Don't Take Arthritis Lying Down - Chiropractic Care For Arthritis

Many of us will suffer with "arthritis" sooner or later in our lives. The word arthritis means "joint inflammation" and is usually used in reference to rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases include over 100 different conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout.

The most common age at onset is middle age and is more prevalent in old age, but it can also start as a child. This is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of joint range of motion. The symptoms often present symmetrically, for example both wrists or both ankles. The joint symptoms can resemble the symptoms of an infection in that there is redness, tenderness, swelling and heat. The wrists and proximal finger joints are the most often afflicted but spinal joints in the neck, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle and the joints of the feet can be affected too.

Rheumatoid arthritis is variable in its presentation. The symptoms can flare-up and then have periods of time when they go completely away. There can be systemic symptoms of fatigue and the disease can effect other parts of the body, not only the joints. In severe forms joint damage can result resulting in permanent disability.

Exercise is extremely important to help manage this disease and its effects on your joints. Exercise helps maintain flexibility, muscle strength, joint mobility, endurance and helps to control weight.

When acute flare-ups occur treatment should be directed a reducing joint swelling, inflammation and controlling joint damage. This could involve periods of rest and immobilization of a joint. However, as soon as possible patients should be directed toward exercises that will help maintain normal joint movement and increase joint flexibility. Range of motion exercises like stretching can be done daily and should be done at least every other day.

Strengthening exercises can be done every other day in the absence of severe pain and swelling. Using light weights or resistance bands can help improve muscle strength which is important to support and protect joints affected by arthritis.

Swimming is an excellent form of aerobic exercise to help improve the cardiovascular system, increase muscle tone and control weight-all with less stress on the joints. Walking and bicycle riding are also good alternatives. Aerobic exercise should be done for 20 to 30 minutes three times per week in the absence of severe symptoms.

Any increases in fatigue, weakness, loss of range of motion, joint swelling or pain lasting more than an hour after exercise should be evaluated by your health care provider.

Your chiropractic for arthritis is also well trained in nutrition for the arthritis patient. Proper nutrition can play a role in controlling inflammation. Eating foods high in the right kinds of fatty acids can reduce joint pain and swelling. Salmon, tuna and halibut are some foods rich in fatty acids. Spices like turmeric and ginger have been shown to reduce inflammation. Eating foods that don't trigger an allergic response and diets that are vegetarian can also help control the pain of arthritis.