Learn how to lessen the negative effects of arthritis and be proactive
Author: Dr. William Robinson, DC
There are many parts of my practice I love, and speaking to patients is one of them. Questions around arthritis often come up - ways to prevent it, why it happens in the first place, and how to lessen its negative effects. The best analogy that resonates with my patients is comparing the human body to a vehicle.
Arthritis is often associated with aging. Arthritis is not a problem around growing older, rather I believe it's often an age of the problem, problem. Like a vehicle, it's not about the age of the vehicle but how well the owner takes care of it. Regular maintenance and check-ups keep the car running smoothly, and any problems that do creep up are fixed right away.
Dismissing your check engine light as it appears and each time you take it out for a drive will often result in major problems down the road for your vehicle. Instead of waiting until your engine is smoking, you take it in to get checked and fixed.
The body is similar in that injuries that are dismissed, or if the care plan was not followed through entirely, can result in arthritis forming in that particular area - and the older it is, the more it has changed the alignment of the body causing a ripple affect to other areas.
Arthritis can also form even without injury. Like engine oil for your gears, regular movement will help decrease the chances of arthritis forming. It doesn't have to be strenuous exercise, even going for a walk each day will have the joints pumping and help prevent it from forming. Keeping the body's gears moving is key; it's the lack of motion that starts causing degeneration.
Chiropractors and Registered Massage Therapists (RMT) work with the body to alleviate the negative affects, but more importantly, the root cause of the arthritis. That's why a thorough initial treatment and following a care plan all the way to maintenance can get you back on the road to optimal health.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. The content provided is for informational purposes only. Use of the content provided on this blog post is at your sole discretion.