Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common ailments in the United States, affecting individuals of all age groups. The term refers to the inflammation of joints. This, in turn, leads to discomfort and pain when moving the affected joint/extremity as well as a general stiffness in the body. Arthritis affecting your hands, for example, can lead to stiff fingers that are unable to move freely. In addition to pain, you may typically find that you can do less with your hands in general. This includes things like easily typing on a computer or fastening buttons.

The same idea holds true for arthritis in other parts of the body. Depending upon the location of the arthritis, range of motion can be extremely limited as a result of the affliction. The extent of this is often highly dependent upon the exact type of arthritis experienced by the individual in question, however it is important to note that there are treatments that can help you regain use of your body. One particularly effective option when it comes to arthritis care in Fort Myers, FL, is chiropractic care.

Why chiropractic care?

Choosing the right relief measures for individuals with arthritis is a highly personal decision that might be made upon a variety of factors. Some people would prefer a holistic care option that helps improve their symptoms without adding more medication to their daily schedule. Other individuals might be looking for something that is simply a bit more targeted and specialized than the care they are already receiving. Whatever the exact reasons behind their interest, chiropractic care is a great option for individuals with arthritis because it can often be performed directly to the area where the pain is occurring.

Something else to keep in mind when considering chiropractic care for arthritis is the amount of secondary pain that the disease can cause. If you have arthritis in your knee joint, your walking might be significantly affected. You might compensate for your affected knee by putting more weight on the other, for example, or by adjusting your stride. The problem is that the alignment of your body is precise and can easily be thrown out of order – and if that happens, the consequences are likely to be uncomfortable, to say the least. Changing the way you move and walk can impact other areas of your body like your back or your calves, you might begin to experience pain in those areas even though you never did previously.

Chiropractic care is excellent for treating this kind of secondary pain. Dr. Eric Teachout is an experienced chiropractor and can work with you to help address the misalignment issues caused by your arthritis and, in turn, the pain you’re experiencing in other parts of your body as a result. This can help dramatically reduce your limited range of motion as well as the overall pain that you feel every day. We offer our patients the opportunity to invest in care that is targeted to meet their needs and help them work towards personal mobility goals without adding more medication or invasive procedures to their plate.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care offers patients a safe and non-addictive alternative to certain medical treatment options for certain kinds of arthritis. One of the main benefits of opting for this alternative is that it is a non-invasive and gentle option to help manage the symptoms of arthritis. When you understand the basic principles of chiropractic care, this makes perfect sense. Chiropractors focus on fixing misalignments and restrictions in joints in the body. Arthritis, with its inflammation and pain, can often cause joints to become misaligned in such a way that symptoms are amplified.

Making the decision to embrace chiropractic care has many benefits beyond simply being a gentle form of care. Chiropractors can offer patients care that is specialized and targeted specifically at certain body parts and health issues. That means that the actual location with the pain will be treated and that improvements are made to the joints in question. This is a big benefit over medication alone, much of which is focused upon relieving pain and hiding the symptoms of arthritis rather than actually addressing the joint problems themselves.

Additional benefits of chiropractic care beyond those previously discussed may include:

• Decrease in Inflammation
• Improved Flexibility
• Reduced Discomfort
• Reduced Pain
• Increased Range of Motion
• Increased Activity Level
• Increased Quality of Life
• Decrease need for pain meds

Chiropractic care has been shown to offer patients with neck and back pain significant relief. In fact, The American College of Physicians even recommend pursuing chiropractic care as a first-line treatment option for the kind of pain caused by arthritis before turning to medication. This decision was made as a result of a number of studies that have shown that gentle manipulation can work wonders for back and neck pain without the need for costly medical procedures or pain medication.

Is chiropractic care for arthritis right for everyone?

As with anything in life, there are exceptions to the rule. There are certain situations where chiropractic care might not work for the issues that you are experiencing. It is important to be honest and open with both your primary care physician as well as your chiropractor to ensure that you receive the very best attention possible that will work to promote your health.

The best advice is to speak with your primary care physician as well as your chiropractor before receiving any kind of manipulation to make sure that chiropractic care is right for you. You can reach out to the professionals at Teachout Chiropractic and Wellness today for more information about the kind of chiropractic care we offer and how we think we can help you improve your quality of life. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always happy to answer any questions and we look forward to seeing you soon!