Arthritis is one of the main reasons that patients receive chiropractic care at our office in Naperville. Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. The major symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which usually worsen with age. Arthritis can be present in joints throughout the body. It is often a result of long-standing mechanical problems that cause cartilage, the hard slippery tissue that covers the end of bone, to break down. This breakdown of the end of the bones results in the symptoms of inflammation and pain.
People with arthritis can agree medication does not always alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. But managing the pain and other symptoms varies from person to person. Here are some tips from the Naperville chiropractors at Victory Rehab to reduce arthritis-related symptoms without the use of medication.
- Exercise – Exercise is essential in successful arthritis management. It helps build and maintain healthy and strong muscles, joint mobility, flexibility, endurance, and helps control weight. Exercise can be engineered to attend to different elements of mechanics in the body:
- Range of motion exercises – e.g. stretching and dance help maintain normal joint movement and increase joint flexibility.
- Strengthening exercises – e.g. weight lifting can promote muscle strength, which is important to support and protect joints affected by arthritis.
- Aerobic/endurance exercises – e.g. walking, biking and swimming help improve the cardiovascular system, muscle tone, and control weight. Swimming is especially valuable because of its minimal risk of stress injuries and low impact on the body.
- Nutrition – may provide complementary support in reducing the symptoms of arthritis. Evidence shows that nutrition can play a significant role in controlling the inflammation, and possibly slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Before taking any dietary supplement consult with your healthcare provider and especially if you are using medication to control your condition,. Some foods and nutritional supplements can be helpful in managing arthritis:
- Fatty-acid supplements – Several studies point to the effectiveness of these fatty acid supplements in reducing joint pain, swelling, and lessening reliance on corticosteroids
- Deep-sea fish – such as salmon, tuna, herring, and halibut
- Turmeric – a spice that is used to make curry dishes may also be helpful
- Ginger extract – has been shown to be beneficial with inflammation
- Nettle leaf extract – can inhibit inflammatory pathways
If you are curious about the alternatives that may be available to your specific condition or how chiropractic can help you stay on top of your health, call the chiropractic experts at Victory Rehab, the home in Naperville for family chiropractic care.
