Arthritis Pain Relief

A letter from our CEO, Mike Graves

Feeling Good Palm Beach is all about empowerment! To a large extent, so much of what happens to us, good or bad, is not random chance, but rather consequences of repeated actions and behaviors. Yes, this can be a tough pill to swallow, but it can also be liberating. There are also times when lady luck doesn’t happen to be on our side, even despite us giving it our all. Arthritis, the topic of this month’s newsletter, can often times fit in that category. The good news is that if we do experience pain and physical setbacks from arthritis, there is so much we can do to proactively help ourselves.

For most of us, the chances are pretty good that at some point in each of our lives, we will experience pain from arthritis. Currently, approximately 1 in 4 adults (or 54.4 million) suffer from doctor diagnosed arthritis and about 43.5% (23.7 million) of those people have limitations in their usual activities due to their arthritis.¹

Studies show that being active, managing your weight, and regularly eating foods known to assist in decreasing inflammation in the body are of great benefit in the management of arthritis.

With regard to activity, the CDC promotes the following S.M.A.R.T. tips:

Start low, go slow.
Modify activity when arthritis symptoms increase, try to stay active.
Activities should be “joint friendly.”
Recognize safe places and ways to be active.
Talk to a health professional or certified exercise specialist.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and spices are highly regarded for their anti-inflammatory and health promoting properties. Including these as a substantial part of your daily eating can be very impactful in helping you lose weight as well. These foods are packed with nutrition and are naturally lower in caloric density than processed foods. (Just don’t get carried away with the nuts and seeds😊)

Specifically related to people diagnosed with arthritis, studies have shown that ginger², turmeric (Curcumin)³, berries, and an overall plant based diet³ (as opposed to omnivorous), are beneficial in decreasing arthritis related joint pain & stiffness and decreasing inflammatory markers in the blood.

PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR LOWER BACK PAIN

If you’re constantly facing lower back, hip or knee pain—you might be feeling arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 54.4 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis per year. As we age, the cartilage in our joints wears down, causing painful bone on bone rubbing, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. While there is no cure for replacing cartilage yet, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, by improving your joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination.

It’s possible to eliminate symptoms entirely, depending on the amount of arthritis you have. If you have regular aches and pains, keep reading. We have a solution.

What Is Arthritis, Exactly?

Before knowing how to relieve arthritic pain, you’ll need to understand it. Arthritis—or the painful stiffness, or inflammation, of joints—isn’t a single disease. The term “arthritis” is an informal explanation of joint pain and disease in general.

Over 100 types of arthritis exist, according to the Arthritis Foundation. People of all ages, races and sex can get it. It’s also the leading cause of ongoing disability in America. The most prevalent form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by either injury or normal wear and tear.

What Causes Lower Back, Hip and Knee Arthritis?

Because arthritis is a catch-all term, pinpointing what causes arthritis may be difficult. In most cases, arthritis is caused by overuse, wear and tear, or injuries.

Arthritis can also be caused by:

Infections, such as Lyme disease
An immune system dysfunction – rheumatoid arthritis
The inheritance of osteoarthritis
An abnormal metabolism, which leads to gout

For arthritis suffers, even simply walking can cause pain in the lower back, hip or knee. Often, arthritis is a downward spiral of progress pain, limiting movement and strength, which in turn causes more inactivity and pain.

However, by improving joint movement, muscle strength, balance and coordination, this cycle can be broken, reducing pain and inflammation. Discover how our team of specialists at FYZICAL can get you moving pain-free again!

So what do you have to lose? You might choose to get started by creating a simple but fun habit. Pick something that is consistent with the tips above, that is enjoyable, and that you can do on a sustainable basis. It might be as simple each day as grabbing a handful of blueberries for a snack, lacing up your sneaks, and enjoying a nice walk.

Love Your Life,

Mike Graves
CEO
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers

¹Barbour KE, Helmick CG, Boring M, Brady TJ. Vital Signs: Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation—United States, 2013–2015. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:246–253. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6609e1
² Jens Kjeldsen-Krogh. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999;70(Suppl):594s-600s
³ Druzdov MD et al. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medecine Volume 18, Number 6, 2012 pg 583588