There are many different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type.

This can occur from years of usage, which is why this type of arthritis is also called degenerative joint disease, DJD, or the wear-and-tear type of arthritis. It can commonly occur if you have structural imbalances that have persisted for years or if you have injured a joint at some point in time. A common example of an injury causing arthritis is when football and soccer players injure their knees and they end up developing arthritis years later. The most common joints that arthritis occurs in are the thumbs, knees, hips and spine. Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage in between joints breaks down. Cartilage functions as a shock absorber and allows for smooth movement between bones. When this material is worn away, painful and restricted movement can happen. With pain, restricted movement and constant irritation, inflammation can become chronic within the joint. With chronic inflammation, the joint is restricted from healing properly and your body ends up doing more harm to your joints than good. This ultimately leads an endless cycle of pain and dysfunction.

So how do we break this cycle of pain and dysfunction? There are 4 main ways to approach healing or preventing further progression of arthritis. These four categories are: diet, exercises, supplements, and hands on therapies, including chiropractic. Diet and supplements provide the joints with the nutrients they need to function properly and heal. Exercises help stabilize and strengthen the joints and allow for proper gliding of the joints. Please note that exercises should only be performed when a joint is not actively inflamed or if you rate the discomfort at a 5/10 or higher on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst pain you’ve ever felt. We recommend you consult an expert, such as a chiropractor or physical therapist, to find exercises that are appropriate for you and your condition. Chiropractic creates symmetry, which will reduce the stress on the arthritic joints. Reducing stress on these joints allows for the nutrients you are attaining through diet/supplements and exercises to have their maximum impact.