Arthritis is chronic joint inflammation. It can affect any joint in the body, most commonly in the spine, hips, knees, hands, and shoulders, causing pain, stiffness, aching, and reduced range of motion and mobility. About 60 million Americans are dealing with some form of arthritis. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of pain, disability, or immobility in older adults.
There are multiple types of arthritis, including degenerative or osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, each with varying symptoms. With osteoarthritis, you tend to be more stiff and achy when the joints haven’t been moving for a period of time, like first thing in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time at a desk or in a car. Inflammatory arthritis flares up after increased activity.
Common causes of arthritis include:
- Repetitive movements
- Poor biomechanics
- Unresolved injuries
- Poor posture
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of mobility
- Obesity and weight gain
- Poor diet
The standard medical approach to arthritis treatment is to manage joint inflammation with medication and injections. The problem is that this approach only treats the symptoms of pain and inflammation, leaving the root cause of the problem unaddressed.
This means the pain can return and the condition can get worse. Similar to a cavity in a tooth, it can start small and seem benign, but if left unattended, it will progress and worsen over time. As it progresses, it can become more painful, chronic, and debilitating, eventually leading to surgery or joint replacement.
Chiropractic care focuses on the root cause of the issue, to relieve immediate symptoms, stop the progression of arthritis, and restore your quality of life. Correcting alignment and restoring joint mobility eliminates biomechanical abnormalities that create joint loading imbalances and premature wear and tear.
$49 New Patient Special
Includes Comprehensive Consultation, Complete Physical Examination, All Necessary Digital X-rays, Report of Findings.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Identify The Root Cause
You will never be able to achieve wellness by chasing your symptoms; you’ll only get stuck on a merry-go-round of medication offering temporary relief. True wellness comes by addressing and correcting the root cause of your symptoms. That work takes advanced diagnostic tools and doctors committed to understanding how you’re feeling and how it’s affecting your life. This crucial first step is the only way to forge a solid foundation for effective care.
2. Discover The Path To Your Goals
Once we’ve identified the root cause of your issues, together, we’ll develop a unique approach tailored to your needs and aspirations. Our various treatment modalities allow us to get the best results regardless of where a patient has been and where they’re going. Whether hitting a new PR, staying competitive through the back nine, or keeping up with your grandkids, each phase of your care is purpose-driven, taking you closer to the person you were meant to be.
3. Live Life Without Limits
With a solid foundation and a clear roadmap, you can achieve and sustain a vibrant, pain-free life, fully equipped to reach your God-given potential. We walk with you on this journey and provide you with the tools and knowledge to ward off future illness and injury and ensure continual improvements to your health and outlook. When you shed the anxiety and despair that comes with a life dictated by health limitations, you can achieve things you never thought possible.
How We Treat Arthritis In Missouri City, TX
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Life Essentials Chiropractic, we take our time to get to know the unique situation of each patient. We’ll discuss your health history, the current state of your body, what your goals are, what you’re trying to accomplish, and why it’s important to you. Our thorough examination will consist of a range of motion assessment, orthopedic and neurological testing, and on-site digital X-ray imaging. The information from these assessments will help us pinpoint problem areas so we can customize a treatment program tailored to your unique situation.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Missouri City, TX
Prolonged biomechanical abnormalities can create abnormal wear and tear on joints, leading to restricted motion and reduced lubrication. These irregularities can also lead to muscle imbalances, where certain muscle groups responsible for spinal stabilization become tight and spastic or weak and inhibited.
Subluxation of the spine also affects joint health. Subluxation, or spinal misalignment, prevents joints from moving through their full range of motion, triggers neurological interference, and is a primary cause of abnormal wear and tear, degeneration, and arthritis.
Corrective chiropractic care helps improve and correct these significant issues, restoring biomechanical function, alignment, and integrity to mobilize healthy joints. Arthritis relief through chiropractic care is superior to the traditional medical route because it doesn’t rely on drugs, injections, or surgery for symptom relief. Corrective chiropractic addresses the root cause of the issue for long-term relief and prevention.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
When done correctly, movement is great for arthritis relief. Movement and exercise help lubricate your joints, improving mobility and range of motion. It helps strengthen your stabilizing muscles, slowing and preventing the progression of your arthritis. It’s an essential component of lasting changes in your corrective program.
We will develop a custom exercise plan based on your biomechanical analysis, imaging, and exam results. This plan will target the specific areas of weakness in your body. We must take the whole person into account. The primary affected area can trigger compensation reactions throughout the entire kinetic chain, meaning the joints above and below. Issues with the knee might require rehabilitation for hip or ankle compensation. Improving spinal stability and alignment may require strengthening the core and pelvis. We aim to consider the entire biomechanical presentation to create a customized and comprehensive plan that promotes lasting changes and optimal outcomes.
Nutritional Supplementation
Diet is the number one trigger of chronic inflammation in all human beings. We take great pride in educating our patients on lifestyle changes that foster healthy habits.
Inflammatory foods to avoid include:
- Ultra-processed foods
- Seed oils
- Sugar
- Grains
- Alcohol
- Fast Food
Unfortunately, these are staples of the Standard American Diet and are often hidden among the food we eat, including boxed and restaurant food.
The best anti-inflammatory foods to introduce to your diet immediately include:
- Fruits
- Vegetalbes
- Turmeric
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid
- Wild Caught Fish
- Avocados
- Coconut Oil
- Curcumin
- Glucosamine
- Chondroitin
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Collage Peptides
Common Causes of Arthritis in Missouri City, TX
Understanding the lifestyle factors that play a role in the development of arthritis can help individuals take preventive measures to reduce their risk. Some key lifestyle risk factors include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis. Many people think it’s a normal part of aging.
Arthritis may be common as you age, but it is not normal at any age.
I have patients in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who don’t have arthritis. 90% of their skeletal system is normal, just as it was when they were in their teens and 20s. Then, you’ll only see an isolated area of arthritis around an area that had an old injury or poor biomechanical function and alignment over many years. Even though all the bones are the same age, you only see the degenerative or osteoarthritis around these areas.
It is more common in individuals with poor biomechanics, particularly those with spinal misalignments, specifically pelvic misalignments.
Osteoarthritis is like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz. After not moving for a long period, such as first thing in the morning, after a long car ride, or while sitting at a desk all day, your first movement may feel stiff and achy. The more you move, the more you lubricate your joints, the more relief you start to feel.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system begins to attack the body’s own joints. There is a hereditary factor that can increase your susceptibility. There are tens of thousands of people with genetic susceptibility who never express or suffer from RA. This is because your genes load the gun of opportunity, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger.
If left unaddressed, rheumatoid arthritis can progress and get worse, affecting the entire body over time. RA is systemic and has an autoimmune component rather than just a biomechanical one.
The goal is to promote the healthy function of the body through smart nutrition, gut repair, lifestyle modification, exercise programs, and corrective chiropractic care, with a focus on creating healthy neurologic tone and balance. Many patients get incredible relief and remission from rheumatoid arthritis, and can even stop the progression and breakdown that continues to happen over time, and live a much healthier, fulfilling life.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis shares the same symptoms we previously discussed – joint pain, achiness, and swelling – but it’s also associated with the skin condition psoriasis. This type of arthritis also affects the connective tissue surrounding the joints, like tendons and muscles.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
A dysfunctional or overactive immune system, triggered by an infection, can lead to juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The immune system’s heightened response after an infection can persist and injure joint tissue. Even though juvenile idiopathic arthritis is not curable, you can see a dramatic improvement in quality of life and prevent long-term damage by focusing on lifestyle adjustments.
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Check Out Our Location Near You
5425 Hwy 6 Suite A-300, Missouri City, TX 77459
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic good for arthritis?
Yes, corrective chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis. The benefits of chiropractic care for arthritis:
- Restore joint mobility
- Balance biomechanics
- Reduce inflammation
- Support joint health naturally
Does chiropractic make arthritis worse?
No. Chiropractic care is a safe, gentle, and specific treatment for joints that relieves pressure and restores normal function and mobility. Healthier joint function and mobility prevent and slow the progression of arthritis.
Can a chiropractor help with joint pain?
Absolutely! Joint pain is often due to abnormal joint biomechanics, alignment, or imbalanced muscle groups. Corrective chiropractic care addresses all of these issues.
Is massage good for arthritis?
Massage enhances the effects of chiropractic care for arthritis relief – improving joint mobility, reducing muscle tension and stiffness, and increasing circulation to boost natural healing.
Does popping your back give you arthritis?
No. Arthritis is caused by chronic inflammation, long-term stress, and wear and tear on your joints. There is no correlation between cracking your joints and arthritis.
Can a chiropractor help with inflammation?
Yes, restoring normal joint function, reducing subluxations, and improving mobility all help decrease neurogenic inflammation. Chiropractors are also highly educated in lifestyle and nutritional advice, and can recommend lifestyle modifications to further enhance your results.
What is the best vitamin for stiff joints?
These vitamins are great for reducing inflammation, thereby improving joint mobility and flexibility.
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Turmeric
- Curcumin
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
Does cracking your back help with arthritis?
Simply cracking your back yourself may provide temporary relief, but it does not correct alignment or biomechanical patterns. Professional corrective chiropractic adjustments are highly effective in restoring proper joint function, alignment, and biomechanical function.
What type of arthritis affects the spine?
Osteoarthritis is, by far, the most common form of arthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis. Fortunately, chiropractic care is highly beneficial for individuals seeking natural relief from osteoarthritis.
What helps with arthritis pain in the lower back?
Corrective chiropractic care focuses on postural correction, restoring mobility, and improving biomechanical function, and is highly effective. Even more so when combined with lifestyle modifications and anti-inflammatory nutritional protocols.
How often should you get adjusted by a chiropractor?
Adjustment frequency varies patient to patient, depending on their unique situation. Most start with anywhere from one to three times per week, and then gradually decrease over time as their condition improves.
$49 New Patient Special
Includes Comprehensive Consultation, Complete Physical Examination, All Necessary Digital X-rays, Report of Findings.
