Managing Arthritis with Chiropractic Care
Are you one of the 53 million Americans living with arthritis? The condition is common, especially among older adults. But what many people don’t realize is how many options you have for managing arthritis pain beyond surgery–including chiropractic care for arthritis.
At Jennifer Scherbauer DC ND LLC, we regularly see the benefits of chiropractic care for arthritis! Karen is one such example.
Karen was a vivacious 65-year-old when she began struggling with osteoarthritis pain in her hips. When her pain began limiting her mobility and independence, she started to worry: Would she have to take pain medication for the rest of her life? Or worse, would she have to undergo a total hip replacement to find relief?
Fortunately, one of Karen’s friends suggested she visit a chiropractor. Karen was surprised at first; she thought chiropractors only treated back pain. But she took her friend’s advice and discovered that chiropractors offer far more than she realized, including several strategies for managing her arthritis symptoms.
Let’s look at Karen’s story as an example of all that chiropractic care can do for those with arthritis. And if you’d like more information, schedule an appointment at our Jennifer Scherbauer DC ND LLC clinic today!
How Chiropractic Care Helped Karen Manage Arthritis
Karen’s treatment kicked off with an in-depth physical assessment to help us understand her exact symptoms: the location and nature of her pain, any mobility restrictions she was experiencing, and any additional concerns she had. We also ran a couple of simple movement screens examining her balance, gait, and posture.
As chiropractors, we wanted to help Karen maximize her body’s natural healing ability. Now, we can’t heal arthritis; the condition has no cure. But we could help manage Karen’s symptoms without drugs or surgery, and we could also help slow the progression of her condition.
We created Karen’s customized treatment plan with that philosophy in mind. Our first order of business was addressing Karen’s acute pain. The classic chiropractic spinal adjustment was too intense for Karen’s needs, but joint mobilization–where we guided Karen’s spine and hips through their current range of motion–was just right. We also manipulated and massaged the soft tissue around Karen’s hip. Both techniques promoted blood circulation in the area and got her body used to moving.
We also used therapeutic ultrasound to further help Karen manage her pain. Ultrasound therapy uses high-frequency sound waves to facilitate blood flow and help damaged tissues heal; for arthritis, it can help reduce pain and improve the soft tissues supporting your joint’s functionality.
Our next step was to help Karen improve her hip mobility and function through a corrective exercise program. Regular movement is crucial in managing arthritis symptoms, so part of the program was to help Karen find exercise that she enjoyed, like daily walks.
However, we also provided Karen with more targeted exercises to address potential impairments we identified during her assessment. For example, we worked with her to improve hip strength to take pressure off the joint, and we guided her through balance exercises to reduce her risk of falling.
Learn How Chiropractic Care With Our Team Can Help!
If you want to manage your joint pain without surgery or pain medication, chiropractic care for arthritis could be the solution you need! Request an appointment today to learn how Jennifer Scherbauer DC ND LLC can help your unique situation and symptoms.