This week we’re turning our focus on a condition that is shockingly common: ARTHRITIS
Commonly coined an Old Age Disease, arthritis is on the rise in young folks too. Why is that? Our young people are spending more and more time looking down at screens and sitting on couches/desks which is changing their posture.
Bad posture = Stress on joints = Degeneration = Arthritis
Here is what isn’t commonly talked about: Arthritis is not a CAUSE…. it is a RESULT of stressed out bodies. Stress has to be there first.
Research has shown us that a dysfunctional joint only takes 2 weeks to start degenerating. 2 weeks!!!! Have you ever wondered why your chiropractor asks you to come back every 2-4 weeks to get adjusted? This would be why.
Arthritis is mainly diagnosed by taking an x-ray and observing those changes in the bony segments of the spine.
There a few different categories of arthritis but the 2 main ones are inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Non-inflammatory arthritis is simply the result of a well-used body. It’s wear and tear compounded over time. Inflammatory arthritis is usually coupled with other conditions such as Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis and Psoriasis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is another type of arthritis that is inflammatory, but there are many, many other types out there.
Now here’s something interesting…. does arthritis cause pain? The answer: Maybe.
If you have been diagnosed with arthritis and have been told that that is the cause of your pain and you’re just going to have to deal with it; that is wildly untrue. The truth is that a person can live a perfectly healthy and fun-filled life with arthritis if the joint remains FUNCTIONAL. A functional joint is one that is moving well and firing those little receptors to signal the nervous system that all is well in that part of your body. This process is called proprioception. It is the communication between that joint, the muscles around it (which also have those little receptors), the nerves that supply that area and the brain. If that communication is faulty…. PAIN WILL SET IN.
Here are some ways to help yourself out if you have been struggling to find answers to your achy joints:
1) Get to a chiropractor! Our whole purpose is to reconnect the body to the brain and the joints of the spine are the middleman. They’re kind of a big deal…
2) Eat better food that is anti-inflammatory. Garbage in = garbage out. We can’t expect our bodies to heal if we don’t give it the correct tools to do so.
3) Drink 1/2 your body weight in fluid ounces of water every day!
4) Move your body!!!! Every day for at least 30 minutes. Try yoga. Stretching and allowing your body to gain flexibility will allow you to hold your adjustments better. It also helps with emotional and mental health.
5) Rest. Get amazing sleep so your body can do the healing it needs to do.
We are here if you have any questions! Let us know how we can help you get back on your feet!