Visiting a Chiropractor for Arthritis and Joint Problems

You might think of a chiropractor when it comes to next, back, or shoulder pain, but did you know chiropractic care can help with arthritis and joint problems as well?

There are many ways that chiropractic care can help.

What Causes Arthritis and Joint Problems?

Arthritis is very common, especially among people who are 50 and older. It is a disorder that affects joints, causing pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion. There are many different kinds of arthritis and it can affect various joints in the body as well as connective tissues. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is caused by the cartilage between your joints breaking down, often due to overuse, age, or genetics. When the cartilage breaks down, your bone start to rub against one another, causing pain.

Another common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune condition where your body mistakenly attacks the healthy tissue around your joints, causing inflammation. This inflammation reduces your range of motion and causes pain, stiffness, and swelling.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

If you are dealing with arthritis and joint problems, visiting a chiropractor can help. Osteoarthritis can occur in nearly any joint. It’s often brought on by “wear and tear” and overuse. It most commonly affects the hands, knees, lower back, neck, and hips. If you are experiencing pain or reduced range of motion due to osteoarthritis, visiting a chiropractor can be a good idea.

We’ll talk to you about the health and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your arthritis and joint pain, and give you advice and guidance that can help improve the situation. Plus, if you’re dealing with arthritis, your joints can become misaligned over time. This causes additional pain. Working with a chiropractor can fix these alignment issues and improve your range of motion. This reduces pain and can also help prevent your arthritis from getting worse.

For those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis and joint problems, chiropractic care can help as well. While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, visiting a chiropractor can help relieve some of its symptoms. For instance, by improving alignment in your body, chiropractic care can reduce inflammation. That’s because proper alignment helps your body work more effectively, and it can lower your body’s production of cytokine proteins which regulate immune system cells. A build up of these proteins can cause an inflammatory response.

There’s also the fact that arthritis can cause you to move around in different ways. For instance, if a certain joint hurts or does not function as it should, your body mechanics will change in order to compensate. Unfortunately, this can cause additional pain and other issues. A chiropractor can help improve your body mechanics so you can move freely.

If you’re dealing with arthritis and joint problems, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment or contact us if you have any questions. We’d love to meet with you.