We all age; that is a fact of life. However, by looking after our bodies, staying active, eating well and having chiropractic, we can slow the process. We can’t stop you aging, but we can help stop you feeling it.

Many patients have been told they have pain due to ‘arthritis’ (inflammation of the joints) and they will just have to ‘put up with it’ or ‘live with it’. Most of us will get some wear and tear or osteoarthritis as we get older. However, do we need to just put up with the pain?

Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis, often abbreviated to ‘OA’) is usually due to damage to the cartilage and bone. These changes can, however, affect the surrounding muscles and ligaments. As we go through life our bodies can compensate for this and, quite often, we can feel little or no pain – even if the wear and tear is quite advanced. It is very common for us to notice some stiffness in the affected joints, especially in the morning, when the weather changes or after a period of inactivity (easier with mild activity, worse with increased activity).