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Arthritis is an extremely common problem, affecting nearly one-fourth of the entire adult population in America. That’s over 50 million people who have symptoms of arthritis, with about half of them experiencing daily limitations due to their condition. While arthritis is most commonly known to affect the older population, different forms of it can impact the lives of people of all ages. Joint pain of any kind can be frustrating and difficult to live with, but Bozeman chiropractor Dr. Cary Gentry can provide neurologically-based care that improves joint health, minimizes arthritis symptoms, and increases overall health and wellbeing.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joints wears down over time, leaving the bones to rub directly against one another with no protective barrier. The joints swell, lose range of motion, and experience mild to severe pain. Forms of inflammatory arthritis occur because the immune system is overactive and causes the body to attack the joints, negatively impacting joint health and bringing about inflammation and pain. The swelling of the joints, no matter the cause, can be incredibly painful and can impact a person’s ability to perform daily routines, complete everyday tasks, and remain active and healthy.
Because of how significantly it can impact daily life, arthritis sufferers need options when it comes to managing pain. While some medications and treatments can reduce the discomfort for a while, they are not long-term solutions and they do not get to the root cause of the problem. Those with arthritis need both short-term relief from pain, as well as long-term health improvements to avoid experiencing other problems due to their arthritis.
Dr. Cary Gentry practices neurologically-based chiropractic that focuses on improving the function of the central nervous system. The spine is the hub of the nervous system since it houses the spinal cord, so when a misalignment of vertebrae is present, brain-body communication is disturbed. With chiropractic care, the spine is adjusted gently and specifically to remove misalignments, allowing for free-flowing signals through the spinal column. When the messages from the brain to the rest of the body can travel without interruption or miscommunication, everything in the body works more effectively. This improved function can minimize swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain related to arthritis.
Several studies have taken place to explore the connection between chiropractic care and relief from arthritis. One study followed a 70-year-old woman over the course of 12 weeks, where she received specific adjustments to treat hip osteoarthritis and subsequent pain. After consistent chiropractic care, her mobility, balance, and range of motion all improved, while her overall pain was reported as “very much better.”
Another study was published about a 54-year-old woman who had dealt with pain from rheumatoid arthritis for seven years. She had a great deal of swelling of various joints and struggled to maintain physical activity levels because of it. Because of regular chiropractic adjustments, her pain decreased from a 10 to a 1 and she was able to walk, exercise, and even dance once again.
To learn more about chiropractic care for arthritis and how Dr. Cary Gentry can help you, contact him and his team at Waypoint Chiropractic. Dr. Gentry serves Bozeman, Belgrade, Big Sky, Manhattan, Three Forks, Livingston, and all of Gallatin County.
Pero, J., Jockers, D. “Improvement in Cervical Curvature and Health Outcomes in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis Undergoing Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation.” Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 2012 Jul: 77-81. https://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=22509&search1=%22Subluxation,%20Cervical%22
Strunk, R.G., Hanses, M. “Chiropractic Care of a 70-Year-Old Female Patient with Hip Osteoarthritis.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 2011 Mar; 10(1): 54-59. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110407/.
Although chiropractic has been around for hundreds of years, many older adults aren’t as familiar with the science behind it and don’t have much experience with its benefits. But as the largest generation in history makes its way into senior citizen status, they are quickly learning that traditional medicine may not be all it’s cracked up to be, and they are beginning to explore and embrace new-to-them approaches to proactive healthcare.
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