One in every four adults deals with arthritis. This condition, which affects millions of people, is characterized by stiff and painful joints, which in turn results in limited mobility. Fortunately, recent advances in medical treatments and newer treatment options can help you cope with the crippling effects of arthritis.
Osteopathy is one such treatment. In this article, our team of medical professionals at Intrinsi will describe the different types of arthritis and how osteopathy can help you deal with each one of them.
Different Types of Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition of the joints. Simply put, it is the constant inflammation of joints that also affects the muscles and tendons surrounding them. It’s an illness that becomes increasingly common with age.
Although several different forms of arthritis exist, their symptoms often overlap. Pain is the most common complaint of those diagnosed with arthritis, limiting their movement and making routine tasks difficult to perform.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is common in older individuals, resulting from constant ‘wear and tear’ of joints over many years of use. Long-term steroid users are also likely to develop osteoarthritis because prolonged exposure to steroids erodes bones and weakens joints.
On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more severe forms of arthritis. It is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks its joints. It is more common in women and can cause very stiff and painful joints, while also affecting the eyes and skin.
Other forms of arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, and lupus, are less common. However, they can also be exceptionally painful, leading to poor quality of life.
What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy treatment is a manual treatment plan designed to prevent and treat joint disorders. It is an entirely natural, non-invasive method that is also completely drug-free, paving the way for a holistic option in managing and preventing arthritis.
An osteopathic professional uses techniques such as stretching, massage, direct pressure, and joint manipulation. These techniques aim to reduce pain and improve joint mobility. They also relax tense muscles and improve blood supply to joints.
Osteopathy does not only target problem areas. Instead, it treats the body as a whole, working on every joint and muscle, improving your overall balance, and preventing future injuries while also enabling you to move better.
A typical osteopathy session lasts anywhere between 1-2 hours. During this session, a trained professional will assess the health of your joints. They will then guide you through different exercise techniques based on what your body needs, allowing you to return to daily activities almost immediately after the treatment.
The Benefits of Osteopathy
As an all-natural treatment plan, osteopathy will not require you to take any pharmaceutical drugs, which often have side effects and can do more harm than good in some instances. Similarly, it is completely non-invasive, unlike other procedures that are excruciatingly painful yet still carries a high risk of complications and long recovery periods.
Osteopathy can immediately relieve pain and improve mobility without leaving you vulnerable to any risks. It likewise addresses the root cause of the pain by triggering the body’s natural healing process. This prevents the pain from recurring.
The human body is a collection of moving parts, and osteopathy addresses all these parts, keeping them in top shape. In addition, by working on the entire body and not just the areas experiencing pain, osteopathy corrects imbalances and reduces the chance of pain recurrence.
Give Osteopathy a Try Today!
For those who have arthritis, osteopathy can help you relax and relieve the tension on your joints and muscles. Studies have shown osteopathy also reduces tension headaches because of its calming effect on the body.
If you are finally ready to give your aching joints some much-needed care, we’ve got you covered. Call our experienced team of osteopaths at Intrinsi to set an appointment or ask any questions regarding our services. You may reach us at 403-229-9214 or through our booking page.
We look forward to welcoming you into our Calgary clinic, where we will craft the most effective treatment to relieve you of arthritis and other causes of chronic pain.
