Osteoarthritis / Wear & Tear
It’s quite common for people to be advised that they have ‘arthritis’ when actually their pain is due to joint pain and no wear and tear exists. If OA does exist, there are many things you can do to help the symptoms, prevent it getting worse or even prevent it coming on at all. It is more common for OA to occur in older patients, however, it is not always related to age and can affect the joints in younger individuals who have been subjected to injury or long term overuse.
What can be done?
Degeneration of joints cannot be reversed. However the Chiropractor can help to relieve pain, improve the movement of the joints and relax any tension in the muscles. In our practice we often see hip and knee pain due to arthritis and, in many cases, chiropractic treatment can make a significant difference to pain and stiffness in these areas.
Dr Baillie will ask you questions about your pain, medical history, posture and lifestyle and carry out a full and thorough examination to discover the cause of your pain. You will then be offered a diagnosis of your complaint.
Treatment begins often with gentle, specific adjustments (the chiropractic word for manipulation) done by hand to free stiff joints. The use of other techniques will also be used to help improve the function of the muscles. You will also be advised of specific exercises to strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight muscles to improve flexibility.