Bodywise Osteopaths, chiropractors and acupuncturists spend a vast amount of time dealing with pain and suffering caused by arthritis.
Many people mistakenly assume that they must learn to live with their symptoms and that treatment for arthritis is a waste of time. This is untrue.
In many cases, we are able to help considerably. Pain relief and lifestyle management improve the quality of life for arthritis sufferers.
What Is Arthritis?
The types of arthritis include: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition sometimes called ‘wear and tear’ and it most commonly affects joints that bear our body weight or ones that do a lot of work such as the spine, hips, knees, feet, and hands.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease causing chronic inflammation of the joints in the overall body.
Symptoms of Arthritis (osteoarthritis)
Arthritis may be hereditary but is generally caused by poor posture, heavy manual work and previous injury. Osteopathy is an effective way to manage arthritis and the associated symptoms:
- Neck Pain
- Low back pain
- Hip/Knee Pain
- Early morning stiffness
- Joint Pain
- Swelling and Inflammation
- Referred muscle pain
- Lack of mobility
Why Osteopathy?
There is no cure for arthritis however arthritis treatment can do a great deal to aid treatment of pain, ease swelling and improve mobility and range of joint movement. Pain management focuses on eliminating symptoms through early diagnosis and improving lifestyle to prevent further degeneration.
Osteopath arthritis treatment involves gentle manual osteopathic techniques on joints, muscles and ligaments. This may involve gentle stretching, mobility, and traction techniques. Exercises to do at home may also be prescribed as part of an arthritis treatment plan to improve joint function and to reduce muscle spasm. Exercise in warm water or salt baths may also be recommended.
The aim of Bodywise Arthritis treatment is to:
- Provide immediate treatment of pain relief from symptoms
- Reduce pain and swelling
- Promote range of joint movement
- Improve mobility
- Assist in rehabilitation after surgery such as hip replacement
- Educate on how you can improve your quality of life through diet and nutritional support, posture, and exercise.