Posts Tagged ‘arthritis’

Are there Different Types of Arthritis?

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

The prefix “arth” refers to joints and ‘itis’ refers to inflammation.  The term “arthritis” is a generic term meaning painful joints.  Are there different types of this condition? – true and false.

Although different types are common in adults who reach that ‘certain age’ it also affects children still in diapers and young people in the prime of their lives.  Over 100 different types  range from the relatively mild cases of tendonitis or bursitis to crippling systemic forms such as rheumatoid or Lupus. (more…)

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Deep Tissue Massage

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Deep tissue massage focuses on specific problems such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, limited mobility, recovery from injuries, repetitive strain injury, postural problems, osteoarthritis and muscle spasms.

The pressure will generally be more intense and more focused with this type of massage as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots. Also known as adhesions, these knots can cause chronic tension and pain in the neck, low back and shoulders. (more…)

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Your Diet and Arthritis

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are not the only types of arthritic conditions. Diseases such as gout, pseudogout, childhood arthritis and lupus fall into this category.

Treatment modalities for all methods of arthritis will include rest, exercise, medication, weight loss, joint protection and cold or heat. The goal is to decrease pain and inflammation, slow the progression of the disease, decrease the disability in the joints and improve your overall health.

Some individuals also find that while altering their diets to effect a change in their overall health they also improve the cartilage production and their pain and discomfort. By altering their diet to improve weight maintenance they also decrease the amount of stress placed on the large weight-bearing joints. Research has also proven that given the opportunity, correct nutrition, water and light, the body is able to do an amazing number of things to heal itself. (more…)

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Events that Trigger Osteoarthritis

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Although osteoarthritis usually accompanies old age, researchers have found that cartilage in the joint becomes chemically different than a joint that does not have the disease.

Researchers have also found that there are usually a series of events which lead to the development of the condition and that, while it is often associated with old age, that association isn’t enough to trigger osteoarthritis.

These particular events involve both the use and breakdown of the cartilage as well as the production and maintenance in the joints.  The joints which are affected are usually the larger weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips.  These provide the majority of the cushion when we are doing any weight-bearing exercise such as walking or running.

Athletes who perform repetitive motion exercises, such as rowing or tennis, will find that osteoarthritis can also develop in the elbow and shoulder areas. (more…)

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Can Arthritis be Identified by a Blood Test?

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.  Due to the variety and different ways in which the disease presents itself, there are conclusive tests to determine that an individual suffers from arthritis.  Arthritic conditions can affect the joints, bones, soft tissue and organ systems depending upon which condition is present.  When doctors piece together a diagnoses, they may use blood tests, imaging studies, a thorough history and a physical in order to determine an accurate diagnosis.

Arthritis does not usually exist in a vacuum.  This means that patients often have more than one medical condition or disease process going on at the same time.  Therefore, tests are used not only to identify the disease but to rule out other issues which may be causing the same symptoms.  Sometimes doctors have to use a diagnosis of exclusion.  This means the doctor will exclude everything else that the condition could be and will be left with the most probable diagnosis. (more…)

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