Osteoarthritis & Degenerative Joint Disease
What is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that happens when the tissues in the joint break down over time. It is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people and more common in women than men.
People with osteoarthritis often have joint pain and, after a period of rest, stiffness in their body for a short period of time.
The most commonly affected joints include:
- Hands
- Lower back
- Neck
- Knees
- Hips
Risk Factors include:
- Obesity
- Lack of Exercise
- Previous Joint Injury
- Family History of OA
How can your Chiropractor or Nutritional Counselor help?
Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some people, osteoarthritis does not affect day-to-day activities. For others, it causes significant pain and disability.
Doctors of chiropractic can detect the earliest degenerative changes in the joints.
They see the impact of degenerative changes in the spine, as well as the hips, knees, and other weight-bearing joints.
Doctors of chiropractic are also trained to relieve the pain and improve joint function through chiropractic manipulation, trigger-point therapy, and soft tissue therapies such as massage and Graston Technique.
Chiropractors can help you choose exercises that are best for reduction of joint pain. If a sore or swollen joint prevents you from exercising, talk to your chiropractor about other drug-free pain-relief options, such as applying heat or cold to the affected area.
In addition, your chiropractor can provide nutritional counseling to help you develop a diet and choose proper supplements that play important roles in OA prevention and treatment.
Call today to schedule an appointment so you can start getting relief from Osteoarthritis.
