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The Best Natural Remedies for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage at the ends of bones wears down. This condition causes pain and disability, and it tends to get worse with time. Since more than 30 million US adults have osteoarthritis, treatment options are in high demand. The following are a few natural remedies for people who are dealing with the pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis.
Weight Loss
When it comes to osteoarthritis in the knees, one of the best and most common recommendations is for the patient to lose weight. A study from 2005 indicates that every pound a person loses reduces the load on the knee joint by four pounds for every step taken. When you consider all of the steps a person may take in a day, that is a significant amount of wear and tear that could be avoided by losing a few pounds.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is one of the key components in cartilage, and there is significant evidence that taking a glucosamine supplement can relieve arthritis pain. That said, you do have to be careful to make sure you are taking the right type of glucosamine. Many supplements contain glucosamine hydrochloride, which has not been shown to be beneficial. When looking for a supplement that contains this compound, read the label and look for glucosamine sulfate.
Chondroitin
When taken with glucosamine, chondroitin has shown some promise to provide relief for those with osteoarthritis. While chondroitin hasn’t been shown to provide as much relief for the symptoms of osteoarthritis, some studies have shown that it can slow the progression of this condition.
Exercise
Exercise has several benefits for people with osteoarthritis. It is good for strengthening the muscles that support the joints, maintaining flexibility and it can also relieve arthritis pain. The key is to find exercises that are good for arthritis and to avoid exercises that can cause damage.
Things like walking and swimming can be good. However, if you have osteoarthritis at your knees, you should avoid activities like running and jogging. Before starting an exercise routine for arthritis, you should consult with your doctor to find out which exercises will provide the most benefit and which to avoid. Working with a physical therapist in New York, Chicago, or wherever you are based can help you settle into an exercise routine that keeps you healthy.
Topical Treatments
Most of the topical pain relief gels and creams fit under the counterirritant category. While they may offer some temporary pain relief, the benefits for arthritis patients will be limited. If you want to find topical treatments that will be more beneficial, look for ingredients like capsaicin or diclofenac. Both of these ingredients have been shown to be effective at relieving osteoarthritis pain.
Assistive Devices
Devices like canes, splints, and braces can be beneficial for those dealing with the symptoms of arthritis. With these devices, you redistribute weight in a way that takes some of the load off the arthritic joint. Assistive devices can slow the progression of osteoarthritis by reducing the wear and tear on the joint, and they can also help to relieve problems with pain and inflammation.
Doing what you can to address your arthritis pain is good, but you will need some help along the way. Talk to your doctor for recommendations and consider things like physical therapy as a way to treat your arthritis.
Contributed by Alex Warner
BetterPT
BetterPT
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Christopher Wiechert's HealthBlogger is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility. The views expressed on this website are those of the health professionals and scientists I list or my own opinions and are not intended to replace any medical advice you may require. The contents have not been approved by the Pharmaceutical Association, the American Medical Association, or the Food and Drug Administration. This website may present views diametrically opposed to the views of such organizations. I also offer resources to products I use myself as well as those that I believe are of high value and quality. Profits from these recommendations are used to keep HealthBlogger free to those who read it and appreciate the time and research that goes into these posts. It has been my experience over the last 40+ years that if I offer reports and research without product recommendations, you will most likely pay more at the local health food store and may not get the right product or the quality you would expect. I only recommend companies I respect and order from myself. I consider this a value added service that I offer along with the research. If you find this a conflict of interest, please don't order from my links.
Christopher Wiechert's HealthBlogger is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility. The views expressed on this website are those of the health professionals and scientists I list or my own opinions and are not intended to replace any medical advice you may require. The contents have not been approved by the Pharmaceutical Association, the American Medical Association, or the Food and Drug Administration. This website may present views diametrically opposed to the views of such organizations. I also offer resources to products I use myself as well as those that I believe are of high value and quality. Profits from these recommendations are used to keep HealthBlogger free to those who read it and appreciate the time and research that goes into these posts. It has been my experience over the last 40+ years that if I offer reports and research without product recommendations, you will most likely pay more at the local health food store and may not get the right product or the quality you would expect. I only recommend companies I respect and order from myself. I consider this a value added service that I offer along with the research. If you find this a conflict of interest, please don't order from my links.
