What is Degenerative Joint Disease?
Degenerative joint disease refers to the degradation of joints over time. The ends of bones are coated with a protective tissue called cartilage. This condition occurs when the cartilage disintegrates, resulting in the ends of the bones rubbing against each other.
This phenomenon can cause a range of problems. Most commonly, people feel pain and stiffness around affected areas.
Joint damage from wear and tear can also be attributed to the occurrence of this condition. Past injuries can tear cartilage, dislocate joints, and damage ligaments. These can all play a part in causing this disease.
Notably, degenerative joint disease can occur in your hands, fingertips, knees, hips, and spine (typically at the neck or lower back).
Symptoms of Degenerative Joint Disease
Symptoms of degenerative joint disease vary depending on the severity of the condition you may have and these can include:
Persistent pain
Tenderness
Stiffness
Inflammation
How can Chiropractic help?
Diagnose the right condition for a personalised treatment
Repetitive sprains and strains are often the main contributors to degenerative joint conditions. Obtaining a thorough history to understand the patient’s daily habits, work nature, medical history, and history of trauma is essential for our chiropractors to form a prognosis and tailor a rehabilitation program that suits the patient’s daily needs.
Besides the chiropractic adjustments and electrical therapies you may be familiar with, our chiropractors also take further steps to assess patients’ nutritional profiles and provide suggestions on managing chronic inflammation — a common challenge for those dealing with prolonged joint pain.
In certain cases, X-rays or MRIs may be employed as diagnostic tools to guide our chiropractors’ decisions. Any diagnostic images taken in the past can also serve as useful references to track the progression of degeneration.
Chiropractic Adjustments
To improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
Electrotherapy (TENS machine)
Provides therapeutic effect to enhance range of motion and alleviate your pain by penetrating tissue and reducing its tightness.
Providing long-term care as your healthcare partner
Whole-Body Treatment Approach
Our chiropractors adopt a whole-body treatment approach to evaluate your pain areas as a whole because other regions of the neck (cervical), mid back (thoracic) and low back (lumbar) may be affected as well. We aim to treat the “whole person,” not just to treat your specific symptoms.
Advice on Posture, Exercises, Diet and Nutrition
In order to treat the root of chronic pains that are recurring over time, our chiropractors seek to understand your lifestyle and work demands so as to provide personalised patient-centric care and advice over a longer time horizon as your healthcare partner.