Nearly 30% of adults in the United States have some form of arthritis. That’s 54.4 million people, and by 2040, that number is expected to increase to more than 78 million. If you suffer from damaged, inflamed joints, Dr. Sarah Merritt at Merritt Chiropractic in San Ramon, California, can help relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Call or make an appointment online today.

 

Arthritis Q & A

What is arthritis?

Arthritis occurs when one or more of your joints become inflamed. Symptoms of arthritis include pain and stiffness in the affected joints, and the condition usually worsens with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that affects your weight-bearing joints, including your knees, hips, and spine. It breaks down your cartilage, causing joint space to narrow. Osteoarthritis also causes bone overgrowth, bone spurs, and reduced function.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease in the lining of your joints. Other disorders related to arthritis include fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus.

How does a chiropractor treat arthritis?

Chiropractic is one of the safest therapies you can use if you have back or neck pain due to osteoarthritis. As a chiropractor, Dr. Merritt utilizes varying degrees of force along with more than 150 techniques to manually adjust your spine, joints, and muscles. Dr. Merritt focuses on the relationships between the structure and the function of your joints.

Dr. Merritt works under the premise that if the structure of your joint is off, then it can’t work the way it’s designed to. She gently manipulates your soft tissue in order to stop muscle spasms and relieve tenderness. She uses a variety of exercises and traction similar to physical therapy to stretch your joints and increase your range of motion.

Beyond gentle spinal manipulation, Dr. Merritt also recommends combining her treatments with an anti-inflammatory diet. This typically involves eating a vegetarian diet that includes:

• Foods high in fiber

• Green, leafy vegetables

• Calcium-fortified foods

• Increased whole grains

How does joint clearing help arthritis?

When left untreated, inflamed joints lead to scar tissue buildup. Calcified collagen debris locks up your joints, which can cause pain and arthritis. Dr. Merritt uses a technique known as joint clearing to get rid of your scar tissue and relieve your pain, allowing your joints to move freely.

For relief from your arthritis pain, call or make an appointment online today at Merritt Chiropractic in San Ramon, California.