By Dr. Andrea Wick EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Arthritis or
degenerative joint disease is the breakdown and wear of the cartilage in
between joints. Symptoms of arthritis can start with stiffness and decreased
range of motion, swelling and pain. Symptoms of arthritis will usually subside
with movement and become worse with overuse. If you suffer from arthritis here
is a list of management tools to help alleviate pain.
Movement and
exercise are important and should be done in moderation. Overuse injuries can
put increased wear on a joint, however daily movement and motion is important
in helping to increase range of motion and vasodilation, or increased blood
supply. A stretching or recovery routine can help with lessening pain. Active
and static stretching along with foam rolling can help tremendously with tight
muscles that may be contributing to arthritic pain. An example of active or
dynamic stretching is a runner’s lunge where the body weight is used in an
active movement versus sitting and passively stretching a muscle like the
hamstring.
Diet is also very
important when it comes to managing arthritis, and being able to clean your
diet of inflammatory foods is vital. Decreasing alcohol is a great place to
start, as alcoholic beverages can cause stress to the liver resulting in
inflammation in the joints.
Nightshades like
eggplant, peppers, white potatoes, tomatoes and paprika might also contribute
to inflammation. While there is little scientific evidence that truly proves
these claims, nightshades have an alkaloid layer called solanine and many holistic
providers believe individuals may be sensitive to solanine, resulting in the
attack and degeneration of joints.
Vitamin
supplements such as turmeric, curcumin and vitamin D can also help decrease
joint inflammation. Proteolytic enzymes (chymotrypsin, pepsin and trypsin),
which are secreted by the stomach and the pancreas, help with protein digestion.
The “Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” reviewed
10 clinical studies revealing that individuals who supplemented with
proteolytic enzymes, specifically bromelain, effectively reduced joint pain,
stiffness and swelling.
Additionally, cherries
are packed full of bioflavonoids which help decrease joint inflammation.
According to the “Global Journal of Health Science,” omega-3 fatty acids help
to relieve joint pain as much as analgesics. Flax, olive oil and fish contain
the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Platelet-rich
plasma regenerative therapy is a new alternative treatment for arthritis and
chronic tendinosis. PRP is a therapy where a patient’s blood is centrifuged and
the platelets are reinjected into a joint space. The growth factors then help
to proliferate cellular activity. The goal of PRP is to decrease inflammation
in a joint, improve the function of a joint, and slow down damage to cartilage
tissue or even repair it. While more large-scale research is needed on this new
break through therapy, Dr. Carlye Luft, NMD, has seen wonderful results with
PRP in her Big Sky office.
Dr. Andrea Wick is a chiropractor and applied kinesiologist. She graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, and now practices at Healing Hands Chiropractic in Big Sky. She has a passion for holistic health care and being active in the outdoors.