A diagnosis of osteoarthritis can sometimes feel like being told: “Your joints are wearing out.”
And if pain and stiffness are already making walking, exercising, climbing stairs or getting out of a chair difficult, it’s understandable to worry about what happens next. But osteoarthritis doesn’t automatically mean you should stop moving. In fact, staying active and maintaining strength are important parts of managing osteoarthritis. So where might chiropractic care fit into the picture?
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term condition affecting joints. The condition can involve multiple structures within and around the joint and may cause pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced movement. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands and spine.
Importantly, having changes associated with osteoarthritis doesn’t always tell us exactly how much pain someone will experience. Two people can have similar imaging findings but very different symptoms.
What does osteoarthritis feel like?
Common symptoms include:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness
- Reduced movement
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Grinding or crackling sensations
- Reduced strength
- Difficulty with everyday activities
Why does osteoarthritis develop?
There isn’t one single cause and its not all to do with age or simply wear and tear on the joints.
Risk factors include:
- Increasing age
- Previous joint injury
- Repetitive joint loading
- Genetics
- Certain metabolic conditions
- Being overweight or obese, particularly for hip and knee OA
Osteoarthritis can affect younger people, including athletes and people who have sustained joint injuries.
Should you exercise if you have osteoarthritis?
For many people, yes and this can seem counterintuitive. If movement hurts, your natural reaction may be to protect the joint by doing less. But reduced activity can lead to loss of strength, flexibility and then mobility, which can make everyday activities more difficult.
The key is choosing an appropriate level and progressing gradually. Motion of joints is the key to improving functioning and exercise plays an important role in managing osteoarthritis.
What does exercise for osteoarthritis look like?
Depending on the joint involved and your current abilities, exercise could include:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Strength exercises
- Mobility exercises
- Balance exercises
- Water-based exercise
- Gradual functional activities
The best programme is one you can maintain. If you haven’t exercised for a long time, start at a manageable level rather than trying to change everything overnight. This is an important aspect of managing your health and should be discussed with your health care provider.
Can chiropractic care help osteoarthritis?
Chiropractic care shouldn’t be presented to reverse osteoarthritis or restore worn cartilage. The focus should be on helping you move, function and manage symptoms. Restoring movement into a structure to allow the body to heal will have a positive impact on how the structure will function.
What could an assessment involve?
If you visit Schafer Chiropractic and Associates with joint pain, an assessment may consider:
- Your symptoms
- How the pain affects your daily life
- Joint movement
- Muscle function
- Movement patterns
- Previous injuries
- Physical activity
- Your broader health history
The purpose is to understand the problem and determine what type of care may be appropriate.
What about osteoarthritis of the spine?
Osteoarthritis can affect the joints of the spine. Some people may experience stiffness or discomfort in the neck or lower back. However, spinal pain can have many different causes, so it is important not to assume that every episode of back or neck pain is caused by osteoarthritis therefore an assessment can help establish what needs attention.
Weight and osteoarthritis
If someone is overweight or obese and has osteoarthritis or nonspecific joint pain, weight management may form part of their overall treatment plan. Understanding that weight reduction can improve quality of life and physical function and reduce pain.
Staying active doesn’t mean ignoring pain
There’s a difference between appropriate exercise discomfort and significant worsening symptoms. If you’ve been inactive, starting exercise may initially make your muscles and joints feel different. Joint pain can increase when therapeutic exercise begins, while also emphasising the benefits of consistent long-term exercise. A gradual approach is usually more realistic than attempting a major increase in activity overnight.
Medical attention is particularly important if a joint becomes:
- Very swollen
- Hot or red
- Suddenly extremely painful
- Impossible to bear weight through
- Associated with fever or feeling generally unwell
Osteoarthritis care in Somerset West
If joint pain is stopping you from walking, exercising, working in the garden, playing with your children or enjoying the activities you love, it may be time to look at what can be changed.
At Schafer Chiropractic and Associates, the focus is on understanding your individual presentation and helping you work towards better movement and function. Chiropractic care may be one part of that picture- alongside exercise, self-management and other healthcare support when needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Can chiropractic care cure osteoarthritis? No. Chiropractic care should not be promoted as a cure for osteoarthritis or as a way of reversing joint degeneration.
- Is exercise safe with osteoarthritis? Appropriately selected exercise is an important part of osteoarthritis management.
- Should I stop exercising if my joints hurt? Not necessarily. The type, intensity and progression of exercise matter. A suitable programme can help improve strength, function and quality of life.
- Does osteoarthritis always get worse? Not necessarily. Symptoms can fluctuate considerably, and appropriate management can help people maintain function and quality of life.
Keep moving, keep learning and get the right support
An osteoarthritis diagnosis doesn’t have to mean giving up the activities you enjoy. The right management plan focuses on what you can do, how you can build capacity and what support you need along the way.
If you’re experiencing joint pain or stiffness or you have had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in Somerset West and would like to understand whether chiropractic care could form part of your overall management plan, contact Schafer Chiropractic and Associates to book and appointment.
