Michigan-based Dr. Scott Zack explains how qualified chiropractors are able to ease joint pain and stiffness in those suffering from arthritis.
Offering a holistic way to ease the pain of arthritis, those suffering from the condition are increasingly seeking out chiropractic care, proven to relieve joint pain and stiffness in those afflicted with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Utilizing more than 150 techniques to manually adjust the spine, joints, and muscles, chiropractor Dr. Scott Zack looks at the ways in which he and his colleagues are able to treat arthritis-related pain and discomfort.
“Further to the spinal manipulations tailored toward treating neck and back pain for which we’re perhaps best known, qualified chiropractors are also experts in manually adjusting joints and muscles, something which has been shown to be highly effective in treating the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis,” explains Dr. Zack, an experienced chiropractor located in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
While traditional chiropractic medicine may involve high-velocity spinal adjustment, those suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other associated conditions will receive more gentle, relaxed care, tailored specifically to their requirements, according to Dr. Zack. “From gently manipulating soft tissue to relieve tenderness and halt muscle spasms to using traction or active exercise to slowly and gently stretch the joints,” he explains, “chiropractic care for those with arthritis is predominantly focused on easing pain and increasing an individual’s range of motion.”
Chiropractors, by definition, focus on the ties between structures within the body and their functions, whereas an osteopath, for example, would use some of the same techniques as a chiropractor, but to treat the whole body, often also relying on medication or surgery. “From a chiropractor’s point of view, if a joint is not sitting or structured correctly, then it’ll be unable to function as intended,” adds Dr. Zack.
Accordingly, chiropractic care really shines, he says, in maximizing the function of arthritic joints, restoring purpose, reducing pain, and allowing patients’ to move more freely and without much of the discomfort traditionally associated with arthritis.
While chiropractic care is now considered one of the safest therapies for osteoarthritis, in cases of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, as well as ankylosing spondylitis, additional caution should be exercised in treatment.
“If you’re suffering from the pain associated with any form of arthritis, you should consult with a qualified and experienced chiropractor to discuss whether treatment is appropriate for you, as, like any form of therapy, it can vary on a patient-by-patient basis,” adds Dr. Scott Zack, wrapping up.
