Save your joints with Chiropractic

As we age, optimal mobility is an essential key to maintaining activity and staying healthy.

A major condition that affects people’s mobility is Osteoarthritis. "Osteo" means bone, "arthr" means joint, and "itis" means inflammation of. Osteoarthritis is degenerative condition where the joints become inflamed due to improper mechanics.

One of the long term benefits of chiropractic care is prevention of arthritis (joint wear and tear). Maintaining proper alignment allows joints to move properly and stay healthy! 

Here are tips for relieving arthritis pain and prevention of arthritis:

1. Hot and Cold Therapy

Heat packs, hot showers or baths help reduce joint stiffness. Ice packs help ease joint swelling and pain.

2. Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments focus on spinal joint alignment, as well as, extremity alignment. When joint alignment is proper, it allows for smooth joint mobility. This results in reduced joint wear and tear thus decreasing risk for arthritis.

3. Massage Therapy

Massage aims to reduce muscle tension, breaksown muscle scar tissue build up, and increase circulation. This results in reducing joint wear and tear and improved joint health.

4. Yoga

Joints are made to move and yoga is a great way to improve flexibility and stability of joints. Fluidity of joint movement reduces arthritis risks.

5. Foam Roll

Foam rolling, or "mashing", out muscles and muscle fascia, allows for better muscle balance and reducing muscle scar tissue. This allows for better joint mobility and less joint wear and tear.

6. Exercise

If you already have arthritis, low impact exercise like power walking, elliptical, and swimming, are great options. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation and decrease weight.

7. Lose Weight

One in 5 Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that number jumps to more than 1 in 3 among obese people - and 2 out of 3 Americans are either overweight or obese.

Nutrition

8. Omega-3's

Increase anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats such as salmon, tuna, flaxseeds, walnuts, and olive oils. Omega-3's reduce stress-related inflammatory markers thus reducing arthritis.

9. Green Veggies

Green leafy vegetables are rich in magnesium, a mineral that is a marker to reduce inflammation.

10. Turmeric

This yellow spice commonly found in Indian dishes contains a chemical called curcumin. Curcumin may help to reduce arthritis pain.

11.  Avoid

• Bad Fats - Trans fats can be found in items including fried foods, packaged cookies, crackers, margarines and more. Check the ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oil.
• Fried & Processed Foods - Avoid the consumption of fried and processed foods, such as fried meats and prepared frozen meals, to reduce inflammation and help restore the body’s natural defenses.
• Sugars & Refined Carbs - High amounts of sugar and refined carbs in the diet results in inflammation. Cut out candies, processed foods, white flour baked goods, and sodas to reduce your arthritis pain.
• Dairy Products - Dairy products may contribute to arthritis pain due to the type of protein which can irritate the tissue around the joints.
• Alcohol & Tobacco - Both can lead to inflammation of your joints. 

It's estimated that 27 million adults in the U.S. suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Arthritis is "inflammation of the joints" and indicate joint wear-n-tear.

Age & Arthritis

It affects people of all ages but percentages dramatically increase with age. Of people ages 18-44, 7.6% are diagnosed with arthritis. Ages 45-64, 29.8%. And, people ages 65+, 50% are diagnosed.

Weight & Exercise

Weight and exercise plays a big part into arthritis. 66% of adults diagnosed with arthritis are overweight or obese. And, engaging in moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week can reduce the risk of arthritis-related disabilities by 47%.

Prevention is the best Solution

1. Maintain optimal weight

2. Stay active - moderate exercise, 3 times per week

3. Stretch - reduces joint wear-n-tear

4. Proper Posture - decreases joint pressure

5. Chiropractic - spinal alignment maintains optimal joint health

Arthritis Solutions

1. All of Prevention Steps!

2. Ice - apply for 15-20 minutes with stretching to follow

3. Massage Therapy - muscle care improves joint function

4. Juicing / Smoothies - add lots of berries, they contain anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants)

5. Omega 3's - anti-inflammatory properties

6. Glucosamine - aids in joint repair and health

7. Green Tea Extract - potent anti-inflammatory

8. Ginger - antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

9. Turmeric - antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

10. Spices - cayenne, saffron, rosemary, coriander