Osteoarthritis: Treatment goals and strategies

Osteoarthritis or better known as OA around most doctor’s offices and hospitals.  What is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones within a joint. It is the most common form of degenerative arthritis. This leads us to another important part of anatomy of the joint, the cartilage. Cartilage acts as a kind of shock absorber for the joint. It acts like a spring in between the two connecting bones. So you can imaging what happens when this shock absorber wears down, its analogous to driving around on an under inflated tire for year and years.  Eventually the axial on that side will wear down a lot faster then the others.

What are some risk factors for OA? Your weight plays a major factor in developing OA. The extra weight increases the load on all the joints of your lower body. Previous injury to a joint increases your likelihood of developing OA at a later age as well. Overuse, Genetics, and also smoking are some other causing factors that increase your risk of developing OA.

Some common symptoms of OA include, pain in the joint, loss of mobility, noisy joints, and swelling around the joint.

How to prevent and treat osteoarthritis. One of the best ways to prevent OA is to be proactive about your joint health. Chiropractic has shown to prevent OA by stimulating movement within the joint. Adjustments act like natural lubrication for all of our moving parts. Exercise and stretching will also help reduce the symptoms as well as prevent further joint damage. Rest and weight control as well as a healthy diet will not only prevent but also halt the progress of OA within the joint.

Please feel free to contact the office at any point to discuss this subject further with Dr. Gibson.