies a subluxed spinal segment, a quick, targeted treatment can lead to decreased pain almost instantly.

• Improved coordination. Coordination involves efficient communication between the nervous system and the muscular system. A spine that is out of alignment often leads to decreased coordination due to signals not being able to effectively reach their targets.

If you are dealing with osteoarthritic pain, you don’t have to suffer anymore. Come see us at Anchor Health Chiropractic, your Noblesville chiropractor. We have an expert team who will assess your specific issues and develop a plan to help you get better. Book your first session with us today!