Posts Tagged ‘arthritis’
San Diego Chiropractor Asks: Could Those Extra Pounds Be Putting Your Joints on Overload?
As a San Diego Chiropractor, 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 an extra pound or two? Over time, they can add up to a large number of health issues from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back pain and joint degeneration. Even a few additional pounds put excessive stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Sadly,more than half (62%) of men and women in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is an extremely compelling figure and a sizable national health issue (no pun intended).
Though we try to pretend otherwise, most of us know that the human body has not evolved to schlepp around additional poundage in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can literally overload and encumber the musculoskeletal system. Extra weight in the abdominal region, for example, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This angle puts pressure on the joints of the low back. Joint compression impedes nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. Nearly all people that have a heavy midsectionexperience low back pain as the result of a compressed sciatic nerve or misalignments of the spinal column that restrict nerves as a result of weight-bearing stresses. If not addresses, misaligned vertebra as a rule develop into new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place.
The good news is that chiropractic treatment can help. To begin with the obvious, a moderate body weight is requisite in order for the musculoskeletal system to perform in the way it is meant to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve restrictions in the spinal column and help to get mobility back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the low back, hips, and knees. And, certainly exercise and physical activity will be a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the spine is in alignment and the joints have good motion. The added benefit of exercise the, in addition to helping with weight reduction, it can actually reduce degenerative changes as the body ages.
It is always best to talk over your diet and exercise options with a healthcare professional, like your chiropractor. In addition to treating individuals suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide expert suggestions on the kinds of lifestyle changes that can help a person to stay healthier, more vigorous, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be inevitable. The structure of the human body is intended to carry a person through an entire 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!
San Jose Chiropractor Discloses The Way Chiropractic Care Can Lessen Back Pain As a Result of Arthritis
Presently there is an assortment of possible treatments from which you can still choose as it pertains to your back pain and pain in various other parts of your body because of arthritic alterations, among them seeing your San Jose chiropractor. Though, a large number of people who are encountering debilitating arthritis and low back pain nonetheless believe that they have got to go to a medical doctor as the most effective way to find a therapy for their problems. However, you may be amazed to find out that not many medical doctors are able to be beneficial people remove, or by natural means decrease the difficulties of back pain resulting from arthritis. Instead of being used to locating and treating the cause of the pain you are going through, medical doctors habitually attend to no more than your symptoms, that you could do not just for pain reduction, but to actually retard arthritic changes in your body.
Finding a chiropractor in San Jose is actually among the finest things that you could do to assist your arthritis and lumbar pain. Chiropractors are doctors who concentrate solely on taking care of the musculoskeletal system, and arthritis is a joint condition. Chiropractic attention has aided many people in delaying the process of arthritis by getting their joints moving. Movement is vital for joint health. A good chiropractor is very knowledgeable in caring for lumbar pain, even when it is the result of arthritis
If you have never gone to a chiropractor previously, you could be somewhat concerned about what will take place once you are in the office. It might help to provide a quick summary of what you can expect. You may be asked about your medical history, that will oftentimes include a family background of arthritis. The chiropractor might inquire about your current diet and lifestyle and may suggest explicit improvements that may be very helpful in decreasing the irritation attributable to arthritis. And, lastly, you will receive a thorough examination. After the examination is finished, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic treatment can assist your low back pain, as well as lessen your debilitating arthritic symptoms. of visit Then you will be told about the particular treatment you’ll require.
A chiropractic adjustment reduces pain gently and organically, and it is a painless approach. And, essentially the most wonderful feature of going to a chiropractor for your low back pain and arthritis is that you can feel confident that the root cause of your pain is being attended to, and that the relief you experience doesn’t entail masking the warning sign of pain, but actually eliminating the basis of your malady.
Santa Clara Chiropractor: Growing Older Doesn’t Have to Hurt
There’s no denying the fact that as we age our body doesn’t feel or respond the same way as it used to when we were younger. It hardly seems right that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,” our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff in the morning; many of the activities we do during the day make us sore at night; and, if we’re not cautious, even a motion as simple as turning too hastily or bending over to pick up a dropped pencil, can send our back or some other muscle group into spasm. But, it isn’t necessary for our body to go from bad to worse because there are specialized techniques for us, “boomers,” that can not only slow down the aging process of the body, but help us to avoid some of those problems altogether.
For instance, arthritis. In point of fact, barring pharmaceuticals, allopathic medicine fails to address this age-related affliction. Why? It is because most medical professionals focus only on the symptoms of arthritis. Chiropractic care, in contrast, not only helps to relieve the pain of arthritis, naturally, without drugs, but it looks for the origin of the problem and eliminates it. Chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been treating men and women suffering from pain caused by arthritis, and other age-related challenges, for over one hundred years.
Repetitive stresses, years of poor gait and incorrect posture, and inadequate movement cause wear of various joints over time and cause the arthritic changes the body goes through as you get older. Chiropractic adjustments reestablish motion in your joints and relieve any vertebral misalignments that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition to causing arthritic changes in the spine and increasing pain, did you know that misaligned vertebra can also weaker your resistance and immunity? It’s an authoritative fact, and this may be one of the reasons why it may seem that as you age you experience more health issues and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. According to research done on men and women, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic adjustments are good for what ails you!
When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are highly proficient whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or 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 conditions. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, often reveal some age-related changes before they’ve had a chance to create noticeable pain. Moreover, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can assess your posture and observe your gait to determine if there are any inappropriate patterns that might generate further arthritic changes.
So, if you have been feeling your age lately, but you’d like to feel a whole lot better, make an appointment with your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!
Dr. David Hoewisch is a Santa Clara Chiropractor with over 25 years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1221 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Dr. Hoewisch has traveled around the world and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and learned sign language at an early age. He treats many deaf patients in his clinic. For more information go to his website at http://www.santaclarachiropractor.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Hoewisch
Can Weight Reduction Help Painful Arthritis?
San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis
Do you suffer from painful arthritis? Do you also have a problem with your weight? If you’ve answered in the affirmative to both questions, more than likely you’re having back pain not only due to arthritis, but also because of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not designed to carry around additional 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 great deal of strain. This kind of strain can created aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have begun. In addition, your body may compensate in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to support the excess pounds. This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.
A new survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research firm based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that approximately 62% of adults and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis escalates with increasing weight. Research indicates that sustaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate disease progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can lessen the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do quite a lot to relieve back pain as well.
In order for an individual to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other regions of the body, a good diet and regular exercise is mandatory. Even though this information probably doesn’t seem like anything new, it genuinely is the only action for you to take in order to get out of pain and regain your life.
First of all, let’s discuss the topic of dieting. The majority diets (and there are hundreds from which to choose) can be temporarily useful. Sadly, the diet industry is not interested in having you lose weight permanently because as a result they would not have you as a customer. Eating a life-enriching diet (as a lifestyle choice and not a temporary fix) and cutting your calories so that you are at a slight calorie “deficit,” is the only approach to losing weight in a healthy, permanent manner. Shedding a lot of pounds too fast is not only unhealthy, but unsafe. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order for it to be truly effective.
Research has proved that exercise and physical activity not only reduces pain and augments function, but genuinely postpones disability. Be certain to get no less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity no less than 3 days a week. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.
In addition to the benefits your joints will undergo from exercise, chiropractic adjustments are a highly beneficial way to get motion back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A well-adjusted 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% answered the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some type of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those individuals, 31% were using chiropractic. Possibly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it beneficial. Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders provided a number of reasons: 1) to control pain, 2) they’d heard that it helps, 3) they felt assured that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been assisting people suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic problems for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be caused by the misaligned vertebra that your San Diego chiropractor will adjust, if left unchanged misalignments can lower resistance and immunity, which can lead to new health conditions.
It is always wise to see a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for information on the kind of lifestyle changes that you will require to help you to manage your arthritis. Moreover, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will evaluate any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.
Can Chiropractic Therapies Help Arthritis?
Chicago Chiropractor and Arthritis
Introduction
One of the most widely misunderstood conditions among sufferers is arthritis..Often the word, “arthritis,” inspires images of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. But, many conditions from benign to severe are listed under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will restrict this discourse 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. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces. Degenerative changes in the joint occurs when joint cartilage is damaged and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage. Occasionally, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can occur when the bone around the joint proliferates. Bone spurs create painful hypersensitivity to other tissues adjacent to the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.
Degenerative joints as a rule occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to affect both the onset and severity of DJD.
The symptoms of DJD invariably involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. As the condition continues there can be loss of mobility, particularly when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are affected. 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 intolerable due to severe pain.
Prevention is invariably the best option, beginning at an early age.
- Making sure that all injuries to joints are correctly treated will help to avoid future problems.
- Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs necessitate 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 protect knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
- The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provided by fruits and vegetables are vital for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recently there have been some studies that reveal that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and may actually help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over an extended period and does not work in all conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only sound, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly experienced when it comes to arthritic pain relief. 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 stabilize 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
Gouty arthritis is generated by increased levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by severe pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Many people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Specific foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms have the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, the increase in the bloodstream causes joint problems. In addition to the foods described and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions need to be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, although other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness aggravated by movement is generally associated with the disease. Additional symptoms can involve general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. There are specific blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic treatments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be beneficial. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Arthritis?
Introduction
Arthritis is more often than not confusing to most people.Often the word, “arthritis,” produces fear of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. However “arthritis” is an all-inclusive word that includes many different conditions from the benign to the severe. 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 labels for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the degradation of the cartilage that covers the joint surfaces. When joint cartilage is harmed, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally preserved by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Occasionally, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can occur when the bone around the joint increases quickly. Bone spurs cause painful inflammation to other tissues around the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.
The most common areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, particularly 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.
Pain and/or stiffness in the affected joints are primary indicators of DJD. As the condition advances there can be loss of mobility, notably when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are involved. In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should try to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.
Prevention is invariably the best option, beginning at an early age.
- One should always make sure that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are suitably managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
- People involved in occupations that demand standing or walking should wear proper shoes that give good support and shock absorption.
- Weight loss through proper diet will help to decrease stress on weight-bearing body joints.
- Care should be taken to protect knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
- The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants included in fruits and vegetables are crucial for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recently there have been some studies that offer proof that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and can possibly help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over an extended period and does not work in all conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments are not only a smart idea, but an effectual treatment for arthritis, and can aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of experience in helping people with arthritis pain. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is required to secure the joint and relieve pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.
Gout
An increased level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints create gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Many people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Particular foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms contain the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, the increase in the bloodstream creates joint problems. In addition to the foods described and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions must be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be caused by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually 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. There are specific blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic adjustments. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting individuals in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.