Does Chiropractic Help Arthritis? Exploring the Benefits and Treatment Options

Does chiropractic help Arthritis? The short answer is yes – but understanding how and why chiropractic treatments help requires a deeper look at both arthritis and the chiropractic approach to care. At CorePosture Chiropractic, we’ve developed comprehensive treatment protocols that address not just the symptoms of arthritis but also the underlying structural and functional issues that can worsen joint problems over time.

Understanding Arthritis and Its Impact

What is Arthritis?

At its core, arthritis is inflammation of the joints – the places where bones meet and move against each other. While that definition sounds simple, arthritis itself is anything but. It affects over 54 million Americans and can impact virtually any joint in the body, from the small joints in your fingers to the large weight-bearing joints of your hips and knees.

The symptoms most arthritis sufferers experience include:

• Persistent joint pain
• Stiffness (particularly in the morning or after periods of inactivity)
• Swelling and reduced range of motion

These symptoms don’t just cause physical discomfort – they can dramatically impact quality of life. Many of our patients at CorePosture come to us after arthritis has begun limiting their favorite activities, interfering with sleep, or even making simple daily tasks like cooking or driving increasingly difficult.

Common Types of Arthritis

While there are over 100 different types of arthritis, we most commonly treat patients with these major forms:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form, often described as “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. In Southern California’s active community, we see many cases related to previous sports injuries or repetitive motion activities. The degeneration leads to bone-on-bone contact, causing pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) takes a different path – it’s an autoimmune disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joint capsule (the synovium). This lining becomes inflamed and swollen, eventually damaging the cartilage and bone within the joint. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA often affects joints symmetrically (the same joints on both sides of the body).

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) affects some people who have psoriasis, a condition that features red patches of skin topped with silvery scales. Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but the joint problems can sometimes begin before skin lesions appear.

Other forms we treat include gout (caused by uric acid crystal buildup), lupus arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis (primarily affecting the spine). Each type requires a nuanced approach to care.

The Principles of Chiropractic Care

Before exploring how chiropractic helps arthritis specifically, it’s important to understand our fundamental approach to health and healing.

Focus on the Musculoskeletal System

Chiropractic care is centered on the relationship between the spine’s structure and the body’s function, particularly as coordinated by the nervous system. Our nervous system controls every cell, tissue, and organ in our body. When vertebrae become misaligned – what we call subluxations – they can interfere with proper nerve function, potentially affecting everything from organ function to immune response.

At CorePosture Chiropractic, we utilize advanced Chiropractic BioPhysics techniques to identify and correct these subluxations, restoring proper alignment and nerve communication throughout the body. This is particularly relevant for arthritis patients because joint function is heavily dependent on proper nerve signaling.

Non-Invasive and Drug-Free Approach

One of the most appealing aspects of chiropractic care, especially for our Newport Beach patients who prefer natural wellness approaches, is that it offers a non-invasive, medication-free alternative or complement to conventional arthritis treatments.

Through precise manual adjustments, we help restore proper joint function without the side effects that often accompany long-term medication use. Many of my patients have been able to reduce their reliance on pain medications after beginning regular chiropractic care.

But our hands-on approach goes beyond just adjustments. We employ a variety of techniques including soft tissue therapy, therapeutic exercises, and specialized instruments to address joint dysfunction comprehensively.

How Chiropractic Care May Help Arthritis Symptoms

Now let’s explore the specific ways chiropractic care can benefit arthritis sufferers, based both on my clinical experience and the growing body of research in this field.

Pain Relief

Pain relief is usually the primary goal for arthritis patients seeking chiropractic care. Through careful spinal manipulation and targeted joint adjustments, we can often provide significant relief by:

• Decreasing pressure on pain-sensitive structures
• Reducing muscular tension around affected joints
• Releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers
• Breaking the pain-spasm-pain cycle that often accompanies arthritis

One patient, a 67-year-old avid golfer with osteoarthritis in his spine, came to our Newport Beach office barely able to play three holes without debilitating pain. After eight weeks of specific adjustments and therapeutic exercises, he reported a 70% reduction in pain and had returned to playing full rounds multiple times per week.

Improved Joint Function and Mobility

Beyond pain relief, perhaps the most significant benefit we provide for arthritis patients is improved joint function. When joints are properly aligned, they can move more freely and with less friction and stress.

Regular chiropractic adjustments help:

• Restore natural movement patterns
• Increase range of motion in stiff joints
• Reduce the grinding sensation many arthritis sufferers experience
• Improve overall biomechanical function

Reduced Inflammation

While inflammation is a complex process influenced by many factors, research suggests that chiropractic adjustments may help modulate inflammatory responses in the body. Studies have shown that spinal manipulation can lead to reductions in inflammatory cytokines – chemical messengers involved in the inflammatory process.

Enhanced Posture and Body Mechanics

Poor posture isn’t just an aesthetic concern – it can significantly worsen arthritis symptoms by placing abnormal stress on joints. 

At CorePosture Chiropractic, we place special emphasis on identifying and correcting postural imbalances through our Chiropractic BioPhysics approach. This scientific, evidence-based system allows us to:

• Precisely measure postural deviations
• Create customized correction plans
• Track improvements objectively over time
• Address the root causes of joint stress

We’ve found that correcting forward head posture alone can dramatically reduce arthritis symptoms in the neck and upper back, while proper pelvic alignment often provides relief for hip and knee arthritis sufferers.

Complementary Therapies

While adjustments form the core of chiropractic treatment, our comprehensive approach includes several complementary therapies that enhance results for arthritis patients:

• Soft tissue therapy techniques
• Heat and cold therapies 
• Therapeutic modalities 
• Customized exercise programs 
• Nutritional counseling 

By combining these approaches in individualized treatment plans, we help patients address arthritis from multiple angles, often achieving better results than any single therapy could provide alone.

A Comprehensive Approach to Arthritis Management

Every person’s experience with arthritis is unique – the joints affected, the severity of symptoms, and the response to various treatments all vary widely. That’s why at CorePosture, we create personalized care plans based on thorough examinations and your specific health goals.

If you’re struggling with arthritis pain and stiffness, I encourage you to explore how chiropractic care might complement your current treatment plan. 

Remember that while arthritis is often a progressive condition, proactive management can significantly slow its advancement and minimize its impact on your daily life. With the right care team and approach, you can maintain an active, fulfilling lifestyle despite arthritis – something we see our Newport Beach patients achieve every day at CorePosture Chiropractic.

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