For the purpose of this article, LifeSource Health Partners accepts the definition of “seniors” established by AARP as anyone who is fifty years or older; however, people of any age can be stricken with arthritis. The exact causes of arthritis are still not fully understood, but the symptoms are consistent and obvious. They include stiffness, pain restriction of motion, deformities of the hands and feet, decreased dexterity, back pain/stiffness upon awakening, impaired physical capabilities, pain with activity and progressive joint degeneration that can be silent or too easily ignored. Common physical impairments can prevent a person from doing normal activities such as opening a jar, writing, playing sports, typing, exercising and even enjoying their family, grandchildren or hobbies! Many people, especially seniors, seem to accept arthritis as a condition of life and simply “put up” with the inflammation, joint pain, stiffness, muscle aches and physical limitations because they don’t know there are other options. Chiropractic care is especially well-suited to not only reduce these symptoms, but also provide arthritis sufferers with long-term pain relief and improved functional capabilities of the hands, back, legs and other areas so you can enjoy your favorite activities.
Needs of Seniors With Arthritis
Seniors with arthritis need to reduce the inflammation and deterioration that affects their joints. Consequently, the initial goals of treatment are to not only relieve those symptoms and increase functional capabilities but more importantly to slow down the progression of the condition because arthritis is almost always a progressive condition, which means it gets worse with time-regardless of symptoms. Sadly, even as the inflammation and joint deterioration get worse, the symptoms usually fluctuate or even come and go completely, sometimes for many months or even years, only to return for no apparent reason! This is why seniors are especially susceptible to a false sense of improvement when the pain subsides and they start to believe the arthritis is getting better, only to experience a relapse of symptoms sometime later. Unfortunately, the underlying condition has been getting progressively worse the entire time resulting in permanent damage that limits the level of relief and recovery that can be achieved. Since arthritis will get worse if it is not treated, chiropractic care on a regular basis can help slow down or even stop the progression of arthritis and restore a senior’s ability to have pain-free use of their hands, back, legs and other joints.
Seniors with arthritis need to reduce the inflammation and deterioration that affects their joints. Consequently, the initial goals of treatment are to not only relieve those symptoms and increase functional capabilities but more importantly to slow down the progression of the condition because arthritis is almost always a progressive condition, which means it gets worse with time-regardless of symptoms. Sadly, even as the inflammation and joint deterioration get worse, the symptoms usually fluctuate or even come and go completely, sometimes for many months or even years, only to return for no apparent reason! This is why seniors are especially susceptible to a false sense of improvement when the pain subsides and they start to believe the arthritis is getting better, only to experience a relapse of symptoms sometime later. Unfortunately, the underlying condition has been getting progressively worse the entire time resulting in permanent damage that limits the level of relief and recovery that can be achieved. Since arthritis will get worse if it is not treated, chiropractic care on a regular basis can help slow down or even stop the progression of arthritis and restore a senior’s ability to have pain-free use of their hands, back, legs and other joints.
Specific Services of Chiropractic Medicine To Treat Arthritis
Getting chiropractic treatment on a regular basis means seeing a chiropractic doctor for a short visit once a week, once every other week, or at least once a month. Specific chiropractic treatments that will provide measurable benefits to seniors with arthritis will depend, in part, on the type of arthritis a person has. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips, spine and other weight-bearing joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that typically affects the hands and feet resulting in destruction of the soft tissues and ligaments around the joints; this is what leads to the hallmark deformities characterized by rheumatoid arthritis. There are less common types of arthritis but almost all cause similar symptoms of joint inflammation, pain and stiffness.
For osteoarthritis, chiropractic medicine services that provide relief and reduce the progression of the condition include:
• Traction (the gentle stretching or elongation of a joint by a machine) to open the joint space, enhance tissue health and improve function.
• Joint mobilization (the movement of a joint in a prescribed manner) to increase joint function and restore pain-free movement.
• Prescription of specific stretches and exercises to be performed at home.
• Specific nutritional supplements to promote healthy cartilage.
For rheumatoid arthritis, there are other services provided by LifeSource Health Partners and many other wellness clinics that focus on the actual cause instead of just trying to relieve the symptoms and limitations associated with the condition. In addition to the chiropractic medicine services described above, the following treatments can effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:
• Dietary assessment to determine if the food a person is eating contributes to joint and tissue inflammation.
• Food allergy assessment to identify specific foods that could be contributing to the cause of the condition.
• Acupuncture to restore normal balance and circulation of “chi” (vital body energy).
• Cleansing to eliminate toxins, enhance cellular function and restore biochemical balance; this also results in significant weight loss for most people.
• Specific supplements to restore adrenal function and promote tissue healing.
• Gentle manual therapies such as joint mobilization, stretching, exercise and strength training under the care of a licensed Chiropractor Doctor.
• Acupuncture to restore normal balance and circulation of “chi” (vital body energy).
• Cleansing to eliminate toxins, enhance cellular function and restore biochemical balance; this also results in significant weight loss for most people.
• Specific supplements to restore adrenal function and promote tissue healing.
• Gentle manual therapies such as joint mobilization, stretching, exercise and strength training under the care of a licensed Chiropractor Doctor.
Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis in Seniors
Seniors should experience a progressive reduction in pain as well as a steady increase in strength, mobility, range of motion and the ability to perform many tasks that were difficult or impossible before treatment. Treatment often starts once or twice a week depending on the severity and length of time the senior has experienced the symptoms associated with arthritis. X-rays should be taken to help identify how long the arthritis has been present and the severity of any joint deterioration since the condition usually started long before any symptoms were noticed. The longer a senior has had arthritis and the worse the symptoms are, the more often treatment should be given and the longer it will take to achieve a favorable outcome. Over time, monthly visits are particularly useful to help minimize the progression of the disease and any residual symptoms. Since certain types of arthritis can compromise other functions of the body relating to the heart, lungs, blood flow, nervous system and the immune function, chiropractic evaluation and treatment of arthritis serves as an excellent way to reduce the possibility that arthritis will cause deformity of one’s joints or compromise these other important bodily functions.
Seniors, like everyone else, often deny their pain is worth being treated and live with unnecessary pain or “hope” it will go away. Even worse, they often take excessive amounts of over-the counter pain relievers or prescription arthritis medications that can damage the liver, kidney, stomach or other vital organs. Chiropractic medicine provides a drug-free treatment that can not only reduce the pain and suffering from arthritis but often slows down the progression of the condition! This results in better mobility, improved function and a substantial elevation in the quality of life for seniors with arthritis.
