By Dr. David R. Street, DC

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting almost 27 million adults in the United States.  Osteoarthritis affects all tissues related to the joint but it does the most damage to the cartilage in your joints.  Cartilage is the hard but slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones like a cap.  Healthy cartilage allows your bones to glide and roll smoothly over one another as well as providing increased shock absorption during movement.  Osteoarthritis is a disease process where the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away allowing bones under the cartilage to rub together.  This in turn results in pain, swelling, and reduced motion in the joint.  Although there is currently no known cure for Osteoarthritis, here are a few things you can do to help manage the symptoms.
Exercise:  Regular physical activity has been shown to maintain healthy and strong muscles, preserve joint mobility, maintain range of motion, improve sleep, reduce pain, keep a positive attitude, and maintain a healthy body weight.  Consider low impact activities for endurance training like swimming and/or bicycling.  For flexibility and strength consider weight lifting, yoga, Pilates, or tai chi.
Lose Weight:  Obesity is a risk factor for developing Osteoarthritis; a body mass index (BMI) > 30 increases the risk of osteoarthritis by 4 times in women and 5 times in men.  If you already have osteoarthritis there is evidence to show that weight loss can reduce symptoms, at least one study showed that a 10% reduction in weight could result in a 50% reduction in pain.  Talk to your medical professional or see a nutritionist to help with a nutritional plan.
Hot and Cold therapy:  Heat will bring blood to the tissues it is applied to and help relieve pain and stiffness.   Consider a warm bath or shower, a hot pack, hot towels, etc. for 15-20 minutes.  Cold therapy can be useful to reduce inflammation and pain as when applied it will flush blood away from the tissues.  Consider a cold pack or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a pillow case or thin towel for 10-15 minutes per hour with a 45 minute break before re-applying.  Please note, thermal therapies are contraindicated with certain skin conditions, vascular diseases, diabetes, and some other conditions.  If you have any concern as to whether hot or cold therapy is right for you, please talk to a medical professional before trying attempting this at home.
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation):  There have been some studies that have indicated that some people may find relief of pain and stiffness through the use of a TENS device.  TENS devices can deliver electrical impulses to the nerve endings in your skin through pads placed over the painful area and modifying you perception of pain in those tissues.  These devices are now widely available at medical practices, drug stores, and bi box stores.
Supplements:  Although varied in quality and quantity, there is some evidence that supports the efficacy of reducing pain from osteoarthritis for devil’s claw, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, capsaicin, Boswellia, and SAMe.  Talk to your medical professional to find out if any of these supplements may be something you may want to consider.

Dr. David R. Street, DC is the owner at Morro Bay Chiropractic in beautiful Morro Bay, CA.  In the years prior to graduate school Dr. Street served with distinction in both the United States Marine Corps and United States Army Reserve. He graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic from the University of Western States and is trained in a variety of evidence based techniques enabling him to provide you with the best quality of care. He provides free care to Veterans on the second Sunday of each month. You can contact Dr. Street at (805)772-2088 or .  For more information please visit www.morrobaychiropractic.com.