An estimated 54 million Americans suffer from arthritis and even more from undiagnosed joint pain. Include more than 80% of adults who experience some form of back pain and you have hundreds of millions of people suffering. A large percentage of these people experiencing joint pain have lifestyle-related factors that can be altered to reduce their pain and degeneration.
Tackling a proactive approach to issues such as obesity and lack of exercise, in addition to diet changes and other supplemental activities can help decrease your joint pain.
Chiropractic & Acupuncture
As recently as 2017, the American College of Physicians released new guidelines for the treatment of low back joint pain supporting the use of nonpharmacologic therapies as the first line of treatment. Treatments such as chiropractic care and acupuncture have been shown to reduce back pain and may help with hip and knee pain as well.
While there are hundreds of different types of arthritis, chiropractic treatment has had positive results in those suffering from osteoarthritis and other inflammatory arthritides. Research involving acupuncture has also shown positive results in the treatment of joint pain related to arthritic conditions.
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Weight Loss & Exercise
Joint pain in the back and lower body, hips, and knees, in particular, can often be attributed to overweight or obese body types. The excess weight combined with gravity creates an increase in pressure on joints, accelerating degenerative processes.
Establishing a regular and consistent exercise routine can help you lose excess weight that may be adding to your joint pain. For individuals with severe hip and knee pain, exercises with lower impact or water aerobics may be an easier adjustment.
Diet Changes
Dietary changes can also help manage your joint pain by decreasing inflammatory chemicals and increasing healthy herbs and supplements that promote joint rejuvenation. Fish oils, turmeric, and foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids can naturally act as an anti-inflammatory agent for painful joints.
Avoiding refined carbohydrates, sugar, trans, and saturated fats, and aspartame can also help reduce flare-ups of inflammation and joint pain. Supplementation with herbal remedies has also been known to help with joint pain. Common herbs used to treat joint pain include Boswellia, aloe vera, cat’s claw, eucalyptus, and ginger.
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Ice & Heat
Arthritic symptoms, specifically joint pain, can be treated using heat and ice therapies. Ice is generally
