• Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Catalyst Health and Wellness Group | Chiropractor | Massage | Nutrition
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Blog

Osteoarthritis

13/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Osteoarthritis
​What’s happening to your joints as you age?

As we get older, we start to find that we get stiff and have decreased range of motion in our joints compared to when we were younger.

This makes it harder for us to get up and moving as quickly as we used to, especially on those cold mornings.
There is a reason behind this! The stiffness that you can be experiencing in your ankles, knees, hips, hands and spine is a result of degeneration of the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your bones. The degeneration of this cartilage causes swelling and pain of your joints, which you may refer to as “Old age” or osteoarthritis. 1

It is estimated that during 2014-2015, approximately 2.1 million Australians were living with osteoarthritis: 2 in 3 of these individuals being female. Osteoarthritis is also the predominant condition leading to knee and hip replacements 2.

The pain pattern of osteoarthritis begins with pain being felt during activity but as it progresses it can be felt during rest and minor movements or “morning stiffness”. You may also experience enlarged tender joints.

There are multiple factors that can contribute to the progression of osteoarthritis including:
  • Joint trauma or injury
  • Excess weight
  • Repetitive joint loading tasks (heavy lifting)
  • Joint misalignment

How can Chiropractic help?
​
With any type of degenerative condition, it is important to focus on slowing down its progression rate and avoid the dreaded hip or knee replacement that so many individuals are turning to these days. When it comes to osteoarthritis, multiple aspects of an individual’s lifestyle can be taken into consideration when creating a chiropractic treatment plan.

  • Adjustments can help address the decreased range of motion and muscle tightness that can be associated with arthritis. The increased range of movement of joints enhances circulation of high quality nutrients to areas that are damaged which can encourage healing.
  • The prescribing of exercises to strengthen muscles to reduce the load that is being placed on the affected joints and encourage correct movements.
  • Prescription of supplements to encourage with cartilage repair, connective tissue strength and muscle spasms.
  • Altering work ergonomics such as reducing repetitive movements or ensuring heavy items are being lifted correctly to reduce the stress being placed on arthritic joints.
  • Altering lifestyle choices by including more physical activity to encourage movement in the joints and even to lose that excess weight! 3

Every patient is unique in the way that they can present with osteoarthritis; therefore it is important to understand that everyone’s holistic treatment plan is tailor made to them.

References:
  1. Chapman K & Valdes AM 2012. Genetic factors in OA pathogenesis. Bone 51:64–72.
  2. AOA (Australian Orthopaedic Association) 2011. Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Annual Report. Adelaide: AOA.
  3. Foley S, Ding C, Cicuttini F & Jones G 2007. Physical activity and knee structural change: a longitudinal study using MRI. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 39:426–434.

Bethany Smith
by Catalyst Health and Wellness Group
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Catalyst HGW subscribe to our mailing list icon

    Mailing List Archive


    Categories

    All
    By Ben Hewitt
    By Catalyst Health And Wellness Group
    By Dr Emma Wilkinson
    By Mike Szabo
    Chiropractic
    Massage
    Meditation
    Nutrition


    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    RSS Feed

Catalyst Health and Wellness Group logo
Contact Information
604 Barkly Street,
Ballarat, Victoria 3350

T: 03 5333 7766
F: 03 5333 7765
E: reception@catchiro.com.au
Location
Mailing List

Privacy Policy     •     Disclaimer     •     Site by Mulcahy & Co Marketing
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us