If you suffer from aches, pains, tightness, clicking, grating, and joint stiffness, the chances are that you have arthritis, especially if these signs and symptoms worsen during inclement weather. This is because arthritis ranks as the second most prevalent medical problem in Australia. In fact, it is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.85million Australians, affected at a cost to our economy of more than $23.9 billion each year in medical care and indirect costs such as loss of earnings and lost production.


So what is Arthritis?




What Causes Osteoarthritis?

There are many causes of osteoarthritis. These include:

1. Poor posture and/or movement habits
3. Poor diet, leading to nutritional deficiencies
4. Congenital or genetic causes
5. Inflammatory diseases.

The common link with all these factors is that they involve abnormal or excessive joint forces, joint irritation, and inflammation leading to the breakdown of the covering of joints. So to a large extent, preventing the inflammation associated with abnormal or excessive forces, and joint irritation would go a long way to preventing arthritis.

Arthritis is not necessarily a consequence of aging

There is a widely held belief that arthritis is simply a consequence of age, the pain of growing old. However, arthritis is not a natural part of aging. In fact, 2.4 million of all people suffering from the disease are of working age.


What is the solution?


In addition, there are actions that you can take immediately to minimize joint inflammation and therefore the impact of arthritis. The key lies with optimizing joint health by:

1. Reducing chronic muscle and joint tension which leads to muscle tightness, joint stiffness, poor alignment, nervous tissue irritation and eventually pain. The best way to do this is with meditation/relaxation techniques, remedial massage, joint mobilization, and PNF or prolonged stretching (Yoga), and correcting postures and movements through the use of better equipment (e.g. pillows, beds, chairs, work stations, etc.)


3. Improving your physical capacity, through appropriate conditioning, rehabilitation, and prevention programs. These programs must emphasize ideal alignment, correct joint stabilization and precise muscle control with integration into the optimal performance of everyday movements. Among the best programs are clinical pilates and hydrotherapy, and functional strengthening classes

4. Good nutrition is critical. Many foods such as turmeric, ginger, fish/krill oil, and flaxseed oil actually reduce the effects of inflammation whilst others associated with acidic or high glycemic foods make it worse. Knowing which foods to avoid and which ones to eat can make a massive difference in the quality of your life.

5. Ensuring that you have normal amounts of vitamin D by exposing 40% of your body to 15 minutes of sunlight before 9 am.

It makes sense that these recommendations will work better if they are combined in the one program. Bodywise Health has now run such a program, so if you suffer from arthritis, call Bodywise Health. Relief may be just a phone call away.


Please note:

• Rebates are available through your private insurance extras cover
