Posts Tagged ‘arthritis’
June 17th, 2010 | 
Author: Let’s face it, there’s just no getting around the fact that as we age our body responds differently than it used to when we were younger. It just doesn’t seem fair that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,” our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff when we get out of bed; certain activities during the day make us sore at night; and, if we’re not truly careful, even a movement as simple as turning too fast or bending over to pick up a dropped object, can send our back or some other muscle group into spasm. Fortunately, there are specialized techniques for us, “boomers,” that is not only beneficial in slowing down the aging process of the body, but can aid us in avoiding some of those problems completely.
Take arthritis for example. In point of fact, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine fails to address this age-related affliction. What is the reason? The answer is that most medical doctors treat the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic approach is to discover the origin of the condition and treat the pain at its source. For more than one hundred years, chiropractors, like your Chiropractor in Santa Clara, have been helping individuals suffering from back pain and other problems caused by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.
Arthritic changes occur as your body ages because, over time, wear of certain joints takes place as a consequence of repetitive stresses, as well as years of poor gait, bad posture, and lack of beneficial movement. Chiropractic adjustments reestablish motion in your joints and ease any vertebral misalignments that may be producing irritation and restriction. In addition to causing arthritic changes in the spine and increasing pain, did you know that misaligned vertebra can also lower your resistance and immunity? It’s an irrefutable fact, and this may be one of the reasons why it may seem that as you get older you develop more health problems and that it often takes longer for you to feel better again. Studies have shown that older individuals who are under chiropractic care stay healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic treatment is good for what ails you!
Chiropractors are experts when it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, from the small, growing frame of an infant to the full-grown body of an aging adult. Your chiropractor understands the aging process and has exceptional observational and diagnostic skills that aid in locating spinal misalignments and joint problems. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, frequently reveal some age-related conditions before they’ve begun to create noticeable pain. Furthermore, your Chiropractor in Santa Clara can evaluate your posture and analyze your gait to identify faulty patterns that could generate further arthritic changes.
So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, make an appointment with your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!
As a Chiropractor in San Diego, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. What’s the harm in being just a few pounds overweight? Over time, they can add up to a large number of health issues from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back challenges and joint degeneration. Surplus poundage puts undue stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Over half (62%) of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a very significant number and an enormous dilemma (no pun intended).
It is likely no surprise to you to learn that the human body was not intended to schlepp around surplus weight in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can literally overload and encumber the joints and muscles of the body. Extra weight in the abdominal region, for example, makes it necessary for the body to compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. The tilt creates compression in the joints of the low back. Joint compression inhibits nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. A larger percentage of people who are overweightexperience low back pain generated by an impingement of the sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that restrict nerves due to weight-bearing stresses. If left untreated, misaligned vertebra in most cases develop into new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place.
How can chiropractic help? Perhaps, it should go without saying that a “normal” body weight is essential in order for the musculoskeletal system to act and respond in the way it is built to. Chiropractic treatment can not only ease the pain generated by excess weight compensation, but it can aid in weight reduction. Here’s how. Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve impingements in the spine and assist in getting motion back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, particularly in the low back, hips, and knees. And, obviously exercise and physical activity is a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the the joints have good mobility and the spine is aligned. The added benefit of exercise the, in addition to helping with weight reduction, it can actually slow the potential for degenerative changes as over the years.
It is always best to discuss diet and exercise alternatives with a healthcare professional, like your chiropractor. In addition to helping men and women suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide trained advice on the particular lifestyle corrections that can help an individual to stay healthier, more vital, and more active through the years. It isn’t a foregone conclusion that arthritis and immobility an inescapable part of the aging process. The human body was created for a lifetime of pain-free movement.
So, if those extra few pounds have started to add up to a lot of pain, as your chiropractor in San Diego and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I can help. Make an appointment today!
Posted in weight loss | 
Tags: arthritis, back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, excess weight, joint inflammation, weight loss | 
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When it comes to back pain as well as pain in other parts of the body due to arthritic changes, there is a variety of treatment options from which to choose, including going to a San Jose chiropractor However, many individuals who are experiencing painful arthritis and back pain still suppose that they ought to go to a medical doctor as the only way to find a cure for their affliction. But, you might be surprised to learn that very few medical doctors are able to help individuals reduce the problem of back pain due to arthritis. Rather than being accustomed to finding and treating the origin of the pain you are experiencing, medical doctors regularly treat only your symptoms, and as a rule, through medication. And, even though particular medications may soothe the symptoms of arthritis, there is plenty more that you can do not simply for pain relief, but to truly slow down arthritic changes in your body.
Visiting a San Jose chiropractor is truly one of the most beneficial things that you can do to gain relief from your arthritis and back pain. Chiropractors are doctors who practice entirely in treating the muscular and skeletal system, and arthritis is a joint condition. Chiropractic care has helped many people to slow the process of arthritis by getting their joints moving. Movement is very important for joint health. A good chiropractor is extremely skilled in treating back pain, even when it is caused by arthritis
If you have never gone to a chiropractor before, you might be a bit concerned about what is going to occur once you are in the office. It might help to give a quick overview about what you can expect. You will be asked about your medical history, which will conceivably include a family history of arthritis. The chiropractor will want to know about your current lifestyle and may offer specific modifications that will be beneficial for lessening the inflammation produced by arthritis. And, finally, you will receive a complete examination. After the examination is complete, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic management can help your back pain, as well as relieve your painful arthritic symptoms. After that you will be told about the specific treatment you will require.
A chiropractic adjustment relieves pain gently and naturally, and it is a painless process. And, the most wonderful aspect of going to a chiropractor for your back pain and arthritis is that you can feel certain that the cause of your pain is being addressed, and that the relief you experience is not masking the symptom of pain, but genuinely treating the origin of your affliction.
Are you suffering from back pain due to arthritis? Do you also have a challenge with your weight? If you do, you are probably having back pain not only due to arthritis, but also as a consequence of the stress your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not designed to carry around extra weight in the form of body fat. If you are carrying around even an additional 20 or 30 pounds day in and day out, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a tremendous amount of strain. This sort of strain can cause irregularities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and persist in causing inflammation to the degenerative changes that have begun. Moreover, your body may offset in other ways, such as by your hips moving forward or tilting to support the extra weight. This can compress the sciatic nerve, which is intensely painful.
A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research organization based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that around 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis escalates with growing weight. Research implies that maintaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decrease disease progression. A reduction of just 11 pounds can reduce the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do quite a lot to decrease back pain as well.
A good diet and routine exercise is imperative for a person who desires to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other areas of the body. Although this fact presumably doesn’t strike you as anything new, it genuinely is the only solution for you to get out of pain and regain your life.
First of all, we’ll address the dieting issue. The majority diets (and there are a large number from which to choose) can be temporarily helpful. It may sound cynical, but let’s face it, if you were to lose weight for keeps, the diet industry would lose a good customer! Eating a balanced diet (as a lifestyle choice and not just a temporary fix) and reducing your calories so that you are using more calories than you are taking in is the only approach to losing weight in a healthy, permanent manner. Losing a large amount of weight too quickly is not only unhealthy, but perilous. A healthy weight loss rate is about 2 pounds every week in order for it to work well.
As far as exercise is concerned, research has proved that physical activity decreases pain, augments function, and slows down disability. A minimum of one-half hour of moderate physical activity, at least 3 days a week, has been shown to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.
In addition to the benefits your joints will undergo from exercise, chiropractic manipulation is an excellent way to get mobility back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A spine in alignment makes exercise and physical activity a good deal easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine reported the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologist’s care. Of those people, 63% answered the survey by indicating they were using some type of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those people, 31% were using chiropractic. Likely the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those utilizing chiropractic found it effective. Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, people provided a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t doing the job.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic afflictions for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be created by the misaligned vertebra that your chiropractor will adjust, if left unattended misalignments can reduce resistance and immunity, which can lead to new health challenges.
It is always wise to see a health care professional to talk about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an experienced resource for information on the type of lifestyle changes that you will need to aid you in managing your arthritis. Moreover, besides getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will diagnose any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be adding to the pain you are experiencing.
Posted in exercise |
Tags: arthritis, chiropractic, chiropractor, exercise, weight loss |
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Do you have back pain due to arthritis? Do you also have a challenge with your weight? If you’ve answered in the affirmative to both questions, you are probably having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also as a consequence of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not designed to carry around extra weight in the form of body fat. Your spine, which supports your body, is being put under a lot of strain even if you are merely carrying an additional 20 or 30 pounds all the time. This kind of strain can cause irregularities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can produce arthritic changes in the spine and continue to inflame the degenerative changes that have begun. Moreover, your body may counteract in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to counterbalance the excess pounds. This can compress the sciatic nerve, which is extraordinarily painful.
A recent survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research organization based in Rosemont, Ill., reveals that approximately 62% of men and women and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The prevalence of arthritis escalates with increasing weight. Research implies that maintaining a healthy weight lessens the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate degenerative progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would be extraordinarily beneficial in reducing back pain as well.
A healthy diet and routine exercise is mandatory for a person who wants to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other areas of the body. Although you have probably been told this for the majority of your life, it truly is the only solution for you to get out of pain and regain your life.
First of all, we’ll look at the dieting issue. The majority diets (and there are plenty from which to choose) can be temporarily useful. Unfortunately, the diet industry is not interested in having you lose weight permanently because as a result they would not have you as a customer. If you’re interested in losing weight productively, you must eat a healthy diet as well as to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in. Shedding a lot of pounds too quickly is not only ineffectual long-term, but dangerous. Losing about 2 pounds every week will help you to lose the weight permanently and healthfully.
Research has confirmed that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and augments function, but genuinely delays disability. A minimum of one-half hour of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has proved to be effective. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.
Along with the benefits your joints will get from exercise, chiropractic treatment is a proved way to get motion back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A well-aligned spine makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the findings of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis. Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by stating that they were utilizing some form of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those responders, 31% were using chiropractic. Possibly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it beneficial. Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, people offered a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t working.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic problems for over a hundred years. Your chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to producing arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can lower resistance and immunity, thus causing new health challenges.
It is always a good idea to see a health care professional to talk about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for advice on the sort of lifestyle changes that you will need to assist you in managing your arthritis. Furthermore, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be adding to the pain you are experiencing.
One of the most commonly misunderstood conditions among sufferers is arthritis.Often the word, “arthritis,” inspires images of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. However, many conditions from benign to severe are listed under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will restrict this analysis to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the terms for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Primarily, the condition is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. Degenerative changes in the joint occurs when joint cartilage is injured and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is usually protected by the cartilage. Sometimes, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can develop when the bone around the joint proliferates. Bone spurs cause painful inflammation to other tissues around the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.
As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, principally in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Everyone may experience DJD at one point in their lives, though previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity influence the degree of the condition and its onset.
The symptoms of DJD perpetually involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. As the condition continues there can be loss of mobility, especially when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are implicated. As a last resort joints can be surgically replaced with synthetic devices. This should be done only in severe cases where the joint is appreciably worn and movement is unattainable without severe pain.
Prevention is unquestionably the best option, beginning at an early age.
- One should always guarantee that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are properly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
- Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs demand extended periods of standing or walking.
- Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
- Care should be taken to cushion knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
- Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they contain natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.
Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but may actually help to rebuild joint cartilage.
Chiropractic adjustments are not only sound, but an effective treatment for arthritis, and can help to restore proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of expertise in helping people with arthritis pain. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is required to secure the joint and relieve pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
An elevated level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints produce gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by intense pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. People with this condition cannot effectively metabolize uric acid, thus the buildup in the bloodstream and the resultant joint problems. The foods most associated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including refraining from drinking alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be produced by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is most often associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Frequently people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through definitive blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic adjustments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness accompanying this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be helpful. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to helping sufferers in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.