Arthritis Care in Helensvale
Stiff mornings, aching knees on the stairs, a neck that will not turn as far as it used to. Arthritis can quietly reshape your day, starting as a nagging ache that’s easy to dismiss until it begins limiting what you enjoy.
At Family Health Professionals Helensvale, arthritis is looked at from a broader perspective. Rather than focusing on a diagnosis alone, we consider the type of arthritis involved, how the joint is functioning and which approaches may be appropriate for the individual.
Not One Condition, But Several
Arthritis is a broad term covering different conditions that affect the joints. Inflammatory arthritides, such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, involve the immune system and require particular care and appropriate medical management. Osteoarthritis, the more common form, involves gradual changes to the cartilage, bone and other tissues within a joint.
While these conditions are different, both can affect how comfortably and freely a joint moves. Understanding what is happening within the wider picture helps guide the approach.
Thinking About Arthritis Differently
One way Dr Hennessy (Chiropractor) explains osteoarthritis is to compare what happens around an arthritic joint with the body’s response to a fractured bone.
When a fracture occurs, movement at the injured area is restricted while the body repairs it. With an osteoarthritic joint, there can likewise be restricted movement, changes within the joint and protective tension in the surrounding muscles.
It does not mean osteoarthritis and a fracture are the same. Rather, the comparison reflects an important part of our approach: looking beyond the arthritic changes themselves to consider how well the joint is currently moving and functioning.
How Old Trauma and Mechanical Stress Add Up
Osteoarthritis can develop for many reasons, and age is only part of the picture. Previous injuries and ongoing mechanical stresses are among the factors associated with osteoarthritis.
These may include:
- Previous injuries to the shoulders, knees, wrists or ankles
- Old fractures that have changed how a joint moves
- Previous trauma, including injuries from car accidents
- Repetitive physical demands on particular joints
- Changes in strength, mobility and movement patterns
When Stiffness Becomes More Noticeable
Symptoms often build gradually. You may notice morning stiffness, aching with certain activities or a joint that simply does not move as freely as it once did. Inflammatory arthritis may also involve swelling, warmth and periods when symptoms become more noticeable.
An important consideration during assessment is how much of the problem relates to current joint function and how much reflects established structural change. Often, there can be an element of both.
More Than One Way to Approach a Joint
There is no single technique used for every person who walks through the door.
Some people may be suited to traditional chiropractic adjustments. For others, particularly where a joint is sensitive or inflamed, gentler or non-manipulative techniques may be considered. Soft tissue work, massage or trigger point approaches may also be incorporated where surrounding muscles are tight or guarding an area.
This wider perspective is important at Family Health Professionals Helensvale. Rather than looking at the joint, muscles or wider body in isolation, our chiropractor considers how different factors may be interacting. Where appropriate, this may include discussion of lifestyle and dietary factors, with kinesiology testing incorporated as part of the chiropractor’s assessment approach for some patients.
If your presentation requires investigation or management outside the scope of chiropractic care, you will be advised to speak with your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.
Function Matters at Every Age
As arthritis progresses, there may be more structural change within a joint, but its function and the surrounding muscles can still be considered. Care is tailored around your current mobility, circumstances and what you want to continue doing.
Strength and appropriate movement may also form part of managing osteoarthritis. The aim is not to make a 70-year-old joint 20 again. It’s to consider how well you can function within your individual circumstances, whether that means gardening, playing with the grandchildren, exercising or simply managing everyday activities more comfortably.
A Broader Look at Arthritis and Joint Function
If arthritis is affecting how you move or what you enjoy doing, Family Health Professionals Helensvale can assess your joint function and discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.
Schedule an assessment today.
