Arthritis in Adelaide

Arthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability in Australia, affecting over 3.6 million people. The most common form, osteoarthritis, involves the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion. While arthritis cannot be cured, chiropractic care plays a valuable role in managing symptoms, maintaining joint function, and improving quality of life.

Chiropractic treatment for arthritis focuses on preserving and restoring joint mobility through gentle mobilisation techniques, reducing muscle tension and spasm around affected joints with soft-tissue therapy, and improving overall biomechanics to reduce abnormal stress on arthritic joints. Your chiropractor will tailor the treatment approach to the severity of your arthritis, using low-force techniques and avoiding aggressive adjustments on significantly degenerated joints. Exercise prescription is a critical component of arthritis management, and your chiropractor will design a program that includes range-of-motion exercises, strengthening work, and appropriate cardiovascular activity. Research in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage supports exercise and manual therapy as effective conservative treatments for osteoarthritis.

Your chiropractor will also provide advice on weight management, anti-inflammatory nutrition, joint protection strategies, and when appropriate, the use of heat and cold therapy. For patients with inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, chiropractic care is modified accordingly and delivered in coordination with your rheumatologist. Regular chiropractic care can help arthritis patients remain active, independent, and comfortable for longer.