Arthritis is a chronic condition characterized by joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness. While traditional medicine often resorts to medications and surgical procedures to relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, many individuals are choosing to explore alternative and holistic approaches to managing arthritis pain. Chiropractic care has been a highly valued treatment option for patients seeking noninvasive and nonmedicated options for pain and arthritis management.
Arthritis can present itself in many ways, often encompassing a variety of other conditions. When treated by expert chiropractic professionals, chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to total body wellness and care with long-lasting results. Here, we will explore a few of the many benefits of chiropractic care for patients with arthritis and joint pain and some of the evidence-based techniques that chiropractors use to yield results.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition where joint swelling and tenderness cause joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The term “arthritis” is a general term encompassing various joint inflammatory conditions, including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Each different condition has its specificities, characteristics, and root causes, but they all share one thing in common — chronic joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and a reduced range of motion.
Depending on the type of arthritis you have, chiropractic care can be an extremely effective treatment option. However, consulting with your primary healthcare provider before considering chiropractic care is extremely important. Patients diagnosed with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis may be prescribed prescriptions that treat their primary symptoms but also cause osteoporosis as a side effect. In cases like this, chiropractic care may not be recommended as a treatment choice due to the risk of fracturing weak bones. However, patients with osteoarthritis may benefit from chiropractic treatment, as joint deterioration is typically due to friction and wear from misaligned joint structures.
With about 53 million people in the United States suffering from arthritis, symptom reduction has been a common goal for patients as they search for new forms of non-surgical and non-medicated treatment. As many patients begin to turn towards holistic and non-invasive treatment methods for arthritis, chiropractic care has become a highly utilized and effective form of therapy.
The Role of Chiropractic Care in Arthritis Management
Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on treating ailments within the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors utilize evidence-based treatments and therapies to correct misalignments and identify sources of pain in the joints and spine. Misalignments in the body, known as subluxations, can often be some of the most prominent sources of inflammation and pain in the musculoskeletal system, as shifts between joints and the spine can interfere with the nervous system.
When visiting a chiropractor for arthritis pain, they will conduct physical examinations, assessments, and evaluations to determine whether your condition is treatable with chiropractic techniques. Using all the gathered information, your chiropractor will develop a tailored treatment plan and timeline to help you address and treat arthritis symptoms. As a chronic condition, arthritis cannot be cured entirely; however, chiropractors help reduce pain and other symptoms so that patients can live a more fulfilling life.
Techniques Used by Chiropractors to Relieve Arthritis Pain
Chiropractors employ various techniques to treat patients based on their needs and ailments. Using joint and spine adjustments, manual therapy techniques, and therapeutic exercises, chiropractors can address the sources of patients’ pain and find ways to deliver effective treatment. Chiropractors utilize these techniques to perform the following treatment applications:
Spinal Adjustments: Chiropractors manipulate the spine and joints using gentle, hands-on techniques to restore proper alignments. By realigning the musculoskeletal system components, chiropractors can help patients alleviate pain, reduce nerve irritation in compressed areas, and improve joint function and mobility.
Manual Therapy: Manual therapies such as massage therapy, soft tissue massage, and joint mobilization may be used during treatment to release muscle tension, reduce inflammation, and improve overall flexibility. When used in combination with spinal adjustments and therapeutic exercises, manual therapy can help patients reduce joint stiffness and arthritis flare-ups.
Therapeutic exercise: To keep joints mobile and flexible, chiropractors may prescribe therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles and enhance patients’ overall physical function. Similar to traditional physical therapy sessions, therapeutic exercises help restore, rehabilitate, and retrain the body for joint stability and improve long-term function.
Combining these three techniques into a comprehensive chiropractic care plan can provide patients with optimal pain management and overall health care. At Denver Integrated Spine Center, our chiropractors utilize evidence-based and advanced therapeutic techniques to deliver the best possible results for patients seeking treatment for arthritis. Thorough health examinations and open communication with healthcare providers, orthopedists, and spine and joint specialists allow our chiropractic professionals to treat patients with the highest quality and convenience.
Alleviate Your Pain With Denver Integrated Spine Center
Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to managing arthritis by addressing misalignments in the spine and joints. Chiropractors utilize techniques like spinal adjustments, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises to reduce pain and inflammation and improve joint function. By developing personalized treatment plans, chiropractors empower patients to manage their arthritis symptoms and enhance their overall quality of life.
Arthritis can be a debilitating and painful condition if not treated properly. At Denver Integrated Spine Center, our experienced chiropractors collaborate with your medical team to provide comprehensive care and effective pain management. Don’t let arthritis limit your daily activities. Let us help you regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve your well-being. Schedule an appointment today or call us at (303) 758-9000 for more information!