Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that limits the range of motion in your hands, hips, spine and knees. While the direct cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, it affects millions in the United States. It can be treated with nutritional counseling and chiropractic therapy. Chiropractic therapy emphasizes prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders within the musculoskeletal system. The treatment involves manual therapy and manipulation of the joints, spine and soft tissue.
Treatment
Because osteoarthritis causes the joints and bones to become stiff throughout the day, you are not only going to experience limited range of motion, but muscle weakness, swelling in the joints and constant pain. Practicing chiropractic therapy has shown to be effective in reducing pain in your joints, and improving the overall quality of life. Chiropractic therapy is responsible for establishing a healthier nerve connection between your spine and other parts of your body. The goal of chiropractic therapy is to normalize the relationships between the parts of the body.
Process
Chiropractors use massage in osteoarthritis treatment to encourage movement and ease stiffness. Electrical stimulation in chiropractic therapy stimulates pain-inhibiting chemicals in your body, known as endorphins, which block the nerve fibers that cause pain. Using hot and cold applications on the body eases osteoarthritis pain.
Nutrition
Chiropractic therapy works against osteoarthritis to improve mobility and lessen pain. The treatment plan for osteoarthritis involves a combination of exercise, chiropractic therapy, and a nutritious diet. Nutrition plays an important role in the chiropractic therapy process. After each chiropractic therapy session, the joints and bones must be given time to heal properly, and maintaining a balanced diet is essential in the natural healing process. By eating foods, such as celery, garlic, lemon and cold-water fish oils, you decrease inflammation in your body and improve joint health. By avoiding red meats, foods with too much salt, and drinking eight glasses of filtered water a day, you can slow the degenerative process in your tissue.
Benefits
Using chiropractic therapy as an alternative to over-the-counter and prescription medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, reduces your risk of experiencing harmful side effects from long-term use. Chiropractic therapy offers you a non-invasive method of treatment for osteoarthritis. This type of therapy offers you freedom of movement without the deteriorating effects associated with medications. Chiropractic therapy is often used with physical therapy, tai chi, and yoga to improve the range of motion in your joints and restore health.
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