Arthritis
There are two major types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, which is caused by aging and wear-and-tear, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joints. Chiropractic care can be an effective treatment for both. Although the two types of arthritis differ in significant ways, both cause joint pain, stiffness, swelling and immobility that chiropractic treatment may relieve.
Chiropractic Care for Arthritis
Keeping the vertebrae in proper alignment helps to decompress nerves and relieve pain. Although chiropractic care usually focuses on manually manipulating the spine and joints, there are other chiropractic methods for treating the pain and stiffness of arthritis:
- Heat therapy
- Low-level-laser therapy
- Trigger-point therapy
- Deep-muscle massage
Chiropractors may also recommend therapeutic exercises, including stretches, strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, and give nutritional and lifestyle advice, that help treat arthritis.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Arthritis
Chiropractic treatment of arthritis, when used in combination with allopathic medical therapies, is helpful in increasing a patient's comfort and mobility. Noninvasive, gentle and holistic, chiropractic treatment provides the benefit of pain relief without medication. Proper chiropractic care helps to keep joints mobilized and slow arthritis's progression, and contributes to a patient's general state of well-being.
Contraindications to Chiropractic Care for Arthritis
When a patient has severe osteoporosis, or is experiencing a flareup of rheumatoid arthritis, chiropractic treatment should be avoided. In those instances, chiropractic will not provide relief, and may cause damage.
For more information about Chiropractic Care for Arthritis, Call J.C. Morris's office at