With many of us spending more time at home than ever – and also spending a lot of time in front of a computer or tablet, were seeing more neck pain cases than ever before. Many of these cases will be transient conditions caused by poor posture, often exacerbated by the pandemic. Another major cause of pain in the neck however, is arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage around your joints. It can happen anywhere in your body and common symptoms associated with arthritis include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, or restricted motion.
While osteoarthritis is a natural part of the aging process, the choices you make today play a powerful role in your future health. Through good nutrition, regular chiropractic care and attention to overall health, it’s possible to reduce the impact arthritis will have on you. When it comes to arthritis, the decisions you make each day can have a dramatic effect on whether it becomes a problem for you as you get older.
The thinning discs and bone spurs that may accompany an arthritis diagnosis happen as we age due to gravity, previous injury, and other lifestyle factors – but with proactive action, it’s possible to reduce all of these.[1]
You can manage, and even mitigate, many of the challenges of arthritis by making positive decisions for your spinal health each day.
Here are 3 ways to stay proactive and reduce the potential effects of arthritis:
- Perform stretches and exercises that foster a balance of strength and flexibility daily.
- Foster proper ergonomics at your work desk by keeping your computer monitor at eye level.
- Follow a diet that limits inflammatory foods that can contribute to pain and chronic inflammation.
Can Chiropractic treat arthritis?
Unlike other professionals, Chiropractors focus specifically on the structure and function of your spine. A chiropractor will be the first to tell you that they cannot reverse aging (sorry!), but through proper treatment its possible to optimise your spine as it is, which can make a huge difference. When your spine is functioning optimally, your body is better able to heal itself without the need for medication. And don’t let a disc herniation make you believe that you’re too far gone for chiropractic care. Research has shown that nearly 80% of people with a disc herniation in their neck found relief with spinal adjustments.[2]
The other factor to consider in arthritis cases is the age of the patients concerned – since the condition does tend to affect the older people in society, drugs and surgery usually aren’t recommended for the care of neck pain due to their risks and side-effects. By contrast, its worth noting that the Cleveland Clinic and American College of Physicians support chiropractic adjustments for the care of neck issues.
In fact, Spinal adjustments have been shown to provide more relief than steroid injections for neck pain caused by a disc herniation.[3]
Do you need help with neck pain?
There isn’t just one thing you can do to prevent arthritis and making small changes to your habits each day can help you minimize your risk of painful arthritis. A habit is defined as a routine that’s repeated without you even thinking about it, and it’s estimated that habits form after about 60 days.
Without even needing to see a professional, can you commit to following the healthy habits above for the next 60 days? You might be surprised at your results. And if you’re still in pain, its time for form a new healthy habit – chiropractic care! Call us today if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. Remember, to get the most relief, any pain, stiffness, swelling, and restricted motion should be addressed sooner rather than later!
[1] Osteoarthritis. University of Maryland Medical Center. 2007.
[2] Chiropractic Care for Arthritis. Arthritis Foundation. 2020. | Do you have a stiff neck? Try these simple remedies. Cleveland Clinic. 2015. | Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013.
[3] Chiropractic Care for Arthritis. Arthritis Foundation. 2020. | Do you have a stiff neck? Try these simple remedies. Cleveland Clinic. 2015. | Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013.
