Top tips for managing arthritis
Top tips for managing arthritis
Introduction
Managing arthritis is a lifelong process that requires you to be fully committed to your health. Your chiropractor will be able to offer advice and support, but the most important thing you can do is take charge of your own life. With that in mind, here are my top tips for managing arthritis:
The first thing you can do is take charge of your health.
The first thing you can do is take charge of your health. You can't control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react. Don’t let arthritis define who you are and don't let it stop you from doing the things you want to do. Even if it's just walking down the street or visiting friends, don't let arthritis stop living!
Keep moving.
Staying active is one of the best ways to manage your arthritis.
Check with your doctor before starting any new activity, but many people with arthritis can find activities that don't aggravate their condition.
Make sure to talk with your doctor about the types of activities that are safe for you and focus on those. You may need to start out slowly and build up from there if all physical activity causes pain or discomfort. Try not to get frustrated if you experience some pain while getting started; it will go away over time as your body adjusts!
Eat well.
There are many dietary changes you can make that will help reduce your pain, stiffness and inflammation.
Eat a healthy balanced diet, including plenty of vegetables and fruit.
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta or white rice. Instead choose whole grains such as oats or brown rice instead of white varieties.
Eat high fibre foods such as beans and lentils regularly to improve digestion and bowel function which may ease arthritis symptoms in the long term.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep joints lubricated for easier movement (you should aim for eight glasses per day).
Speak to your chiropractor
Seeing your chiropractor may be a great strategy for managing arthritis. Your chiropractor can help to improve your mobility, reduce pain and help you develop a better understanding of the best exercise plan for you.
Chiropractors are trained in many different types of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation and massage therapy; these techniques may be used to ease stiffness or soreness in the joints. The goal isn't necessarily to eliminate all pain—that can be unrealistic—but rather to relieve discomfort so that you can live comfortably with your condition. Chiropractors can also teach you how to perform exercises that are safe for an arthritic joint but still help strengthen muscles that support it (if this feels like too much, ask if they offer group classes).
Take care of your emotional health, too.
Managing your emotional health is just as important as managing your physical health. Stress, for example, can make arthritis symptoms worse. It's also been linked to many other common health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Stress can affect the immune system in several ways. One of the ways this happens is by increasing inflammation throughout the body—and that's not good news if you have arthritis! Stress may also lead to insomnia or sleep problems (which can compound existing pain), headaches (which often result from muscle tension), and even aches and pains unrelated directly to arthritis itself but related indirectly through stress-related impacts on the nervous system or circulatory system.
Conclusion
There are a few simple and easy ways to manage your arthritis. The most important thing is to know that you’re not alone, and that there is help out there for you. Reach out to your doctor or specialist if you are having trouble managing your symptoms, as they will be able to help determine what the best course of action is for you.
