Tips on how chiropractic care can ease your pain

When we hear the term "chiropractic" we automatically think of neck and back pain. While chiropractic care is definitely effective for that type of pain, there are many other causes of pain and conditions it can address. Chiropractic is a whole-body, hands-on, holistic and safe way to manage pain and treat many conditions without the use of harmful drugs or potentially dangerous surgeries. Since chiropractors are highly educated in the spine, joints and nervous system, they can help ease your arthritis pain naturally.

• The word arthritis means joint inflammation.
• With over 100 varieties that can affect people of all ages, arthritis remains a leading cause of disability for those who are 55 and older.
• Osteoarthritis is the most common form, usually developing due to age or injury.
• It involves degeneration of cartilage and bone and occurs most often in the joints of the hips, knees and thumbs.
• The usual symptoms are pain and stiffness in the affected joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is both chronic and progressive. It can lead to deformity and lack of mobility in the affected joints.
• Fingers, feet, wrists and ankles are the most common joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis; however, it does affect others.

• The nervous system is your body's communication network.
• It transfers messages from your brain to your body, and it is these messages that control all of your body's functions.
• The nervous system carries messages about how your organs should operate, the strength of your immune system and movement of your limbs.
• As with any communication system, if there is interference, the message does not get delivered effectively.
• Chiropractic care involves finding the source of nerve interference and correcting it to improve function.
• Often beginning with misaligned vertebrae in the spine known as subluxations, your chiropractor will perform a detailed assessment to determine the cause of your issues.
• Manual or device-assisted adjustments are made to free any nerves of interference. This helps increase your body's chance at healing itself by allowing the related processes to work better.
• Your chiropractor will also work with your affected joints to help improve mobility and limit damage.
• Because your chiropractor uses a whole body approach to treating you, your chiropractic care plan may also include nutritional counselling that will help reduce inflammation and maintain a healthy body weight.
• You may be given light exercises aimed at keeping your joints mobile, and other treatments such as deep muscle massage and ultrasound may be included.

• If you have arthritis and want to try to ease your pain without invasive procedures or potentially harmful drugs, you should look no further than your chiropractor.
• Although arthritis cannot be cured, a chiropractic care plan can help relieve your pain and keep you moving better, longer.