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Arthritis is the word
used to describe pain in the joints; it literally means inflammation
of a joint. There are many causes, and some, such as osteoarthritis,
are due to the natural ageing process. Most people are likely to
get some degeneration, or 'wear and tear', later in their lives.
When one joint wears faster than the rest, it is in most cases due
to excessive or too little movement. This can often be corrected
by Chiropractic adjustments. Other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
are less common but can affect children as well as adults.
Osteoarthritis is caused when
the cartilage covering the bones in a joint become eroded and roughened.
Tendons and ligaments holding the joint together get weaker and
the joint itself may become deformed, painful and stiff. Joints
which have been injured or subject to unusual stress, perhaps as
the result of a sporting career or heavy manual job, are likely
to wear faster.
After taking a full case history and
conducting an examination which may include X-rays, your Chiropractor
will make a diagnosis and propose a treatment programme. While chiropractic
treatment is appropriate for many forms of arthritic pain , for some
it can only give pain relief and you may be referred to your GP
for further treatment.
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