Can Chiropractic Care Help Arthritis?
Arthritis can make everyday movements more difficult.
Stiffness when you get out of bed. Pain when you turn your neck. Aching after sitting for a while. Difficulty moving a joint the way you used to.
So, can chiropractic care help?
It can sometimes help with symptoms associated with certain types of arthritis, particularly pain and stiffness involving the spine and other joints. But chiropractic care does not cure or reverse arthritis itself.
Understanding that distinction is important. It can often help to slow down the process of arthritis and improve the movement in the arthritic joints.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term used to describe conditions that affect the joints. There are many different types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is one of the most common.
With osteoarthritis, the tissues within and around a joint can change over time. These changes can contribute to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.
Arthritis doesn't necessarily mean that a joint should stop moving. In many cases, maintaining appropriate movement is an important part of managing symptoms.
The end result of arthritis is fusion of the joint. Therefore, the treatment is to improve and maintain motion as well as bring the inflammation down.
How Could Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal system, including the spine and joints.
For some people with arthritis, treatment may help improve joint movement and reduce discomfort associated with stiffness.
Depending on your individual situation, care may include:
Chiropractic adjustments
Gentle joint mobilization
Soft-tissue techniques, such as ART
Stretching
Mobility exercises
Strengthening exercises
Recommendations for activity and movement
The goal is generally to help you move as comfortably and normally as possible—not to “get rid of” the arthritis.
Does Chiropractic Care Treat Arthritis?
No, but it can help slow down the process of arthritis.
Arthritis involves physical changes to a joint, and chiropractic adjustments don't rebuild damaged cartilage or eliminate arthritis.
However, the presence of arthritis doesn't automatically mean that chiropractic care is inappropriate. In fact, chiropractic care is often the best treatment you can do for arthritis.
A chiropractor can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether chiropractic treatment may be appropriate for you and what technique would benefit you the most.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe With Arthritis?
It depends on the individual. Oftentimes, you will have to start slower with treatment and increase the treatment as the patient can tolerate.
The type and severity of arthritis, the joint involved, your age, medical history, and other factors all matter.
Your chiropractor should evaluate you before recommending treatment. In some situations, a different approach—or evaluation by another healthcare professional—may be more appropriate.
This is especially important if you have severe pain, significant swelling, unexplained symptoms, or a known condition affecting the stability or strength of a joint.
What Can You Do at Home?
Staying active within your abilities is often helpful for managing joint stiffness.
Depending on your condition, your healthcare provider may recommend:
Gentle mobility exercises
Walking or other low-impact activity
Stretching
Strengthening exercises
Maintaining a healthy weight
Taking breaks from prolonged sitting
Natural anti- inflammatory supplementation such as curcumin, boswelya, or glucosamine chondroitin sulfate
The right activities will depend on which joints are affected and how severe your symptoms are.
The Bottom Line
Chiropractic care doesn't cure arthritis, but it may help some people manage pain, stiffness, and movement limitations associated with arthritis.
If arthritis is affecting your ability to move comfortably, an evaluation can help determine whether chiropractic care may be a useful part of your overall approach to managing your symptoms.
The goal isn't to pretend the arthritis isn't there. It's to help you make the most of the movement you have.
