Medication and medical procedures aren’t the only ways to manage the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). As long as there have been bones and doctors, people have looked for ways to make the grating, the aching, and the stiffness go away. There’s not one right way to do it; there’s just what works for you.
Try a few of these complementary therapies :
1.Exercise
All exercise is good exercise, as long as it doesn’t stress out your body. But when you have OA, it’s important to focus on what’s best for your joints. Ask a physical therapist to create an exercise plan that’ll make the muscles around your joint stronger, reduce pain, and give you the most range of motion.
An occupational therapist (OT) gives you new ways to perform everyday tasks, like how to hold your toothbrush or how to shower without stressing your joints. They can also recommend products, like a shower bench, to lessen flare-ups at home.
Interested in tai chi or yoga? Now may be the time to try them. Gentle exercise therapies can make movement less painful. Tell the instructor about your OA so they can make it a safe, enjoyable experience for you.
2. Alternative Therapies
Used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, acupuncture is said to keep the flow of energy moving through your body. When that flow — called qi and pronounced “chee”– gets out of balance, the body becomes ill. When you have OA, the practice of putting needles into specific points in the body may renew your flow and lessen pain and inflammation.
TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, is often used to treat OA. It uses electrodes to send electrical impulses to nerve pathways. This lessens some types of pain.
There’s also NMES, or neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Instead of just stimulating the nerves, NMES includes the muscle tissue that supports the joint, as well. Studies show it’s an effective treatment, especially for those with OA of the knee.
Can you think your way to less stiffness? Many believe that the strong connection between your mind and body can change the way you feel. In creative visualization, or guided imagery, you imagine a pain-free body. When you feel the emotions that come with those images, they have a better chance of happening in real life. Professional athletes, astronauts, and hospitals across the country use creative visualization. It can also reduce the stress and depression that comes with chronic pain.
3.Supplements
Glucosamine is a substance in your body and a supplement you can take. In your body, it’s used to build cartilage. That’s the tough, flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at the joints. When osteoarthritis wears your cartilage down, taking glucosamine is thought to protect what’s left. While there’s no solid evidence that it works, it’s a safe and inexpensive supplement. Ask your doctor about dosage.
If you’ve heard good things about fish oil, check with your doctor before trying it. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can help with joint pain or tenderness. But it can be hard on your stomach … and your breath. Some versions of this supplement may contain toxic amounts of mercury or vitamin A, as well.
In Europe, a supplement called avocado-soybean unsaponifiables, or ASU, has had some success. Made from avocado oil and soybean oil, it’s thought to keep OA from progressing as quickly.
What Kinds of Nutritions are Good for Osteoarthritis ?
Thousands of people suffering from osteoarthritis and as there are a massive amount of treatments obtainable both over the counter and prescription; generally the community is ignorant of nutrition and life pattern changes that will have a massive influence on all arthritic situations. The influences of nutritional alterations could be insignificant to severe mainly if there is an increase of acids and calcium deposits on the joints.
Osteoarthritis is defined as an outcome of constant tiring away of the cartilage in the joint. Cartilage is soft, spongy tissue that delivers a cushion for the joints to glide transversely. As we grow older, or due to damage, this cartilage turns skinny and bones start rub on another causing hurt and hardness. It typically affects the mass bearing joints such as the hips and knees.
The meal must be alkaline, which contains vegetables and fruits with only slight quantities of grain and dairy food. It is most excellent to stay away from animal protein, meat as they are rich in uric acid and sugar. Try to evade processed foodstuff overall, cook the vegetables new and clean and consume lot of fresh fruits and salads.
Fish which contain fatty acids such as salmon and tuna are supportive. Meals rich in folic acid are helpful too. The sulfur capacity of onions and garlic are supportive for swelling. Uncooked vegetable drinks are mainly useful for alkalizing body tissues and liquefying deposits around joints.
Even though as I have said all arthritis situations could be seriously enhanced with nutrition, my focus is in this piece of writing on osteoarthritis. All types of arthritis must be treated as soon as probable as osteoarthritis be capable of leading to lasting injury.
For more Foods and Supplement treatment for Osteoarthritis, please check:
Nutritional Supplements for Osteoarthritis
Natural Food Remedies for Treating Osteoarthritis
Pain Medications, Pain Relief, and Pain Management
