Osteoarthritis, which is also referred to as arthritis, is the most common form of joint disorder. This disorder often leads to severe joint damage requiring many individuals to suffer from pain and can require such procedures as knee/hip replacements over time. It affects the joints in the body, including the spine, hips, knees, feet and hands. It is caused by the wearing down of cartilage between the joints binding the bones together, causing bones to rub together. This often causes discomfort and a decrease in mobility to the area.

Osteoarthritis is a genetically influenced disorder, so if you have relatives that suffer from this condition, you are more at risk of developing this condition. In addition to genetic factors, obesity and previous trauma to the joints or spine can also increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis. Most people with osteoarthritis develop the condition after the age of 45, and men are more likely to get osteoarthritis, sorry guys.

Fortunately, there are certain things we can do to prevent the likelihood of osteoarthritis from developing. Probably the most important factor that we have control of is weight loss. Being overweight greatly increases the chances of this condition due to the increased pressure on the joints from the additional weight being carried by the body. In addition to prevention of osteoarthritis, losing weight also has countless other benefits including prevention of diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Weight loss is a very important element of prevention, but the exercise performed to lose weight also plays a significant role in osteoarthritis prevention. Physical activities like walking, jogging, bicycling, and weight lifting act to lubricate and work the joints. In addition, exercise promotes circulation of blood throughout the body. All of these act to provide the joints with nutrients to encourage healthy tissue and prevention of osteoarthritis. Exercise programs and chiropractic treatment like those offered at Green Health Acupuncture will increase joint mobility, circulation, and overall body fitness to help you prevent this degenerative disorder.

Food supplementation is another way of battling osteoarthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatory agents that will reduce inflammation that can lead to osteoarthritis. Omeg-3s can be found in fish (Wild Alaskan Salmon), or can be supplemented by fish oil. Also, please read the previous blog post entitled “5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Add to Your Diet,” for additional foods that will help fight osteoarthritis.

Plus, at Green Health Acupuncture, we offer several products designed to help fight inflammation and help decrease the chances of developing osteoarthritis:

ClearVite-SF is a nutritional protein powder designed to eliminate all potentially allergy forming foods for 2 to 3 weeks in order to reduce inflammation and help the body eliminate toxins. This product is a great way to eliminate inflammation in the body which leads to osteoarthritis and detox your body in the process.

Neprinol AFD (Advanced Fibrin Defense) is a nutritional supplement in capsular form which regulates normal inflammatory response. This will help decrease the amount of inflammation stores in your body which can decrease the chances of developing or slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

OxiCell Cream with Glutathione and Superoxide Dismutase (S.O.D.) is a topical cream which provides a powerful blend of antioxidants to reduce inflammation. The antioxidants contained in this cream are the most important known to the human species. OxiCell Cream is excellent for prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.