Do you suffer with morning stiffness and pain in the joints that only lasts 30 minutes?
Have you noticed a gradual loss of joint flexibility or a grating sensation in a joint?
Stiffness after long periods of inactivity?
You may be suffering with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the joints to become painful and stiff and is the most common type of arthritis (which is a general term for the inflammation if joints). It is caused by the gradual wear and tear of the cartilage found at the end of bones within a joint, cartilage is a firm and rubbery substance and acts as a shock absorber and stops the bones from rubbing against each other, therefore supporting the joint. As this cartilage begins to deteriorate and the ligaments and muscles begin to stretch the bones move closer together and causes irritation, inflammation and joint stiffness.
OA occurs most frequently in large weight bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Most people over age 60 have osteoarthritis to some degree (around 10%), but its severity varies. It can also be caused by other factors that stress joints such as obesity and genetics. Even people in their 20s and 30s can get osteoarthritis, although there is often an underlying reason, such as joint injury or repetitive joint stress from overuse. In people over age 50, more women than men have OA
How can we help.
Current research suggests that manual therapy, including osteopathy, are effective at treating OA and can have a significant affect on relieving pain and increasing joint mobility for individuals with OA. Similarly Osteopathic treatment and prescribed exercises for knee OA has been shown in the literature to reduce the need for total knee replacements and steroid injections. At the Art of Healing we provide a bespoke, tailored acupuncture treatment to address the TMJ and associated structures, combining the latest scientific approaches to wellness therapy and traditional acupuncture. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed previously, such as jaw/neck pain or headaches, we may be able to help!
