Osteoarthritis

Many people mistakenly assume they have to put up with arthritis, believing its part of getting old. Some people become depressed because activities they once took for granted, such as getting dressed or going for a walk are now difficult.

Osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” of the joints of our body. The joints in our body are covered with cartilage allowing for smooth movement. If the cartilage gets worn away, the joint becomes stiff and painful. This is known as osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is often accelerated by the misuse of our bodies. Misuse can be defined as sitting for long periods of time, wearing high-heeled shoes everyday or exercising incorrectly.  Although society has become accustomed to these sorts of activities, they put a strain on the body.  Our body copes or compensates for a while until it can’t adapt anymore and problems start.

Many people think that the clock can not be turned back and resign themselves to suffering with arthritis or endlessly taking pain killers.  The bony changes can not be turned back but much can still be done to reduce the pain.  The body has an incredible capacity to adapt and heal.  The pain felt in arthritis is often the result of changes in muscles and ligaments surrounding the arthritic joint. These tissues can be changed quite dramatically through osteopathic treatment, easing pain and improving the range of movement.  Attention to areas related to the arthritis will also be treated by the osteopath in order to treat the cause of the problem.

A joint is the area where two bones meet for the purpose of movement of body parts e.g. knee joint, hip joint, neck joint.  Both bones are usually covered with cartilage allowing for smooth movement.