Arthritis
Arthritis is a degenerative inflammatory condition that can affect any joint of the body. However depending on the type of arthritis some joints are more affected than others. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and can be found anywhere in the spine as well as extremities; all people will develop some OA somewhere in their body at some point in their lives. Degenerative Disc Disease (or DDD) is often associated with osteoarthritis in the spine because altered movement patterns or poor biomechanics tend to predispose a joint to both of these conditions.
Osteoarthritis has three main causes:
- Poor Biomechanics
- Genetic Predisposition
- Dietary Influence
Age Related Arthritis
As time passes and we neglect our body or accumulate more injuries we tend to affect the range of motion and set ourselves up for the arthritic process to begin. Also as time passes we have more opportunities for poor dietary choices and can influence the onset of arthritis. Genetic predispositions also take time to show up so as time passes we begin to fight the genetic clock that we inherited from our parents. However, by making healthy decisions about activity, exercise, diet and stress we can slow down age related arthritis and stay active in our older age.
Other Forms of Arthritis
Other common forms of arthritis are most often diseases that we inherit or components of diseases with other features. Lymes disease is an infection passed by a certain form of Tick and has arthritic elements as well as other systemic problems like fatigue and nerve problems. Rheumatoid Arthritis is highly correlated with genetic predisposition and mostly affects the hands and upper cervical area of the spine. Below are some common forms of arthritis:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Lymes Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
Treatment
Chiropractors work with the movement and alignment of the body’s joints and can help with arthritic conditions. By getting chiropractic adjustments before the onset of Osteoarthritis you can prevent its development to some degree. Also chiropractic adjustments can help the body cope with the symptoms associated with arthritic conditions once they have developed and possibly slow their progression. Speak with your Santa Rosa Chiropractor at Toth Chiropractic for an evaluation of your condition and recommendations for treatment.
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