Arthritis
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not one singular disease but refers to a group of diseases causing joint pain and swelling. The most common symptoms of arthritis include joint swelling, pain, stiffness, redness, and decreased range of motion, all of which make it challenging to use the affected joint.
Symptoms may show up differently for each individual. Depending on the type of arthritis, the symptoms may disappear and come back and be mild or severe. It’s important to talk to your primary care doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Degenerative, inflammatory, infectious, and metabolic issues can cause the condition to develop. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which causes the cartilage protecting the bones at the joint to wear down. Another common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis—which is when disease in the immune system impacts the lining of the joint. Often arthritis is accompanied by other underlying conditions and illnesses. Varieties of arthritis include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and more.
What are the risk factors of arthritis?
- Genetics: Arthritis can run in the family, and your genetic makeup can make you more susceptible to developing a type of arthritis.
- Age: The likeliness of developing arthritis such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis increases as you get older.
- Weight: Obesity or having excess weight in the body stresses and strains the knee, hip joint, and spine, increasing the likeliness of developing arthritis.
- Sex: Your sex may influence the likeliness of developing one type of arthritis over another. For example, more women are often found to have rheumatoid arthritis in comparison to men, whereas gout is often found in more men than women.
- Injury: A previous joint injury from sports activity or an accident can eventually lead to developing arthritis.
Massage therapy is a recommended way to treat and relieve pain from arthritis—particularly osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Using massage therapy to treat arthritis can help improve one’s quality of life because it reduces the pain, inflammation, and stiffness experienced daily. Pain relief is crucial for a better quality of life for those living with arthritis. Arthritis pain can affect one’s ability to work, do household chores, or participate in simple physical activities. For example, arthritis can make it difficult to do common everyday actions like type on a keyboard, lift, or grip objects.
Massage techniques using circular motions on the impacted area can improve circulation resulting in increased blood flow to the joints for better range of motion flexibility and a decrease in stiffness. As well, soft tissue manipulation can reduce muscle tension, allowing for better flexibility and pain relief. Massage therapy is also known to decrease anxiety for those with arthritis since it lessens the stress hormone cortisol and boosts the production of happy hormones like serotonin and endorphins. For instance, massage therapy can help those experiencing neck pain from neck arthritis with pain relief and improved range of motion.
The registered massage therapists at Inspine Therapy are professionally trained to provide you with all-in-one care. Schedule an appointment today with one of the practitioners at our clinic, for an RMT in Port Moody or an RMT in Coquitlam.
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Inspine Therapy is a multi-disciplinary clinic located in the heart of Coquitlam and Port Moody. We care about providing fundamental healing through all-in-one care that focuses on helping you recover, improve, and optimize your health until you’re in the best condition possible.
Our services include massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, active rehab, clinical counselling, and pilates. Visit our newly renovated clinic and book your appointment today!
