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 relief 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 medications that treat their primary symptoms but also cause osteoporosis as a side effect. In cases like this, chiropractic care and general spinal manipulations 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 this degenerative joint disease 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 arthritis patients begin to turn towards holistic and non-invasive treatment methods, chiropractic care has become a highly utilized and effective form of therapy.
Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and the type most often helped by chiropractic care. OA is a degenerative, wear-and-tear condition: the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones gradually breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced motion, most often in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. Because OA is largely mechanical, often linked to joint misalignment, muscle imbalance, and uneven loading, the hands-on techniques chiropractors use can help take pressure off the affected joints, restore movement, and ease pain.
What does the research say? A systematic review published in the journal Manual Therapy (French et al., 2011) found that manual therapy, the hands-on joint and soft-tissue techniques central to chiropractic care, can improve pain and physical function for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis, and reported that manual therapy was more effective than exercise alone for hip OA in both the short and long term. The authors also noted that the pool of high-quality studies is still limited, so manual therapy is best viewed as one evidence-informed part of a broader plan rather than a stand-alone cure. For many OA patients, combining chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, and targeted exercise offers meaningful, drug-free relief.
Chiropractic Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Benefits and Precautions
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is very different from osteoarthritis, and that difference changes what is safe. RA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and, over time, damage to cartilage, bone, and the ligaments that hold joints together.
The most important precaution involves the neck. RA frequently affects the cervical spine, and chronic inflammation can erode the ligaments that stabilize the upper neck, leading to a condition called atlantoaxial instability. This instability is common in long-standing RA and often produces no symptoms, so it can be present without a patient realizing it. For that reason, forceful, high-velocity neck adjustments (the traditional cracking technique) are generally avoided, and in cases of known cervical instability they are considered an absolute contraindication because of the risk of serious spinal cord injury. Active RA flares and steroid-related osteoporosis (thinning bones) add further fracture risk.
This does not mean people with RA cannot benefit from chiropractic care. It means the care must be adapted. A qualified chiropractor will review your history, coordinate with your rheumatologist, and, when appropriate, use gentle, low-force methods such as soft-tissue therapy, gentle joint mobilization within pain-free ranges, instrument-assisted adjustments, and therapeutic exercise rather than forceful manipulation. Imaging may be recommended before any neck treatment to rule out instability. Always talk with your medical team before beginning chiropractic care for RA or any inflammatory form of arthritis.
The Role of Chiropractic Treatment 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 spinal manipulations, 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 alignment. 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 at our Denver or Lakewood clinic or call us for more information!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic care cure arthritis?
No. Arthritis is a chronic condition with no cure, but chiropractic care can help manage its symptoms, easing pain and stiffness and improving mobility, as part of a broader treatment plan that works alongside your medical care.
Which type of arthritis responds best to chiropractic care?
Osteoarthritis, the degenerative wear-and-tear type, generally responds best, because it is mechanical and tied to joint loading and alignment. Inflammatory types like rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis call for a more cautious, adapted approach.
Is chiropractic care safe if I have rheumatoid arthritis?
It can be, but only with precautions. Forceful neck adjustments are usually avoided because of the cervical instability that can develop in RA, and gentle, low-force techniques are used instead. Coordinate with your rheumatologist and get your doctor’s clearance first.
Does chiropractic treatment for arthritis hurt?
Most techniques are gentle and should not be painful. Some patients feel mild soreness afterward, similar to how you might feel after light exercise. Your chiropractor adjusts the technique and pressure to match your comfort and condition.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the type and severity of your arthritis, your symptoms, and your goals. Your chiropractor will assess you and build a personalized plan with a timeline. Because arthritis is chronic, ongoing maintenance visits are common.
Should I stop my arthritis medications if I start chiropractic care?
No. Chiropractic care is meant to complement, not replace, your medical treatment. Never change or stop a prescribed medication without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it.
Reference
French HP, Brennan A, White B, Cusack T. Manual therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee – a systematic review. Manual Therapy. 2011;16(2):109–117.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or rheumatologist before beginning chiropractic care for arthritis.
Denver Integrated Spine Center has the best chiropractors in Denver and Lakewood. The city’s premier multidisciplinary injury recovery and rehabilitation center. If you’re experiencing chronic back pain, shoulder pain, limited mobility, headaches or neck pain, weakness in your hands, or any other common injuries affecting your musculoskeletal structure, our experienced team of local chiropractors, massage therapists, and medical professionals can help.