Wearing down of the joints
Chiropractic care is often used to treat the chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs in the joints of the body (hips, knees, fingers, etc.); it is also referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis and degenerative joint disease. If you suffer from this health condition, cartilage begins to deteriorate, and bones rub against each other.
Osteoarthritis is more commonly experienced by females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Women [have] higher rates than men, especially after age 50,” said a CDC resource on the subject. “Men have 45% lower risk of incident knee OA and 36% reduced risk of hip OA than women.”
Although it is typical for knee osteoarthritis to be diagnosed later in life, many young people are susceptible as well, especially those with chronic knee pain from sports injuries. It’s possible that the original injury could completely heal but leave behind osteoarthritis in its wake.
Chiropractic to treat osteoarthritis
Chiropractic is used to treat this form of knee pain because it helps to increase range of motion within the joints. Doctors of chiropractic also help their patients by aligning the body for more ideal communication pathways between the central and peripheral nervous systems. Heat therapy is often used in traditional medicine to reduce inflammation that is fueling the chronic pain of osteoarthritis, but chiropractic often delivers better results.
Spinal manipulation removes any impingements that may be blocking the nerve pathway and causing pain signals to fire persistently. Chiropractors are experts at removing vertebral subluxations that might be root sources of nerve impingement. They also often advise on other elements of holistic medicine, such as nutrition and mood.
A team approach
Many people like to combine chiropractic with physical therapy to treat their osteoarthritis, a model that is called multidisciplinary or integrative because it combines more than one field of healthcare expertise.
“Often a medical doctor will work directly with a chiropractor when administering treatment for osteoarthritis,” EnlightenMe.com said. For instance, “[a] medical doctor could supply X-rays to the chiropractor which will greatly assist in the treatment plan.”
The team environment is central to care at Health Star Clinic. Our responsible approach to pain management utilizes a team of medical doctors, chiropractors, nurses, and physical therapists to avoid all surgical options and minimize the need for prescription medication. Get relief today.
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