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How Chiropractic Can Help Patients Who Suffer From Arthritis

damage of arthritisHow Chiropractic Can Help Patients Who Suffer From Arthritis 

Even though chiropractic excels in wellness care, it is becoming even more common today for people to visit a chiropractor to treat a variety of different kinds of pain. Because of this, chiropractic adjustments provide many benefits to people and patients who suffer from a wide variety of conditions like arthritis. In today’s article, we’ll explore how chiropractic can help patients who suffer from arthritis and give additional suggestions on how to alleviate the pain associated with it.

What a Chiropractor Does

A Doctor of Chiropractic, also known as a chiropractor, is a health professional that focuses primarily on whole body wellness care instead of sickness care. Their specialty focuses on adjusting the spine to correct misalignments that may be impinging on nerves.

Regular visits to a chiropractor can not only restore health throughout the body but can help alleviate back pain and other symptoms associated with an improperly aligned spinal column. Chiropractors also work with their patients to plan exercise routines and make alterations in diet to assist in the management of inflammation and pain. Most insurance carriers cover multiple visits to a chiropractor as well because of the preventative value of seeing a chiropractor.

What Is Arthritis?

Put simply, arthritis is inflammation in joints which result in joint pain, stiffness, and limited range of movement. There are over 200 varieties of arthritis. While it is generally associated with age, it can also affect young people, too. It can strike almost any area of the body, with each region having a different cause and name. In some cases, arthritis can cause damage to soft tissues and muscles, like the heart and lungs.

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It results from repeated trauma to the joint and is most common in the elderly.

Other common forms of arthritis include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common form in which the body’s immune system attacks the joint.
  • Psoriatic arthritis, another autoimmune form of arthritis.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis, also a type of arthritis where the body attacks itself
  • Septic arthritis, which is caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the joint

Diagnosis

Diagnosing arthritis involves a complete and thorough examination. If a chiropractor feels the need to have a co-manager on the case, a medical workup by a rheumatologist may be recommended. This can include radiology (x-ray) or MRI, urine and blood analysis, or physical examination.

It is important to have your condition properly diagnosed so you can more effectively treat the symptoms of the disease.

Chiropractors and Arthritis

The most common treatment for arthritis is medication, which can decrease inflammation and swelling and reduce pain;  however, chiropractors can be of great help in managing arthritis. While medications work, many have long-term health risks, such as impairing overall ability to heal, damaging the lining of the stomach (causing ulcers), or facilitating internal bleeding.

By visiting a chiropractor you may be able to reduce your reliance upon these medications for relief of symptoms while managing your pain and symptoms naturally. A chiropractor can:

  • Improve your range of motion by keeping your spine aligned
  • Improve endurance and flexibility
  • Increase strength and overall muscle tone
  • Help you develop a dietary and nutritional plan to reduce inflammation naturally through food choice

In addition, chiropractors can recommend an exercise regimen that’s conducive to arthritis. According to the American Chiropractic Association, this is a vital component in managing your arthritis symptoms.

Treating the Symptoms

Please understand that chiropractors cannot cure your arthritis. At this time, there is no cure for this ailment. They can, however, help to alleviate the symptoms and slow the progression of the illness. They may use spinal adjustments in conjunction with other treatments to address the disease. These options can include:

  • Hot and cold therapy
  • Cold Laser Therapy
  • Ultrasound treatments
  • Massage therapy 
  • Electronic muscle stimulation
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Ultrasonic Diathermy therapy
  • Vibration therapy 
  • Magnet therapy

The Best Results

With an inflammatory disease like arthritis, the best results are achieved through attacking it from all angles. This means working with your chiropractor and rheumatologist to combine treatments, if necessary. In addition to their care, a healthy diet and active exercise regime will help move you in the right direction toward a healthier lifestyle and more long-term relief outcome.

If you or a loved one are suffering from arthritis, don’t hesitate to give Millar Chiropractic a call today. We’re here to help in any way we can! Give Millar Chiropractic a call today at 1-800-GO-CHIRO or call us locally at 256-830-0000.  We got your back! 

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Millar Chiropractic - Huntsville AL and Millar Functional Medicine
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Huntsville, Alabama 35813
Physical Address: 2021 Clinton Ave West
Huntsville, Alabama 35805

Phone: (256) 519-3550

Email Us at [email protected]

Clinics

Millar Chiropractic-Huntsville AL

Dr. Joan Brown, DC
Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
2021 Clinton Ave W, Ste A
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 539-2000

Office Hours

Monday through Friday
8:30 am - 12:30 pm | 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Clinics

Millar Functional Medicine

Dr. Greg Millar, DC CPFM
Dr. Bonnie Sims, ND M.Div.

2021 Clinton Ave W, Ste E

Huntsville, , AL 35805

Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday -
8:30 am - 12:00 pm | 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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American Spine & Rehab

Dr. Greg Millar, DC
2021 Clinton Ave West,
Huntsville, Alabama 35805
(256) 519-6800

Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:00 am - 12:30 pm | 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday - Thursday
8:00 am - 12:30 pm