Can a Bristol Osteopath help with arthritis?

A common question I hear from patients at my Henleaze Osteopathy clinic is Can a Bristol Osteopath help with arthritis?

The simple answer is yes, but there's far more to consider in the treatment of arthritis by Bristol Osteopaths.

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that affects many, and not just the elderly.

According to the NHS, more than 10 million people in the UK have arthritis or related conditions affecting the joints.

Arthritis affects people of all ages including children.

Different types of arthritis currently affect one in four adults which represents a growth of 75% in cases from 2010 to 2020.

The most common type of arthritis is Osteo-Arthritis (OA) which is wear and tear within the joints.

When the cartilage that lines the joint surface gets worn away it causes inflammation, loss of movement and pain.

OA can lead to significant amounts of pain and even total disability.

The onset of OA can be so gradual that many patients only notice mild signs of wear and tear, while others have more severely worn joints with more severe symptoms and a greater degree of pain and immobility.

Another less common type of arthritis amongst patients is Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This is an inflammatory condition whereby the body attacks its own tissue (known as an auto-immune disorder) that requires specialist medical management.

What can be done to reduce Osteo-Arthritis wear and tear?

Although arthritis is not curable, as an Osteopath in Bristol, I aim to help improve movement quality and blood flow to an affected joints and seek to off-load arthritic joints by improving function in neighbouring areas.

Utilizing gentle osteopathic treatments can improve health of joints and muscular tissue, help alleviate arthritis conditions and aims ease the symptoms of arthritis for patients.

Using osteopathic treatments and exercises to improve muscle function, joints can be stabilized which can further ease the symptoms of arthritis.

Your GP can provide medications and injections to assist with pain management and reduction of inflammation.

Diet also plays a major role in joint health, so I advise my patients to seek the specialist advice of nutritional experts to promote joint health and help reduce inflammation in the body.

Exercise is vital. By staying active and healthy, the progression of arthritis can slowed, however care must be taken not overload damaged joints.

For example, if you suffer pain in weight-bearing joints (knees and hips are common trouble areas) opt for low-impact exercises such as cycling or swimming.

I also recommend trying other gentle forms of exercise - find out more here.

Drinking plenty of water also helps. Joints function better when well hydrated.

Severe arthritis in knee and hip joints may eventually require surgical intervention to replace the joint. This can provide a massive increase in life quality.

Replacement knee or hip surgery is usually considered by medical professionals as a last resort.

Maintenance Osteopathic Treatments can also have a positive impact for arthritis sufferers. Please visit here to find out more.

Prevention is better than cure, but if you already suffer from some form of arthritis then trying to prevent it from getting worse is important. Take action now.

I recently wrote a blog post highlighting tips on how to maintain joint care in Autumn which is worth reading.

If you have a general knee injury, please read this blog post.

Arthritis Action is an organization providing help, support and advice on dealing with arthritis.

If you are suffering from arthritis, please book an osteopathic treatment simply and easily online here.

My Bristol osteopath clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for Covid-safe osteopathic treatments for arthritis, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic for all patients.

To find out more about the full range of Covid-secure osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.