Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that develops when cartilage in the joints wears down over time. Cartilage is a spongy material that’s present at the ends of the bones, to help cushion them and prevent them rubbing against each other.
When cartilage wears down and bones rub against each other causing friction, it leads to pain, stiffness and loss of movement. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it most commonly affects the hands, knees, hips and spine. It occurs gradually and will eventually become worse over time.
Known as a type of ‘wear and tear’ condition, osteoarthritis can begin to affect the bones and the ligaments and tendons that hold the joint in place. This causes inflammation and the deterioration of the entire joint.
Osteoarthritis is different from rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune condition caused by chronic inflammation that leads to painful swelling and stiffness in the joints.
What are the causes of osteoarthritis?
The causes of osteoarthritis generally differ between someone who is young and an older person with the condition.
Causes of osteoarthritis in younger people include:
Being overweight or obese, which puts extra pressure on the weight-bearing joints
Leading a sedentary lifestyle
Having a job that requires sitting down for long periods of time (which can lead to osteoarthritis in the lower spine)
Poor posture when sitting for long periods or regular heavy lifting
Performing regular impact sports, such as football or hockey
Having a job that puts continued strain on the joints
Joint injuries
Being very active or athletic
A family history of osteoarthritis
Being born with hip dysplasia
Having diabetes or a disorder related to growth hormones
Osteoarthritis in older people and the elderly is usually down to wear and tear of joints that naturally occurs with age.
A chiropractic adjustment at Wilton Chiropractic will align your body, reducing physical stress caused by misaligned weight bearing and wear and tear. It lubricates joints that become dried out due to arthritis, restores the normal range of motion and reduces inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
And at Wilton Chiropractic Dr, Fastiggi has the latest technology at his disposal:
The Deep Tissue Laser reduces pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
The iTrac corrects misalignment in the cervical spine that causes arthritis.
Lumbar flexion/distraction decompresses the spine, lubricates dried out arthritic discs in the spine and removes misalignment and inflammation associated with arthritic joints.