Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis

Joint with arthritis

How Chiropractic Care Eases Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis not only causes pain, but also makes it difficult to do a variety of everyday things. When your joints are stiff and achy, climbing stairs, buttoning your shirt, or getting in and out of the bathtub without falling become more challenging than you could ever have imagined. Adding chiropractic care to your osteoarthritis treatment plan can reduce both pain and stiffness.

8 Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis

Struggling to manage your osteoarthritis symptoms? Give your chiropractor a call. He or she offers a variety of safe, effective treatments for arthritis symptoms. Chiropractic care can help you:

  • Keep Pain Under Control. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage at the ends of the bones in a joint wears away. Without that protective cushioning, the bones grind together every time you move the joint, causing jolts of pain. Chiropractic adjustments realign your joints and reduce painful pressure on the bones and cartilage. Self-reported pain levels in patients who had osteoarthritis of the neck decreased from 8.6 to 2.6 after receiving manipulation (adjustments) and mechanical mobilization device therapy, according to a research study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
  • Reduce Stiffness. Swelling and stiffness increase as cartilage breaks down. At the same time, the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint also become stiffer. When your joints are stiff and painful, you may not feel like moving much. Unfortunately, inactivity increases stiffness and pain. Adjustments, massage, and other therapies offered by your chiropractor relieve stiffness and improve range of motion and flexibility.
  • Ease Muscle Spasms. Muscle spasms often occur along with osteoarthritis. In addition to correcting joint alignment, chiropractic adjustments reduce pressure on your nerves, which helps stop spasms. Your chiropractor may also treat spasms with massage or soft tissue mobilization, a therapy that reduces muscle tension and improves blood flow to your muscles.
  • Decrease Inflammation. Joint inflammation, a key factor in both pain and stiffness, is more likely to occur when your joints are misaligned. When misalignments are corrected, inflammation improves.
  • Improve Your Sleep. Do you toss and turn at night because your joints ache? Lack of sleep is more than just an annoyance. Sleep deprivation can cause daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating and could increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, according to the Sleep Foundation. It's easier to fall asleep and stay asleep when you ease your pain with chiropractic care.
  • Avoid Falls. Balance issues and falls can be caused by stiff joints. If you have hip or knee osteoarthritis, your risk of falling is much higher than normal. People with one arthritic lower limb joint were 53% more likely to fall, while two arthritic joints increased the risk to 74%, according to a study that appeared in Arthritis Care & Research. In addition to offering treatments that reduce joint stiffness, your chiropractor can also recommend exercises that improve flexibility and balance.
  • Reduce Your Dependence on Medication. All medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription, can cause side effects, particularly if taken every day. Arthritis medications may cause heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, constipation, or even increase your risk of stomach ulcers or kidney damage. If chiropractic care is part of your osteoarthritis treatment regimen, you might be able to reduce the amount of medication you take and avoid unpleasant or unhealthy side effects.
  • Make Life Easier. It's hard to enjoy life when every move you make causes pain. Luckily, you may not have to give up your favorite activities because of osteoarthritis symptoms, thanks to chiropractic care. Your personalized chiropractic treatment plan includes therapies, exercises, and lifestyle recommendations designed to help you get moving again.

Need help dealing with your osteoarthritis pain? Give our office a call.

Sources:

Sleep Foundation: Sleep Deprivation, 3/18/2022

Arthritis Care & Research: Lower Limb Osteoarthritis and the Risk of Falls in a Community-Based Longitudinal Study of Adults with and without Osteoarthritis, 5/2015

Arthritis Foundation: Chiropractic Care for Arthritis

WebMD: Chiropractic Care for Joint Problems: What to Know, 10/1/20

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapies, 2/2011

Family Doctor: Osteoarthritis, 1/2021

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  • "SUCCESS!!
    I had been experiencing tightness in my lower left back and buttocks going down the exterior of my left leg for about six months. I tried adjusting my posture and doing frequent stretching exercises. Although the problem didn't get worse, neither did it improve.
    After my first visit with Dr. Rich, I noticed a huge improvement. The pain down my leg reduced by 80% and the tightness in my back and buttocks improved too. Thus far I have had four sessions and continue to feel better with each visit. If not for Dr. Rich's treatments, who knows how long I would have continued living day to day with this irritating constant pain."
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    Additionally all the work that Dr. Rich did on my spine, knees, left foot and shoulder joints have both relieved a great deal of pain and resulted in what I believe is an overall improvement in function.
    All in all by the time Dr. Rich recently released me, I feel that my back and joints are in better condition than before the accident. They certainly feel better.
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    I started treatment with Dr. Rich and Christina, his wonderful massage therapist about two months ago. I had an appointment to see the nutritionist and arrived early so someone suggested to get a massage and I shared my neck and shoulder discomfort.
    I ended up being treated by Dr. Rich and he adjusted my neck, back and shoulder and I could not be happier. I never thought that all of my neck, shoulder and back issues would go away. I am a nurse and had been suffering with this pain for about a year. I am now able to work out and use my shoulder. My neck doesn't hurt and I am a happier person.
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    OP