The Process of Aging
I am going to delve into a dreaded subject for a lot of people. AGING! Did you know that there are a lot of things that happen as you age? There are several things that start to happen at around 35 years of age. Our body stops making cartilage, the slippery stuff that coats joints to help them slide smoothly. But like car tires, cartilage is a consumable product that if it isn’t replaced on a regular basis (which your body stops doing on its own at about 35) gets used up.
Decreasing the effect of wear and tear on our bodies.
While we might not be able to help you run as well as a fine-tuned sports car after a certain age, we should be able to change that flat tire and help you get on your way again.
It turns out that if you can maintain a full range of motion in a joint, then you can potentially decrease the negative effects of wear and tear arthritis. One of the things that wear and tear can do is decrease our ability to move through a full range of motion. We all know the stiff joints in the morning that take a while to get moving, like a tin man in need of oil. Chiropractic treatment of knees, hips, neck, and spine can help to maintain that full range of motion.
Some things in our diet have been shown to be helpful in preventing or slowing the onset of wear and tear. A recent study compared the benefits of high-quality chondroitin sulfate to traditionally prescribed medications.
When cartilage gets used up, you are left with a condition called Osteoarthritis. I call it 'wear and tear' in my office. The truth is that if we live long enough, everyone on the planet would likely have wear and tear that would show up on x-rays. So, how can Chiropractic help?
How Does Chiropractic Help Osteoarthritis?
Range of motion is one of the things that can be limited by osteoarthritis but it doesn’t have to be. As a chiropractor in Chilliwack, BC, I offer flexion-distraction; a type of mechanical treatment for those suffering from aches and pains in their lower back. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with typical hands-on therapy.
Book online today and we'll work together to turn you from a rusty, cranky tin man, into a bright shiny happy one.
About the author
Author Dr. Spencer Devenney is a Chilliwack Chiropractor, who graduated in 2009 from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) He has a clinical interest in all things mechanical. His motto is: "if it hurts to move it bring it to your chiropractor first."