Osteoarthritis is an all-too-common condition these days. In fact, the vast majority of people will develop osteoarthritis (also known colloquially as arthritis, or simply OA) in at least one joint before their 60th birthday.
As a result, there have been loads of proposed treatments for this debilitating condition. Some clinicians swear by exercise, while others point to various supplements/medications that can support joint health.
While all of these options may be helpful for people with OA, chiropractic care tends to stand out as the most effective and affordable treatment available.
In this article, we will discuss OA and demonstrate how chiropractic care can help patients continue to live fulfilling, pain-free lives despite the presence of this condition.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Generally speaking, arthritis is a condition in which the amount of space between joints decreases. Because of this loss of space, the bones on either side of the joint come close to one another, leading to “bone-on-bone” contact. As you might imagine, when bones contact one another, without adequate padding in between them, patients experience excruciating pain.
Osteoarthritis, specifically, is a form of arthritis in which the patient experiences a loss of joint space due to “wear and tear” on the joints. For instance, a high-level athlete, who puts a lot of stress on his or her joints for many years on end, might experience OA later in life.
Alternatively, a mechanic who kneels on hard ground while working on cars may develop OA in his or her knee joints over time.
The two examples listed above provide the most common causes of OA: overuse and misuse.
What are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
As far as symptoms are concerned, OA is a fairly simple condition. In fact, the main symptom patients experience as a result of OA is pain.
Patients with OA may describe their pain as sharp, dull, achy, or they may use any number of other descriptors. The nature of the pain will depend on a few different factors including, but not limited to all of the following factors:
- How long they’ve had the condition.
- The extent of the damage to their joints.
- The presence of other conditions, such as nerve damage.
As was previously mentioned, there are tons of other factors that can affect the severity and nature of OA pain. Every case is different!
What are the Popular Treatments for Osteoarthritis?
Over the years, many people in the medical field have attempted to find a cure for OA. Unfortunately, we still have no perfect treatment for this condition.
Some of the most popular “mainstream” medical treatments for OA include joint replacement surgery and medication.
While a successful joint replacement operation can often reduce pain, patients may experience side effects from the surgery such as decreased range of motion and other issues after going under the knife.
Medications for OA are often geared toward reducing pain and/or inflammation. For short periods, these medications may improve the quality of life for patients with OA. However, long-term use of most medications will often lead to dependency and a host of side effects.
What are Some Alternative Treatments for Osteoarthritis?
Outside of medication and surgery, there are a few key treatments that can help with the symptoms of OA.
One such treatment option is exercise. Exercise can help to strengthen the bones and surrounding muscles. Plus, certain types of exercise can improve flexibility, leading to better, pain-free motion.
Chiropractic care also serves as a terrific, low-risk treatment option for OA. Chiropractors perform spinal adjustments on patients. Adjustments can help to realign the spine, leading to better healing and movement throughout the body, even in those joints affected by OA.
Are you or a loved one suffering from osteoarthritis? If so, book an appointment with our team at Keystone Chiropractic, the best Plano, TX chiropractors!
