Chiropractic treatment involves the manual manipulation of the spinal cord to reduce back and neck pain. It is also used to improve the range of motion of patients suffering from a variety of spinal cord and neck problems such as whiplash injuries, ruptured disks, and so on.
As chiropractic treatment helps deal with misaligned joints and aims to reduce joint pain and improve the range of motion of various joints some arthritis patients can benefit from this treatment. However, those suffering from more advanced stages of this disease should not undergo this treatment as it can further damage their joints.
Understanding the Cause of Arthritis
Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints because of various reasons. This causes pain during movement and reduces the range of motion available to patients. If a patient has their arthritis under control and there is no inflammation of the joints, chiropractic treatment at Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, can help improve the range of motion of the various limbs.
As joint dysfunction in the spine is believed to cause at least some of the pain in arthritis, mobilization of the spine or spinal adjustments, done by an experienced chiropractor can help alleviate the pain. This will improve the quality of life of the patients.
Not Set in Stone
However, in some cases, chiropractors do not advise this form of treatment for patients suffering from arthritis. If a patient is suffering from osteoporosis or weak bones or the inflammation has progressed to such an extent that the joints have fused together, then chiropractic treatment might damage the bones or joints. As such an arthritis patient must consult with an experienced chiropractor at Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, who will be able to assess the extent of the arthritis and recommend spinal manipulation only when appropriate.
Traction
In some cases where the chiropractor on physical examination of the patient feels that spinal manipulation is not appropriate, they might suggest traction, a less forceful manipulation. This can help reduce the pain that an arthritis patient experiences without placing addition stress on the bones and joints.
An experienced chiropractor at Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, can help treat arthritis patients by providing non-invasive and non-drug methods of reducing the pain and improving the range of motion. They will prescribe a holistic treatment that can include massages, changes in diet, and exercises apart from spinal manipulation using their hands or using instruments operated by hands.
