Osteopathy and the elderly
In many patients, arthritis is the cause of joint swelling, pain and stiffness and it can be helped by osteopathic treatment.
Two main types of arthritis:
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA), which is the wear and tear of the joints, often due to old injuries, poor posture and lack of mobility. This type of arthritis responds very well to osteopathy.
Inflammatory arthritis such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects the whole body, and it is more difficult to treat, but gentle techniques such as Cranial Osteopathy may often be of benefit.
Osteopathy cannot cure arthritis, but treatment can certainly ease the pain, reduce swelling and stiffness and restore some joint mobility. As a result there is often less reliance on medication and consequently fewer problems with the side effects of the drugs, such as gastritis and constipation.
Treatment is gentle and completely non-invasive. Your osteopath may also advice on diet, posture and exercises so as to help promote your general wellbeing.