Your joints are vital to how your body moves. They aid in walking, running and how you go about your daily tasks. However, many people suffer from joint pain and this affects how they get around and keep up with busy lifestyles. Most joint pains are related to the knee, shoulders, spine and ankles. Keeping the joints healthy is necessary for maintaining one’s free range of motion.
Causes Of Joint Pain
The cause of joint pain may be different from one person to another. However, some causes are more common.
Here are some common causes of joint pain:
Arthritis And Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is the most common cause of joint pain. It decreases the flexibility and mobility of the joints. Psoriatic or rheumatoid– the common types of arthritis– are autoimmune diseases that are a result of joint inflammation and the surrounding tissues. They cause swelling of the joints, making them stiff and limiting a person’s mobility.
Another cause of joint pain is osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage breaks down as a result of consistent wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is common among older people, causing swollen joints, stiffness and decreased range of motion. It is a form of degenerative arthritis, and it causes pain due to the friction produced by the rubbing together of joints. Unlike arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease, osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease.
Chiropractic care can help improve these conditions. It can help improve the immune system’s functionality, thus helping with autoimmune conditions.
Injury
All kinds of acute injuries can cause discomfort and joint pain. Many of these injuries experienced by adults are related to automobile accidents, workplace injuries and traumatic events. Injuries tend to be milder (and are a result of repetitive stress) for people who work in a traditional office setting. In contrast, the injuries for people working in hazardous conditions may be a result of uneven flooring, spilled materials, malfunctioning equipment and other types of mishaps. When these types of injuries happen, it mostly affects the elbow, knees and shoulders. Luckily, the symptoms of these injuries can be reduced with chiropractic adjustments.
Joint injury to adolescents and adults is usually a result of participating in different types of sports. Chiropractic care is a great treatment option for the rehabilitation process of most sports injuries for both amateurs and professionals. Once the pain and harm to the body have been medically addressed, chiropractic care can help restore the joints to proper health.
Other Health Conditions
Many other health conditions can also cause joint pain(s). For example, there is a lot of pressure exerted by pregnancy on the hips, knees and spine. This happens as the body tries to balance out the growing baby’s weight. It can result in joint pain for some pregnant women.
Obesity is another condition that can cause joint pain as a result of too much pressure and weight on the joints.
Many other health conditions also cause inflammation that leads to joint pain, such as Lupus or Lyme disease.
Another joint in the body is the jawbone. Many people suffer from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). TMJ causes locking or clicking of the jaw, difficulty chewing and jaw pain.
How Chiropractic Care Promotes Joint Health
The pain you suffer does not need to continue, regardless of the type of joint pain you are experiencing. Chiropractic care can help ease the pain, thus increasing mobility, bringing relief and improving the quality of your life.
Stiffness and joint pain can also make participating in and enjoying a good exercise routine difficult. Chiropractic care is very helpful in optimizing the joint’s function, making it possible to enhance your range of motion with less pain.
Furthermore, chiropractic care is a great treatment option when you are living with arthritis. This is because it will help reduce the pain and give you tools that help address the root cause of the issue while letting your body heal naturally. Chiropractic adjustment aims to improve your nervous system and align the spine without medication.
In general, here is how chiropractic care can promote joint health:
1. Reduces Nerve Pressure
Nerve pain can cause a tingling sensation or pain, which can be difficult to manage with traditional medication. Chiropractic care aims to align the spine to reduce or eliminate the pressure on the spine. When your spine is poorly aligned, it can compress nerve endings, causing you pain with or without movement. The pain will decrease, and the nerve ending will no longer be irritated once the spine is adjusted. There are a wide range of techniques chiropractors use to deal with these types of compressions, including strengthening exercises, ultrasound and stretching.
2. Improves Joint Mobility
You may begin to have joint stiffness when you are not able to move around or get the needed exercise to help you stay healthy. Since chiropractic care looks at the alignment of the spine, it can also be used to help restore joint functions.
Before chiropractic care is recommended, the chiropractor will first assess your condition to know the cause of your joint mobility issue and related stiffness. This treatment for arthritis is common as it can also help you manage soft tissue tenderness and spasms to improve joint health.
3. Promotes Movement
Movement is important when you are dealing with joint pain and stiffness. By optimizing the functions of your joint(s) through chiropractic care, your mobility can be improved. You will then be able to move around more freely when you have less pain.
Additionally, the chiropractor may teach you strengthening exercises that will help keep your spine in better alignment. While mobility is improved and pain is reduced with adjustments, exercise can keep the adjustments in the proper place.
Chiropractic care is a great way to help improve your mobility and get you back to doing activities you enjoy.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care can help you manage joint pain and improve your mobility, thus promoting joint health. If you are currently experiencing joint pain, you should consult a chiropractor soon to help alleviate the symptoms of the pain and get your joints back in better shape.