Arthritis affects millions of people in the UK and is one of the most commonly treated disorders here with our osteopath in Chalfont. It affects the bones, muscles and joints and encompasses over 100 different conditions. The medication which is used in arthritis can have severe side effects and affect many other aspects of your health. Being able to limit the quantity of medication that you are taking is beneficial for your overall wellbeing and quality of life (but must also be done so safely under the guidance of a doctor). Osteopathy has been proven to be effective in the management of symptoms of arthritis and is highly recommended by GPs and healthcare providers for those suffering from this debilitating and often disabling disease, which has even been found to be the second most common cause of sick leave in the UK. Our Osteopath in Chalfont is highly knowledgeable in the full pathology of this disease and is therefore able to create an individually tailored treatment plan for you, to help manage the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a natural part of the ageing process, varying in degrees of severity, but affecting most people in some form as they get older. It is a disease which affects many different parts of the body, often simultaneously affecting multiple parts and is characterised by pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints such as the fingers, shoulders, hips and knees. Your osteopath will take a holistic approach which means they consider your body as a whole and will develop a treatment plan for you, which consists of many different components including manual therapy involving specialised massage techniques. Your osteopath will also provide health advice on diet control and weight loss, how to improve your posture and other important lifestyle changes which are relevant in managing the effects of arthritis as well as individually tailored exercises which will be beneficial to you. Arthritis normally hinders your ability to exercise and therefore your osteopath will use their knowledge and expertise to recommend which types of exercise will help improve your symptoms. This advice will aim to help relieve your symptoms, pain and discomfort.
The role of osteopathy in the treatment of arthritis
Our Osteopath in Chalfont uses many different types of techniques to promote better joint health and increased blood and lymph flow to your affected area, which will in turn help reduce the pain and discomfort in your joints. By carrying out specialised massage techniques, stretching and other exercises, our osteopath will help improve the function of the affected area, increase the range of movement and encourage better joint health at the same time. The techniques involved depend upon the area which is being treated and are also carried out with your comfort and ease in mind so that we can ensure treatment is as pain free as possible, gradually helping reduce your symptoms and improving your overall health in the long run. Unfortunately arthritis is a long term and often permanent disorder, but our knowledge and expertise will help you manage the effects of this disease and promote a better quality of life. Speak to us at Rakhee Osteopathy today and find out more about how we can help you deal with arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders before they take over your life.