Arthritis

Noblesville Family Chiropractic offers time-honored, traditional chiropractic care which can significantly alleviate arthritis symptoms for patients in Noblesville, IN; Westfield, IN; Fishers, IN; Carmel, IN; Arcadia, IN; Atlanta, IN; Cicero, IN; Sheridan, IN and the rest of Hamilton County.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a group of conditions causing inflammation in or around joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and, while these variations of arthritis affect people of all ages, they are more common in older adults. Some types of arthritis can extend beyond the joint to create damage in soft tissues like ligaments, skin, lungs, and the heart. Although symptoms vary based on the type of arthritis the patient has, symptoms often include pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion in the affected joints. Common sites for arthritis include the hips, knees, lower back, neck, and hands. The most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), gout, and lupus.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a rheumatic disease that affects the lining of the joint capsule, called the synovial membrane, which encases the entire joint. In patients with RA, the immune system attacks this lining, leading to inflammation and swelling. Eventually, this process will destruct the cartilage and bone within the joint. There is no real cure for RA, however, treatments like chiropractic care can help to prevent joint destruction and decrease pain.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which appears over time as wear-and-tear when joints are improperly aligned. Attached to each joint is a firm yet flexible tissue called cartilage which breaks down over time in the presence of misalignment. Eventually the cartilage can become so worn down that the bones can actually begin to rub on one another. Treatments for OA focus on slowing the progression of joint and cartilage degeneration by maximally correcting the misaligned joint.

How Can Chiropractic Help Arthritis?

Although there are no cures for arthritis, chiropractic care can significantly alleviate many of your symptoms and arrest the condition from progressing. Research shows that chiropractic care is effective for a number of arthritis conditions affecting the neck, lower back, knees, hips, and hands.

A significant source of pain in people with arthritis arises from diminished functioning from fixated joints. Chiropractic adjustments and regular exercise can improve mobility in the affected joints to prevent pain. Certain foods and supplements can also assist in decreasing inflammation.

Dr. Brad Dahlager uses chiropractic adjustments, nutritional counseling and exercise therapy to reduce pain and restore function for his arthritic patients in Noblesville. He'll work with you and your existing healthcare providers to provide non-invasive, effective management of your arthritic condition.

How much longer will you allow the pain of arthritis to dictate how you live your life? Schedule your appointment with Dr. Dahlager at Noblesville Family Chiropractic today.

Call our clinic at (317) 214-7218 for a check-up today
Or click here to request an appointment online

We provide chiropractic care to patients in Noblesville, IN; Westfield, IN; Fishers, IN; Carmel, IN; Arcadia, IN; Atlanta, IN; Cicero, IN; Sheridan, IN and surrounding areas in Hamilton County.

References

• ACA- Don't Take Arthritis Lying Down. American Chiropractic Association. Accessed October 7, 2013. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=62.
• Poulsen E, Hartvigsen J, et al. Patient education with or without manual therapy compared to a control group in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip- A proof of principle three-arm parallel group randomized clinical trial. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2013; 21:145.
• Yu H, Hou S, Wu W, He X. Upper cervical manipulation combined with mobilization for the treatment of atlantoaxial osteoarthritis: a report of 10 cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2011;34(2):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.12.005.
• Villafañe JH, Silva GB, and Chiarotto A. Effects of passive upper extremity joint mobilization on pain sensitivity and function in participants with secondary carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a case series. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2012; 35(9): 735-42.