3 Tips to prevent arthritis

 
We have all heard about arthritis and it is safe to assume that we all know someone, maybe in the family, that has arthritis. Arthritis is a very common inflammatory joint disease and affects around 3 million people in Australia, representing about 15% of the population.(1) There are different types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, etc.
 
Osteoarthritis(OA) is among the most common type of joint diseases. It is the leading cause of pain and disability among the elderly population.(1) The causes of joint disease are usually straight forward; common examples include previous injuries, biomechanical imbalance, obesity, weakened muscles and so on.(2)
 
OA often occurs around weight baring joints such as knee, hip and spine. These joints are synovial joints that consist of cartilage, a joint capsule and synovial fluid to help lubricate the joint and help with smooth movement. When the biomechanical loading of the joint is compromised the inflammation process will kick-in. As a result, we see chronic inflammation occuring, wear and tear of the joint surface accelerates, chances of bone spur(unwanted bone growth) increase and pain in the joint/s is often present.

3 tips to prevent OA!
 

1. Exercise and movement - research has shown less sedentary activities can result in a better health outcome!(2) Not only reducing your chance of getting OA, but also staying away from obesity, type 2 diabetes and so on!
2. Eat healthy - More green leafs and fruits, less refined sugar, soft drinks and processed food! This will help reduce chronic inflammation in your system!
3. Check your shoe - check the heel of your shoes! If one side is wearing out quicker than the other, you are likely putting more weight onto one side! Sneaky!

 
Chiropractors are trained to take care of your musculoskeletal system, your muscles and joints. It is important to act early because once the joint wears out, it is impossible to get them back! If you or your loved ones are curious about how we can help manage joint pain or arthritis, speak to one of our chiropractors today.


 

References

1.         March LM, Bagga H. Epidemiology of osteoarthritis in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2004;180(5):S6.
2.         Lee J, Chang RW, Ehrlich‐Jones L, Kwoh CK, Nevitt M, Semanik PA, et al. Sedentary behavior and physical function: objective evidence from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis care & research. 2015;67(3):366-73.