Osteoarthritis (OA)occurs when the repair of local cartilage which is constantly taking place throughout life is exceeded by the breakdown of cartilage cells. It is true there is a strong genetic component to OA but like most genetic diseases the genes have to be turned on. OA occurs from systemic and local factors. Systemic being things like genes, ethnicity, age, hormones, and nutritional factors (increased free radical formation is thought to contribute to joint destruction). Local factors often result from some injury to the joints that results in ligamentous laxity, misalignment, altered proprioception and muscle weakness and or altered joint mechanics. In addition, obesity, occupational and sports injuries, as well as past injuries result in local factors causing OA.
One of the most common questions I get in practice is my family has a history of arthritis, is there any way for me to avoid this? Oftentimes, individuals have already assumed they are destined to be arthritic because their parents and grandparents suffered from arthritis. Osteoarthritis is degenerative arthritis or what most would consider the arthritis of old age or getting older. While it is true that as we get older arthritis is more common, it is not a necessity.
Most importantly, systemic factors tend to make the joints more susceptible to OA, so that local factors then have a greater impact on OA developing. While we cannot eliminate most systemic factors, we can often drastically influence local factors. For example, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables as well as ingesting antioxidant supplements daily can help to lower serum free radicals and help to prevent the development and acceleration of osteoarthritis. Also, diets high in fish oil help to decrease inflammatory prostaglandins that occur once arthritis begins to take hold. In addition, chiropractic adjustments to the spine and extremity joints result in improving joint alignment, proprioception, muscle and ligament strength, as well as improving joint movement which aids in bringing nutrition into the joints. If you reread above the local risk factors for OA, you will see that adjustments address almost all of these factors. It is for this reason, that chiropractors advocate checkups and adjustments when needed in the absence of any pain to help prevent OA. In addition, the increase in movement and proprioception also aids in athletic performance.
Of a side note, most studies do indicate an increase in OA in runners unless there has been previous injury to the joint. In individuals with previous injury, it is my opinion that chiropractic care to the injured joint may help to slow or prevent OA from occurring.
In summary, while osteoarthritis is a disease with a strong genetic component, you are not destined to degenerative joints unless you allow those genes to be turned on. Individuals can help to prevent osteoarthritis by eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, ingesting antioxidants as well as fish oil which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and aids in cartilage repair, lowering body weight, and having regular chiropractic checkups and adjustments to help prevent accelerated breakdown of synovial joints.
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