Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the knees, hips, low back, neck, and fingers/hands. Osteoarthritis is characterised by a break down and loss of cartilage that sits between the joints. This in turn leads to pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. As the condition worsens overtime, excess bone growth in the form of “bone spurs” may start to develop causing further pain, inflammation, and loss of mobility.
Although osteoarthritis can affect people of all ages, its prevalence increases rapidly from the age of 45 years. It is most common in adults aged 80 years and older. In addition, it is also more common in females than males. Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include, age, being female, obesity, joint injury, muscle weakness and anatomical factors.
Patients suffering from osteoarthritis report varying symptoms depending on the joints affect and progression of the condition. Typical symptoms related to osteoarthritis include:
Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed clinically, but a more definitive diagnosis is established through x-ray, CT, or MRI. Osteoarthritis can be categorised into two categories, primary and secondary OA.
Primary osteoarthritis is the natural wear and tear that our joints endure throughout our lifetimes. The stresses and strains that we naturally expose our bodies to eventually causes breakdown of cartilage in joints in everyone.
Primary OA is like owning a car, overtime, the more you use it and drive it the more the seats and tyres get worn. Primary osteoarthritis typically starts to show between the ages of 55-60.
Secondary osteoarthritis involves a specific trigger or factor that exacerbates the breakdown of cartilage. Some of the common factors contributing to secondary OA include:
Chiropractic treatment of osteoarthritis varies between patients, as it depends on the location and severity of the arthritis, as well as the age and function of the patient.
Treatment should be considered more as ongoing “management and prevention”. This is because we cannot reverse the wear and tear changes. What we can do is help limit the progression of the condition as well as help manage pain and disability associated with it. Understanding the current state of your joint health is important to preventing and slowing these changes from occurring.
Treatment of osteoarthritis focuses on:
At Impulse Chiropractic, we use a number of treatment methods to help with osteoarthritis. Our management programs are individualised and specific to each patient. We use a combination of the following to help:
Low back pain is our most common complaint presenting to Impulse Chiropractic. Low back pain affects approximately 60-80% of people throughout their lifetime.
Increased usage of technology, increased sedentary lifestyles, working from home and adoption of poor postures has contributed to more people suffering from thoracic and rib pain.
Coccyx/tailbone pain can be an extremely painful and debilitating condition. Females are 5 times more likely to experience this pain than males.
The shoulder is a complex, mobile and dynamic joint! Most shoulder conditions involve the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bursa.
The temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) or TMJ is one of the most heavily used joints in the body. It therefore can be a common source of pain and dysfunction.
Plantar fasciitis is a common, painful foot condition that can affect people of all ages and activity levels.
Our chiropractors are well trained in the specific mechanisms involved in sports injuries as well as having backgrounds participating in high level sports themselves.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the knees, hips, low back, neck, and fingers/hands.
15/64 Pitt Rd, North Curl Curl
NSW 2099
(02) 9939 8817
admin@impulsechiropractic.com.au
Monday to Friday
8am–6:30pm
Saturday
8am–12pm
Please don’t hesitate to contact us or call if you have any questions that need answering.