Aging without Aging Diseases
We have been led to believe that aging and arthritis go hand in hand. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). OA is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage, the part of a joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement. As cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against one another. This can cause stiffness and pain that make it difficult for you to use that joint. Osteoarthritis can also damage ligaments, menisci and muscles.¹ Although this affects millions of individuals, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are proven methods to making sure that this doesn’t happen to you.
Research has shown that not only osteoarthritis, but Rheumatoid Arthritis can be positively affected by food and exercise. Proper nutrition and exercise have far better benefits than anti-inflammatories ever have shown. Prescription and over the counter anti-inflammatories are the traditional treatments for these painful conditions. ABC News says that exercise, specifically those that engage the full body, help joint mobility, prevents loss of lean muscle, helps maintain strength, reduces pain and stiffness, and mobilizes stiff or contracted joints.² Once perceived as a terminal disease, osteoarthritis is now becoming easier and easier to overcome with the proper steps and actions.
The most important step to overcoming this condition is proper spinal alignment. Joints that are moving with proper bio-mechanical motion lubricate themselves, do not have stress points, and therefore do not have areas of pressure prone to breaking down. There is a medical law called, “Wolf’s Law” that explains how improper joint bio-mechanics cause degenerative changes in our bodies.
Nutritionally, the essential fatty acids that you are consuming plays a major role in dealing with inflammation and the pain of arthritis. Previous research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are important to decrease inflammation. The more important thing to be aware of, is the proper ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. The proper ratio should be 4:1 omega-6 to 3, but the standard American diet has sky rocketed that to over 20:1. This improper ratio, that most people have, leads to an increase in inflammation. Taking omega-3 supplements will greatly help in driving this ratio back towards normal.
Many people with arthritis steer away from any physical activity because it is painful. Unfortunately, this only adds to the problem. Motion plays a key role in preventing degenerative arthritis. That said, there are right and wrong ways to exercise when you have arthritis. The doctors at Lerner Family Chiropractic Centre lead workouts on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings. This is a great environment to be motivated and helped with the right exercise for you.
——————————————————————————–
¹ Arthritis Foundation. 2011
²ABC News April 15, 2008
