Arthritis

The condition of arthritis

Arthritis is characterized by the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage, usually in the the knees, hips, and back. It is also common in the neck and hands.

As cartilage breaks down, it can lead to stiffness and increased strain on the muscles in that area. The more stiffness, the greater chance it can lead to movement compensations and increased strain on other areas of the body.

Degenerative changes in joints are common with age, but they do not always cause pain. Research now shows that it is not the degeneration of the joint that is responsible for pain, but the effects the degeneration has on how the joint is functioning.

Joints of the body need to move

When joint movement becomes restricted, reducing normal range of motion, we call this joint dysfunction.  This condition is common in the spine arms and legs and can lead to several problems:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Muscle tightness
  • Cartilage breakdown/degeneration
  • Movement compensation leading to undue stress on other areas of the body.

Joint dysfunction can be caused from injury, poor posture, muscles tightness, scar tissue, or muscle imbalance.

How we help

We focus on restoring your joint mobility and the ability of the surrounding muscles to support and stabilize the affected joints. We assess factors like poor posture and muscle imbalance to uncover any other movement abnormalities that may be affecting the degenerated area.

Once identified, normal movement can be restored using a combination of chiropractic joint adjustments and muscle relaxation therapy. Whenever possible, we provide simple home exercises to help maintain joint health and mobility.

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