Arthritis is a disease of the whole body (a systemic disease) most dramatically affecting the joints. The word "arthritis" may include more than 100 conditions, many that were formerly known as "rheumatism."
Osteoarthritis, or OA, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common arthritis of all. Almost everyone over the age of 50 has a touch of it. In many people there are no symptoms, others have pain, and some can be incapacitated by it. OA often results from an unbalanced spine creating stress on the joints. Your body grows extra bone material in the joints ("lipping" and "spurring") to help deal with this stress. Sometimes the growths can compress nerves, causing pain and affecting internal organs.
This is the crippler! RA destroys joints, affects the heart, blood vessels, eyes, skin, muscles, and other organs, causing fatigue, weight loss, and acute pain. It often appears suddenly around ages 30 to 40 and may disappear just as suddenly. No one knows what causes RA. Many researchers believe RA is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself.
This is similar to adult RA, but in over half the cases the disease simply disappears. In less than one-sixth of the cases, there is a severe disability; organs are affected, with fever, rash, and pain in the joints. Its cause, cure, treatment, how it comes about, or why it disappears are all unknown. The rubella vaccine has been discussed as a cause - up to 40% of those vaccinated with rubella suffered joint pain arthralgia, with nearly 2% going on to develop arthritis.
Medicine offers no cure for arthritis. Since the underlying cause is unknown, symptom treatments including a lifetime of drugs for the pain and inflammation, heat, hot packs or exercises in warm water are suggested. If a joint becomes severely deteriorated, then surgery may be considered.
For over a century, arthritic patients have benefited from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care has even reversed osteoarthritis - something previously considered impossible. Yet chiropractic is not an arthritis treatment. It is a system of healthcare that improves the function of your entire body by removing or releasing blockages from your spine, called vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations weaken your nervous and immune systems, thus weakening your entire body. This can set the stage for sickness and disease...arthritis included.
Chiropractic helps turn on your "inner healer," your inner healing ability. When your spine is free of subluxations your entire body functions better. That is why anyone with arthritis needs a spinal checkup to locate and remove their subluxations. As a general rule, it is always wisest to search out the most natural, conservative methods before submitting to more invasive (drug and medical) care. The body has a wisdom that far exceeds our own. It can cure diseases that have no known cure - even arthritis.
Low-impact or non-weight-bearing activities, such as walking, stationary training, and lightweight training work best for OA patients.
Use strengthening exercises if the key muscle groups that relate to the function of the joints are weakened by the degeneration.
If you are overweight, start exercising carefully, so as not to put too much stress on the knee and ankle joints.
Stair climbing, water aerobics, Theraband workouts, and similar exercises will help to keep the joints mobile without straining them.
Learn to read the body’s signals and know when to stop, slow down, or rest.