Osteoarthritis Strategies

(Article Recommended by Foundation for Chiropractic Progress)

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritic joint disease, characterized by loss of cartilage in the joint. It also has an inflammatory component. Osteoarthritis is a frequent cause of disability among seniors, affecting 20 million people in the U.S. alone.

While osteoarthritis typically involves the distal joints on your fingers and toes, knee and hip osteoarthritis is also common, the latter of which is the focus of this article.

Contrary to popular belief, if you have osteoarthritis then exercise is absolutely crucial to your well-being.

Unfortunately, many with joint pain shun exercise. According to previous research,¹over 40 percent of men and 56 percent of women with osteoarthritis don’t even get 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per week.

Less than 13 percent of men and less than 8 percent of women met the guideline of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, low-impact activity per week.

According to the lead researcher, “The fact that so many people with arthritis are inactive should be a wake-up call to physicians.”Indeed, if physicians could instill the importance of exercise to their arthritis patients, many would benefit immensely.

Your Diet Matters

Addressing your diet is also critical, both for weight loss and for controlling inflammation, and promoting healthy bones and cartilage.

Homemade bone broth is an outstanding staple food if you have arthritis, as it contains a number of important nutrients for your bones and joints, including minerals, components of collagen and cartilage, silicon, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate.

Two recent studies² confirmed that people who eat a processed and fried food diet high in sugars and red meat are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder) than those who eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, poultry, and fish.

A number of supplements such as turmeric, Hyaluronic acid, and astaxanthin, among others, may also be helpful for controlling the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

How Does Exercise Benefit Osteoarthritis?

The notion that exercise is detrimental to your joints is a misconception; there is no evidence to support this belief. It’s simply a myth that you can “wear down” your joints such as your knees and hips from average levels of exercise and/or normal activity.

Rather, the evidence points to exercise having a positive impact on joint tissues. Importantly, exercise can help reduce joint pain and make it easier for you to perform daily tasks.

Also, if you exercise sufficiently to lose weight or maintain an ideal weight, you reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis in the first place.

Arthritis rates are more than twice as high in obese people as those who are normal weight, because the extra weight puts more pressure on your joints. This can not only lead to osteoarthritis, it can also make the condition exponentially worse.

How to Exercise Safely with Osteoarthritis

People with arthritis must be careful to avoid activities that aggravate joint pain. You should avoid any exercise that strains a significantly unstable joint. That said, do include a range of activities in your exercise program, just as any other exerciser would. Weight training, high-intensity cardio, stretching, and core work can all be integrated into your routine according to your ability.

If you have osteoarthritis in your knee, be sure to incorporate exercises that strengthen the quadriceps muscle at the front of your thigh. And, rather than running or other high-impact exercise, you may be better off with non-weight-bearing exercises like swimming and bicycling.

According to a recent review of 19 studies, land- and water-based exercises have similar benefits for hip osteoarthritis in the short term. According to Reuters:³

“The 19 studies in the review all tested different type, frequency, and duration of exercise, so the best sort of exercise, how much and how often to do it, remains to be determined … [but it] would appear that … exercises generally including strengthening and range of motion three times per week is beneficial …”

If you find that you’re in pain for longer than one hour after your exercise session, you should slow down or choose another form of exercise. Assistive devices are also helpful to decrease the pressure on affected joints during your workout. You may also want to work with a physical therapist or qualified personal trainer who can develop a safe range of activities for you.

Korean Medicine for Arthritis

As noted in an article by Dr. Seo Hyo-seok, director of the Pyunkang Korean Medicine Hospital,⁴ in Korean medicine arthritis is thought to be related to depressed kidney function:

“When the kidneys are weak, the circulation of energy and blood during cold weather will not be strong, and residue of various substances will be generated and accumulate in the joints …This residue will eventually decompose and become arthritis. Regenerate cartilage by improving the health of the kidneys and lungs …

[M]odern medicine has also acknowledged the close relationship between the kidneys and bones by showing that erythropoietin, a hormone secreted by the kidneys when oxygen levels are low, signals the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells. The kidneys also help regulate and metabolize calcium, a key ingredient in bones …

[W]hen people are weak, they need to strengthen the functions of a superior organ. Accordingly, since the superior organ of the kidneys is the lungs, it is possible to restore the fundamental health of the bones by fortifying the health of the lungs.”

In Oriental medicine, treating arthritis involves maintaining good blood circulation and keeping your joints warm. Exercise accomplishes this, but Oriental medicine also uses techniques like moxibustion, cupping, acupuncture, and herbal formulas. According to Dr. Seo Hyo-seok, you can significantly regenerate cartilage in about six months of herbal treatments that focus on cleansing your lungs. Once you regain the elasticity of your cartilage, even advanced arthritis may be reversed.

Ozone and Laser Therapy

Dr. Robert Rowen, one of the leading ozone physicians in the U.S., has successfully treated many patients with ozone therapy as an alternative to surgical intervention.

If the ozone treatment fails, there is no harm and you can always have surgery later, but if you have surgery and it fails, the surgery may cause irreversible damage. The video above offers powerful testimony by a woman with severe degeneration in her knees.

Another alternative worthy of consideration is a “cold” infrared laser treatment (also called K-Laser), a relatively new type of therapy that speeds healing by increasing tissue oxygenation and allowing injured cells to absorb photons of light.

This special type of laser has positive effects on muscles, ligaments, and even bones, and the K-laser has the ability to penetrate deeply into your body, allowing it to be used treat problems like arthritis of the knee and hip. It also stimulates the mitochondria to produce more ATP and accelerate healing.

Helpful Supplements for Osteoarthritis Pain and Inflammation

ain during movement is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of osteoarthritis. Typically this is a result of your bones starting to come into contact with each other as cartilage and synovial fluid is reduced. If you don’t take action it can become progressively worse until you are unable to carry out your normal daily activities.

Eating a healthy diet of REAL food, ideally organically grown to avoid inflammatory contaminants such as pesticides, can go a long way toward reducing inflammation and giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal. Also consider making your own homemade bone broth, which you can drink “straight” or use for soups and stews. Also, be sure to get regular exercise.

The ones detailed above are designed to help improve flexibility and strength in your hip joint, but regular strength training, high intensity exercises, stretching, and core workouts are also advisable.

To address pain, I recommend avoiding anti-inflammatory drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and analgesics like Tylenol, which are often recommended to osteoarthritis patients, as chronic use of these types of medications is associated with significant, and very serious, side effects such as kidney and/or liver damage.

Fortunately, a number of supplements have been shown to be helpful for addressing the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, including the following.

Tags: alternative medicine benefits, Arthritis, exercise, Nutrition, Supplements