Arthritis Prevention And Relief

About 50 million people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis. Arthritis is a general term that means inflammation of the joints and is often accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling, stiffness, and pain.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common. Causes vary depending on the type of arthritis. However, in all arthritic conditions, the degeneration of joints involves some ongoing biochemical processes which negatively alter the metabolism that is essential for maintaining healthy joints.

Common Forms Of Arthritis

Here is a brief explanation of some frequently diagnosed forms of arthritis:

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis or wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most prevalent type of arthritis affecting over 20 million Americans. OA is the degeneration of the cartilage within a joint. The synovial fluid that keeps the joint lubricated and cushioned is typically reduced as well, eventually leading to abnormal bone changes. OA is the most common form of arthritis. It is not a systemic condition and does not spread throughout the body. It affects only the joint(s) where the deterioration has occurred, of which most common are the knees, hips, spine, hands, and toes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease which manifests itself in multiple joints of the body, especially the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles. It primarily affects the lining of the joints (synovial membrane), leading to erosions of the cartilage and bone and sometimes, joint deformity. RA may also affect nearly every other part of the body. It is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues. RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally and is often associated with fatigue and prolonged stiffness after rest.

Gouty arthritis is a defective metabolic disease of uric acid crystals depositing in the smaller bones of the feet and is usually accompanied with acute pain. Uric acid is a metabolic product of fructose and purines (nitrogen compounds) found in meats and organ meats.

Juvenile arthritis refers to all types of arthritis that occur in children.

Adkylosing spondylitis affects the spine. Due to inflammation, the bones of the spine grow together.

Fibromyalgia affects the muscles and attachments to the bone. It is most commonly found in women.

Infectious or septic arthritis is infection of one or more joints caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In some cases, infectious arthritis can occur as a manifestation of Lyme disease, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick.
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is associated with the autoimmune skin disease called psoriasis.

Systemic lupus erthematosus (lupus) is an autoimmune disorder that can inflame the skin, joints and connective tissues, kidneys, brain and other organs throughout the body.

Causes Of Arthritis

The causes associated with inflammation of the joints depend on the form of arthritis. They may include:

Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop arthritis, especially osteoarthritis.

Autoimmunity: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus arthritis are examples of autoimmune disorders in which the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system.

Heredity: Scientists have discovered that the genetic marker HLA-DR4 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, and HLA-B27 to ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Although having the gene doesn't mean that you will absolutely get this form of arthritis, you can if the conditions are right.

Infections: Some forms of arthritis are the result of bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can either cause the disease or trigger it in susceptible people. Lyme arthritis comes from bacteria transmitted by the bite of a deer tick. Rheumatoid arthritis may be triggered by a virus in people with a certain genetic marker.

Metabolic abnormalities: Gout, which affects mostly men, is the result of a defect in body chemistry, and in this case, the metabolism of uric acid.

Overuse: Repetitive motions can put tremendous strain on joints. Sustaining an injury to a joint further increases the odds of developing osteoarthritis in that joint.

Eat Right To Beat Joint Inflammation

Check for food sensitivities

Researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis and many other autoimmune disorders are highly related to food sensitivities, one of which is gluten. Gluten is a protein composite found in grass-related grains such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and kamut.

When the immune system misidentifies certain foods as "foreign", chemicals are released from immune cells to destroy these "invaders". As a result, tissue inflammation and damage occurs.

Overtime, food sensitivities compromise the integrity of the gastrointestinal lining and lead to a condition called "leaky gut syndrome", whereby molecules that are usually too large to exit through the gastrointestinal lining escape to the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation and in some cases, joint destruction.

If you have autoimmune-related arthritis, you should get a blood test, such as the Mediator Release Test (test for IgG, IgM, C3, C4), for food sensitivities. You can contact me if you need to do this test. Once you have determined your reactive foods, abstain from eating them for 3-6 months. The best way to be sure that a reactive food is safe again to eat is to challenge it by having it three times a day for three consecutive days. If no adverse symptoms appear, you are no longer sensitive to it.

More Omega-3, Less Omega-6

Cyclooxygenase or COX is an enzyme your body produces that regulates prostaglandins, which are mediators and messengers. There are two different COX enzymes - COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is an enzyme that regulates prostaglandins that maintain the health of your stomach and kidneys. COX-2 is an enzyme created when there is inflammation.

When you take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to treat pain and inflammation, it inhibits the production of COX-2, hence, reducing pain and speeding up the recovery. However, one of the side effects of NSAID is that it also inhibits COX-1. Since COX-1 keeps your stomach lining healthy and affects blood clotting, NSAID has the tendency to cause stomach irritation and ulcers.

Fortunately, there is a non-drug way to cut down your inflammation. Researchers learned that COX-2 enzymes become more active and cause more inflammation when you take in too much omega-6 fatty acids relative to omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.

Omega-6 fatty acids are abundantly found in corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean, sunflower, and vegetable oils. Beware that many processed foods, snack foods, deep fried foods, and restaurant foods are prepared with such oils, so you want to keep consumption of these products to a minimum.

Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are fatty, cold-water fish such as Alaskan salmon, anchovies, sardines, and herrings and meats from grass-fed animals. Numerous studies have shown that omega-3 fats are remarkably effective in combating inflammation-related disorders, including arthritis.

Lastly, you should never use canola oil although it has been marketed as "heart-healthy" and is higher in omega-3 and lower in omega-6. The reason is that canola does not come from a natural plant but instead, the genetically engineered rapeseed plant. What's more, a recent study indicates that canola contributes to vitamin E deficiency, a vitamin that's essential for a healthy heart.

Eat Your Vegetables

Have generous servings of organically grown vegetables every day. They are low in sugar and full of antioxidants which help reduce tissue damage from inflammation.

However, when you have arthritis, you should avoid the nightshade vegetables (eggplant, all kinds of peppers, white potatoes, and tomatoes). They contain a substance called solanine, to which some people are highly sensitive. Solanine interferes with enzymes in the muscles and may cause pain and discomfort.

Other Nutrients For Joint Health

Astaxanthin

• Belongs to a group of natural pigments in the carotenoid family. Sea creatures with a red or pinkish color such as salmon, lobster, shrimp, and crab get this color from a diet of krill and other small organisms that eat astaxanthin-rich algae and plankton.


• Research found that astaxanthin is the strongest natural antioxidant known. It is many times more potent than vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, lutein, or pycnogenol. However, you need a higher concentration than what you normally get in seafood to reap the benefits.


• Astaxanthin is a very effective remedy for joint pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.


• If you have arthritis, start with 2 mg a day and gradually build up to 8-10 mg a day. Make sure your astaxanthin supplement is derived from marine algae and not synthetic.

Vitamin D

• Cartilage loss, one of the distinctive signs of osteoarthritis, is associated with low levels of vitamin D. If you have joint pain due to osteoarthritis, get a blood test for your vitamin D level. The optimal is between 50-70 ug/ml.

Glucosamine

• Provides joints with the building blocks they need to help repair the wear-and-tear on cartilage.


• Takes a few months to build up enough to see a benefit. If you have arthritis, you need to take up 2-3 grams a day.


• Many glucosamine supplements come with chondroitin or MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). Studies on the effectiveness of chondroitin and MSM have been inconclusive.


• Glucosamine supplements are always attached to salt. If your body is sensitive to salt, you should be careful with it.


• Most of the glucosamine on the market is derived from shellfish. If you are allergic to shellfish, you should avoid it.


• Some studies found that glucosamine may raise blood sugar levels in some people. If you are diabetic, you should be very cautious.

Concentrated tart cherry juice

• Most effective for gouty arthritis. Drink several tablespoons per day.

Exercise To Keep Joints Healthy & Flexible

Exercise is a must when you have arthritis. It helps build muscles, increase joint flexibility, and improve your general sense of well-being. If you have not been exercising regularly, start slowly and build up to higher activity levels to prevent injuries. Avoid intense activities that may strain the affected joint(s).

Your goal is to keep moving and commit yourself to regular exercise that includes these three types of activities:

• flexibility exercises (such as stretching, tai chi, yoga)


• weight training to strengthen surrounding muscles that support and protect the joint(s)


• aerobic exercises (such as walking, swimming, stationary cycling)

If you have significant pain with movement, you should consider working with a physical therapist or qualified personal trainer who can develop a safe and effective workout program for you.

Lose Weight If You Are Overweight

One of the benefits of exercise is its ability to help you achieve and maintain your ideal weight. Arthritis rates are more than twice as high in obese people as those who are normal weight. If you are overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. Each additional pound of body weight increases the compressive load over your knee by roughly four pounds. Fat cells also produce cytokines which are proteins that encourage inflammation. The more fats cells you have, the more inflammation in the body.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis:

Knee pain is the first symptom of osteoarthritis: it can be invalidating and progressive.  In severe osteoarthritis, a deformation of the lower limb is the third symptom: it is the wearing away of the cartilage which deforms the knee in varus or in valgus. It is also necessary to study the patella with axial views of the kneecap; patellar osteoarthritis is rare and is accompanied by severe pain when climbing staircases. The knee, like all articulations, has a cartilaginous surface: progressive wear of the cartilage leads to osteoarthritis. This is a disease that is most commonly caused by weight gain. The disease  is now known to be a complex joint deterioration that involves an active disease process.

Glucosamine:

Glucosamine has been proven in several clinical studies to help ease symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and bursitis, as well as other disorders associated with a breakdown of the cartilage regenerative process. Glucosamine sulfate is an amino sugar molecule that is naturally made in the body from a sugar (glucose) and an amino acid (glutamine). Glucosamine, commonly consumed for the treatment of the disease, it is classified as a nutritional supplement; however, there isn't much data regarding its metabolic or vascular effects. Glucosamine sulfate's primary biological role in halting or reversing joint degeneration appears to be directly due to its ability to act as an essential substrate for, and to stimulate the biosynthesis of, the glycosaminoglycans and the hyaluronic acid backbone needed for the formation of proteoglycans found in the structural matrix of joints.

Cartilage:

Cartilage in the joints, called articular cartilage, acts as a shock absorber to cushion the blows of daily wear and tear from walking and running. When there is an actual major bone or cartilage distortion, surgery may be considered. A normal joint is covered with a smooth layer of cartilage that acts a cushion or buffer for the joint. When the surface of the joint cartilage is worn, the resulting condition is Osteoarthritis.

Treatment:

Treatment of osteoarthritis is most commonly palliative and includes the use of NSAID, polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, intra-articular corticosteroids, and IV hyaluronic acid.  Both glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate have been proven in repeated clinical studies to help improve symptoms of the disease, a condition characterized by decreased amounts of cartilage at the joints. Glucosamine sulfate is generally considered the most effective for producing cartilage, especially when combined with vitamin C, manganese, and chondroitin. Most often the following Osteoarthritis treatments are use: Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements Pain Medication to treat pain associated with the disease. 

Conclusion:

Evidence for benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis is consistent among several clinical trials, but is not conclusive due to methodological errors. The Arthritis Foundation stresses that early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis is the key to successful treatment. Standard conservative treatment of the disease is aimed at pain relief through the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Recognising The Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most widespread diseases in the world and it affects male and female, young and old. It is estimated that three in every hundred people develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Although it affects both sexes, more women than men are likely to develop this debilitating condition. The disease generally occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, but it can strike at any age.

Currently no direct cause for rheumatoid arthritis has been determined. There are a number of factors that may trigger the condition which include, predisposing genetic factors, bacterial or viral infections, chemicals in foods, sporting injuries and even stress. It's also possible that it may take a one or more of these to trigger the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

What we do know is that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This basically means our immune system is faulty and doesn't behave in the way it should behave.

The key role of the body's immune system is to protect it from outside invaders and repair the damage when things go wrong. When the immune system is working normally it knows which particles, cells and bacteria that is good or bad. In order to protect our body the immune system will attack the foreign invaders that don' belong in our bodies.

Inflammation and swelling is the natural process of the body healing itself. For example if you break a bone in your body it will soon be followed by swelling and inflammation. This is a result of our immune system repairing the broken bone.

Unfortunately, when the immune system is faulty it cannot tell the difference between which particles are foreign to the body and which are not. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the malfunctioning immune system attacks the joints.

To understand how RA affects the joints and its common symptoms causes it is better to have an understanding of how the joints work. Your joints are a lot more than just than two bones moving together. They also include a complex network of tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, cartilage and synovial fluid.

The edges of the two opposing bones are lined with a soft substance called cartilage. In between the joint is a capsule which contains synovial fluid. The cartilage and the fluid act as shock absorbers between the joints which also helps to protect them.

When a flare-up occurs the joints synovial fluid becomes inflamed. The inflammation results in too much fluid being produced which leads to swelling. The swelling also makes the joint lining thicker and this begins to destroy the protective layer of cartilage.

As pointed out earlier the cartilage acts as a shock absorber, but if the condition is left untreated the exposed cause severe pain when they rub together. In severe cases of RA the bones can actually fuse together and the person can lose all movement and mobility in the joint.

It's important to spot the symptoms of RA as soon as possible before the condition progresses and gets worse. The early symptoms are discomfort and pain in the fingers and the feet.

Another early warning sign is morning stiffness when moving your joints can feel heavy and sluggish especially after getting out of bed or up after a long period of rest. In the early stages the stiffness can easily be reduced with gentle movement and stretching of the joints.

With RA the joints will swell up and feel warm due to the inflammation. As well as joint pain the inflammation may spread to other organs of the body. With RA people can also suffer from chronic fatigue both physically and mentally.

The symptoms of RA will come and go. This means that between flare-ups there will be periods of remission where the pain and inflammation will reduce or even disappear. However, RA is unpredictable as it can re-occur even after long periods of no symptoms at all.

What's the Best Way to Get Rid of Gout and Get Gout Pain Relief

Joints soreness, redness and severe pain at the base of the big toe are symptoms which probably indicate that you are suffering from gout. The excruciating pain which comes from the big toe may make you wake up at night. These sharp pains are possible signs of one the most severe forms of arthritis. Gout attacks can cause burning sensation and intense pain in the big toe. This sort of illness may affect anyone at any age and make you feel helpless in search for gout pain relief.

Finding gout pain relief to alleviate and ease the pain is probably the first requirement when suffering from a gout attack. Severe gout attacks can cause severe pain and intense burning sensation leaving the affected parts inflamed, raw and hot which couldn't even bear the slightest of touch. The good news is that, you can find remedy to gout pain and reduce its painful symptoms, and prevent it from occurring again. But first of all, let's get to know what is gout? What are the types of gout? What causes gout?

What is gout?

Gout is often referred to as the most painful type of arthritis. The high deposit of uric acid in the blood is what results in gout. It can be an extremely painful situation and affects your joints. Gout takes place when your body tends to produce too much of uric acid and cannot dispose the exact quantities. Uric acid is the waste product of the purines. It is processed by the digestive system of the human body. Generally, the uric acid flows in the blood stream and departs through kidneys.

What causes gout?

Remember when your body produces high level of uric acid, you are more vulnerable to suffer from hyperuricemia. Urate crystals gathered around the tendon areas causes intense pain and swelling during any gout attack. When uric deposits reach to its extreme, the joints around the affected area become inflamed and swollen.

The inflammation taking place is the reaction of your body failing to fight off the disturbance caused due to excess of uric acid. With the production of too much of white blood cells, the swollen and inflamed joints experience a burning sensation.

What are the different gout types?

Recurrent Gout

This is the sort of gout which offers sufferers a few years or months of possible respite from the pain and the symptoms. The joints can go back to its normal function without any problem. The lapses can even last up to many years. But, when the gout attacks take place again, it can appear more dangerous than the earlier attacks. And the second time when it appears, it can spread to the other neighboring joints.

Hyperuricemia

This sort of gout points out to a high level of uric acid in the body. There are 2 sorts of hyperuricemia- secondary and primary hyperuricemia. The primary hyperuricemia is a type of inherited dysfunction in kidneys which disables its capability to excrete the correct amount of uric acid that leads to the accumulation of the uric acid in your blood stream. On the other hand, secondary hyperruricemia is caused due to certain treatments and medications. Eating few particular food groups can even trigger this disease.

Acute Gouts

The acute gout is usually characterized by the swelling of the joints due to the high amount of the uric acid crystals. An intense pain and inflammation may take place and continue for several days. Acute gout attacks can bring on a throbbing and excruciating pain. And the burning sensation can even spread out throughout the affected areas. Big toes are the major victims of this sort of gout. However, it can even extend to the other areas.

Chronic Gouts

This is one of the most dangerous kinds of gout types. This causes permanent damage to the joints and the kidneys. It may affect tendons, and build lumps in knees, ears, hands and in the other body parts. Puss may appear from your skin. In such a condition, gout pain relief should be administered quite immediately, if you are suffering from this sort of gout.

Gout Cures & Remedies

For quick gout pain relief, immediate medication is required. There are various types of medications available in the market. Doctors usually prescribe medications depending on the state of your health. Generally, medications are prescribed to cure the acute and painful gout attacks and to restrain it from getting back again.

Treatments are recommended to lessen chances of the gout complications, like a sudden increase in the urate crystal deposits which causes lumps to develop under your skin. Treating gout pain with proper medications is a useful way of getting rid of this painful disease. However, to cure gout a proper lifestyle change is necessitated which starts with the regular diet.

Drinking 2 to 4 liters of water in a day will help in flushing out toxins from your system and avoid gout attacks. Avoid alcohol and fast foods which includes a high fat content. You should even eat less of fish, poultry and meat, especially when you are trying hard to free yourself from the painful gout attacks to ensure gain gout pain relief.

Many people feel that alternative and natural treatments to seek gout pain relief are the safest and the best options to put an end to this painful condition. For instance, coffee is considered a possible remedy as it helps to reduce the level of uric level. However, there is a lack of evidence, so non-coffee drinkers might not be encouraged to begin with the habit. But you never know few clues can lead to new discoveries to treat gout in future.

Cherries and Vitamin C have been discovered to minimize the uric acid levels in the human body. Even deep breathing exercises and meditation are few other alternative gout treatments which can help you to manage the gout attacks.

Paying attention to your diet is the most crucial thing to ensure the removal of the uric acid build up stored in your body and thus get a proper gout pain relief. Be sure to take Vitamin C supplements, grapes, avocados, strawberries, cherries and blueberries. Also, limit the total protein intake as well.

Arthritis Treatment: Chronic Gouty Arthritis Treatment

In a previous article I discussed the treatment of acute gouty arthritis (GA). In this article I'll focus on treatment of chronic disease. The aims of chronic GA treatment are to prevent recurrent attacks by lowering the serum uric acid (UA) below 6mgs/dl, and addressing other associated medical conditions that could be aggravating GA. These include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, drugs the patient may be taking that can elevate UA such as diuretics, and osteoarthritis.

With chronic GA, patient can develop long term problems including the formation of tophi (deposits of UA under the skin and inside internal organs), joint destruction, kidney stones, and kidney failure.

The treatment of chronic GA involves dietary counseling, medication adjustment, and specific medicines to treat GA.

GA medicines lower serum UA. They do this through various mechanisms including reducing the production of uric acid, increasing the excretion of uric acid through the kidneys, and finally, with newer agents converting UA to less damaging substances. The choice of therapy depends on the severity of disease as well as the medical condition of the patient.

The mainstay of chronic GA treatment has been a drug called allopurinol. It reduces UA by blocking an enzyme that allows uric acid production.

Usually this drug is started at a low dose and slowly increased over time.

Allopurinol is associated with a number of potential side effects including rash, vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation), life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions, hepatitis, kidney damage, and bone-marrow abnormalities.

Allopurinol dosing needs to be adjusted in patients with kidney damage.

Febuxostat is a new medicine that hits the same target as allopurinol but it appears to have fewer side effects. Because it's metabolized in the liver, less reduction of dose is needed in patients with kidneys that aren't functioning normally.

Uricosuric drugs are medicines that make patients get rid of UA via the kidneys. They shouldn't be used in patients with a history of kidney stones and also don't work for patients with kidney insufficiency. The most commonly used drug in this category is probenicid.

Another new class of drug are the uricolytics. These convert urate, the substance that eventually becomes UA into allantoin, a relatively inert ingredient that is easily excreted from the body. The drug that is primarily used in this category is PEG uricase (Krystexxa). This drug is given intravenously. The most common side effects of PEG-uricase are an acute flare of gout and infusion reactions. Infusion reactions consist of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, breathing problems, muscle aches, and rash.

Arthritis Concepts and the Role of Chiropractic Care

In this article, I will be discussing biomechanical conditions that accelerate arthritis. There are many types of arthritis but for the purpose of this article, I am referring to "osteoarthritis" (also known as degenerative arthritis) which is the most common type of arthritis, affecting the majority of people in their mid-age to later years. I will also be discussing the mechanical basis for chiropractic care and how chiropractic care can not only help people regain mobility but can also slow down these degenerative changes from taking place. The implications are astounding! It can mean a greater quality of life, reaching a greater potential, greater independence and fulfillment into one's later years.

Before we get to that, let's talk a bit about aging because there is a misconception I'd like to clear up. The misconception is that arthritis is caused by aging. This is not entirely true. Indeed as people get older, there are more and more cases of arthritis, however, arthritis is not directly caused by aging. Unfortunately, this misconception leads some people to think that there is nothing that can be done to prevent or reverse it, which is simply NOT TRUE! It encourages passivity towards health in general, which is dangerous. There are many older people with little or no signs of arthritis.

We know that degeneration occurs whenever the rate of injury of the joint is greater than the rate of repair. Thus, factors creating injury and factors affecting healing rate both play a role in arthritis. Though there are many factors involved, there are two primary theories for the mechanical cause of degeneration. One is the "wear and tear" theory and the other is the "immobilization" theory. Research supports both of these contrasting theories thus suggesting that there exists a safe window of mechanical conditions in which the joints remain healthy. (1)

The "wear and tear" theory, like it sounds, refers to demanding environments causing localized trauma or repetitive "microtrauma" which progressively injures joints and discs causing degenerative arthritis. Also repetitive tasks, even with minimal load, if done in a poor posture can cause uneven wear and tear and even an injury to occur.

In the "immobilization" theory, reduced movement results in weakness and degeneration of the joints and discs. Joint cartilage (which plays a role in shock absorption and provides a smooth gliding surface for joints) has no blood supply of its own. However, cartilage is a living structure, composed of cells and needs nutrition in order to survive and heal. Thus nutrients are derived from another mechanism: diffusion. Movement is required for diffusion of nutrients into cartilage and removal of the metabolic waste products.

This brings to mind the "use it or lose it" concept. It's a well known fact that muscles will atrophy when they aren't used. Similarly, bones and joints become weaker if they are not mechanically challenged through exercise (they adapt to forces and loads placed on them). However, there is a balancing act and injuries do occur.

Videman's research also comes to mind as support of the immobilization theory. He studied the negative effects of immobilization on the rabbit knee by casting it for set amounts of time. The results were fibrosis of tissues surrounding the knee, atrophy in weight-bearing surfaces and x-ray evidence of degenerative change. Even at 10 days, there is cellular evidence of fixation. On the plus side, mobilization of previously immobilized rabbit knees can restore range of motion even when mild degenerative joint changes have taken place. With repeated immobilization, restoring range of motion becomes increasingly less effective. (2)

Other studies show that when joints are surgically fused in the spine, there are degenerative changes to the joints immediately above and below the fused area. This is called adjacent segment degeneration.(3) This suggests that the joints above and below the surgically restricted joint are compensating for lack of motion and are being overworked (thus, wear and tear), bearing the brunt of forces.

So what does all of this tell us? Why is this important to know? The key to all of this is that we need mechanical balance. When spinal joints are "restricted" or "stuck" due to the various traumas of daily living, they need to be mobilized (or "adjusted"). This will make the spine more balanced because the other joints won't need to compensate (and thus wear out faster). This affects other joints in the body as well. For example, an ankle injury in which ankle range of motion is compromised is going to change the whole way you walk and the forces that go through related joints like the knees and hips. The various joints in the body are functionally connected.

What happens when there is an injury? When there is a soft tissue injury (for example, sprains and strains), there is inflammation and scarring that occurs. These can compromise range of motion of the nearby joint. Similarly, and injury to the joint itself can cause muscle guarding and tightness that compromises range of motion. Recalling from Videman's research, this restriction can result in degenerative changes taking place in as little as 10 days.

Thus, when an injury takes place, rehabilitation and restoration of normal range of motion is essential. Joints need to be taken through all their normal ranges of motion regularly such that scar tissue will be laid down in a functional orientation and not compromise joint function and range of motion leading to compensation reactions and early arthritis. Thus, uncorrected traumas result in joint restriction and lead to arthritis.

Consider this: We've all had minor traumas here and there. They can be from minor injuries, poor posture, sitting at a desk all day or stress/anxiety creating areas of muscle tension. Maybe you don't have any pain currently or you have great overall range of motion in your spine - for example, you may be able to touch your toes. However, you may still have areas of segmental joint restriction where a few vertebrae are not moving well. Regardless of whether or not you have pain, everyone should have their spine at least checked.

This is where chiropractic comes in. Chiropractors are biomechanical experts with a career focused on musculoskeletal and neurological function and optimizing these. Chiropractors can specifically locate the restricted joints and then adjust them to help restore optimal joint function and alignment. Go see a chiropractor! Or, if you're looking for a chiropractor in North York, come see me!

1. Stokes, I & Ratridis, J. (2004). Mechanical conditions that accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration: overload versus immobilization. Spine 29(23); 2724-2732.
2. Videman, T. (1987). Connective tissue and immobilization. Key factors in musculoskeletal degeneration? Clin. Orthop (221): 26-32.
3. Levin, D, Hale, J & Bendo, J. (2007). Adjacent segment degeneration following surgical fusion for degenerative disc disease. Bulletin of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 65(1);29-36.

Chiropractic Care For Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a problem that usually affects people who are 50 years of age or more. It is a very common joint disorder. The cartilage cushions that exist in between joints and the bones that make the joints are worn out in osteoarthritis. This disease results in abnormal growth of bone as with time, more cartilage begins to ear out and bone on bone wearing takes place.

Pain and Stiffness are the major signs of suffering from osteoarthritis. It gets pretty painful after prolonged sitting and getting up and also in the morning. Change in humidity or rainy weather also increases the pain most of the times. If osteoarthritis prevents you from doing daily activities or activities that you like doing, then it can have a big impact on the quality of your life.

There are many treatments that are available in recent times for osteoarthritis. Chiropractic treatment not only reduces the pain but also treat you so that you get a long term relief from the pain. Medications and anti-inflammatory can give you relief but it is just a temporary relief. You can suffer complications and gastrointestinal problems due to these drugs.

The best and most natural method of treatment for osteoarthritis is chiropractic treatment. It depends on the complexity of the situation and also on the patient. The patient starts to feel good after the treatment and the process does not hurt. The condition of the patient and the complexity of the situation also affect the treatment. Reduction in pain, reduction in stiffness and restoring the normal motion of the joint are some of the results of the manipulation. Ice and heat can also be used to provide relief.

A very important aspect of chiropractic treatment for osteoarthritis is proper and healthy nutrition. Supplements like glucosamine, fish oils, chondrotin sulfate and many more can prove to be very helpful. Avoiding some specific foods can reduce inflammation and hence reduce pain and improve healing. In order to find out what would be the best supplement for you, you should get in touch with your chiropractor as different things suit different situations.

Regular visits to your chiropractor may be able to help you prevent osteoarthritis. Correcting dysfunctional joints allows proper movement and can reduce your risk of the disease. It will also help keep discs stay healthy and prevent other causes of joint pain. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, speak with your chiropractor to learn how they can help you conservatively control your symptoms and prevent the progression of the disease.

In order to prevent osteoarthritis, you should visit your chiropractor regularly. You can easily reduce the risk of this disease by correcting any dysfunctional joints and hence keep the movements normal. This prevents other causes of pain in the joints and helps in keeping the discs healthy. If you have the problem of osteoarthritis, then you should consult your chiropractor so that he or she can help you in treating the problem and reduce the pain.