Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis

Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis: How Chiropractic Can Help with Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also commonly known as a degenerative joint disease (DJD), is the most common form of arthritis. It’s a progressive, non-inflammatory disease characterized by changes in the structure and function of the joint capsule, adjacent bone, joint cartilage, and other surrounding tissues. Chiropractic care for osteoarthritis Woodstock can help relieve the pressure of spinal vertebra that rub together due to loss of cartilage.

As we age, the wear and tear on the spongy cartilage of the spine start to become thinner. Since the cartilage is necessary to keep the bones of your spine from rubbing together, any loss of cartilage can be extremely troublesome for your spinal health.

Small irregular growths called bone spurs usually form on the joints of the spine when spinal vertebrae continually rub together. Bone spurs are nature’s way of trying to stabilize the spine due to loss of the cartilage. The patients experience pain in their back due to this instability. The cartilage of the spinal vertebra is most commonly lost in the lower back.

Therefore, osteoarthritis is the overall loss of cartilage in the joints of the body. When located in the spine, osteoarthritis can be divided into two: The lumbar and cervical spine.

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine is the lower back area. You will feel pain and stiffness in your lower spine when osteoarthritis, also called lumbosacral arthritis, is located in this area. The joint that’s located between the spine and pelvis, called the sacroiliac joint, can loosen the cartilage that protects it from the surrounding bones. This will cause intense pain in your lower back.

Cervical Spine

Located in the neck area, the cervical spine can develop stiffness and pain from a loss of cartilage in the upper spine, neck, head, shoulders, and arms. Osteoarthritis in the upper neck region is called cervical spondylosis.

Here are some early signs to note:

Joint swelling – You may notice some swelling in your joints and a reduced range of motion.
Pain – Pain usually worsens after activity and improves with rest. Early on, high-impact activities may only trigger the pain, but as it progresses, you may experience more frequent episodes of pain. You may feel the effect of joint discomfort or pain throughout the day.
Joint stiffness – Aching, pain, and/or stiffness usually occur in the morning or after a period of inactivity and once movement resumes. Typically, stiffness may reduce after about thirty minutes
Joint crepitus – The joint may grate, grind, or experience a crackling sensation, usually accompanied by a cracking sound.

There are a number of reasons why people are disposed to osteoarthritis. However, as with nearly all abnormal conditions affecting the body, it’s likely that a collection of risk factors work together to cause osteoarthritis. Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis can help you.

The following factors may increase the risk of osteoarthritis:

Weight – Being overweight increases the load on joints, especially your knees.
Age – As people age, the ability of cartilage to heal itself reduces.
Heredity – There’s evidence that genetic factors may make some people more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.
High-impact sports – Professional players in football, soccer, tennis, and long-distance running have a high risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Gender – Women older than 50 years are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men of the same age.
Trauma – Previous injuries to the knee or back, including sports injuries, can cause osteoarthritis.