Healthy Aging Month
September is the annual Healthy Aging Month when Americans nationwide are reminded
to focus on the positive aspects of growing older and take personal
responsibility for one’s health – physically, socially, mentally, or
financially. We, at Excel Chiropractic, have chosen to honor this month
by focusing our efforts on those who wish for helpful information on successful
aging. We believe it is never too late to take control of your health.
One of the biggest issues
Americans face as the age is the onset of arthritis pain. Specifically,
osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and one of the most common
reasons for disability for adults today. This condition, often called
wear-and-tear arthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of
your bones wears down over time. While osteoarthritis can damage any
joint in your body, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands,
neck, lower back, knees and hips. Sadly, no cure for this disease exists
yet. However, there are natural treatments and lifestyle changes that can slow
the progression of the disease, relieve joint pain, and improve mobility.
As you age, the cartilage that
cushions the ends of bones in your joints begins to deteriorate. This process
is slow and worsens over time. As the cartilage deteriorates, you may begin to
feel pain, tenderness, and/or stiffness in your joints, especially after long
periods of inactivity. You may also experience a loss in flexibility; unable to
move your joint through its full range of motion. In severe cases, you may feel
a grating sensation when you use your joint or find that you are susceptible to
bone spurs. If you are experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to
make an appointment with your doctor so that he may diagnose your condition.
If you are diagnosed with
osteoarthritis, it does not mean that you cannot be healthy and successful in
your golden years. By focusing on making healthy lifestyle changes, you can
help reduce your osteoarthritis symptoms. Ensure you are getting enough rest to
help reduce inflammation of your joints. Adopt an exercise routine that keeps
you active, but is gentle on your joints, like walking or swimming. A healthy diet
along with exercise will help you lose weight, which will relieve pressure on
your joints and reduce pain. Using hot/cold packs will help with muscle
stiffness or spasms and allow you some control over your pain.
Chiropractic care can also have a positive impact in
controlling your osteoarthritis. Chiropractic care involves chiropractic
manipulative therapy, also called a chiropractic adjustment, along with therapies such as ultrasound and electric
muscle stimulation. For us, one of the most important steps is to
restore normal joint alignment. By aligning the joint and enabling it to
move properly, chiropractic care can reduce further wear and tear and slow down
the degenerative process. In addition, we can help reduce pain and
inflammation in the joints, which goes a long way to reducing the overall pain
in osteoarthritis patients. Chiropractic manipulative therapy also
increases the mobility of the joint which can help improve joint stiffness and
lack of motion.
In addition to
treatments, we may also recommend stretches and exercises specific to your
affected joints. These recommendations may include range of motion movements,
stretches, and light exercises that may help maintain fluidity in the joints
and flexibility of the muscles.
Healthy Aging Month should be a motivation for everyone
to resolve that it’s not too late to shore up their health. As we grow
older, it is our responsibility to ensure we are making the right choices to be
successful in both health and happiness. By taking charge of your health and
learning about conditions, such as osteoarthritis, that you may face as you
age, you are taking the first step in improving your overall well-being.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding
Healthy Aging Month, osteoarthritis, or this article, please feel free to
contact our office at 605-332-9235.
