Chiropractors’ role in arthritic pain
Muscle strengthening and general aerobic fitness together with manipulation and stretching, aided by a chiropractor, should be the core treatments for managing osteoarthritis.
It is alleged that heavy reliance on pharmaceutical medications, with potentially dangerous side effects, is becoming a problem for those trying to manage arthritic pain, according to a major update on guidance to healthcare professionals from the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published this month.
The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) welcomed the international guidance.
NZCA spokesperson and chiropractor, Dr Hayden Thomas, says: “The new guidance points out that osteoarthritis need not be an inevitable part of ageing or that it will necessarily get worse.”
Dr Thomas claimed the evidence based recommendations on the most effective ways of diagnosing and managing osteoarthritis show that the core treatment for osteoarthritis remains exercise, which relieves pain for some people and also improves function.
“As chiropractors, we already offer advice to those with osteoarthritis who are overweight or obese on ways to lose weight as part of helping them self-manage their condition and it is good to see this is another amended original recommendation,” he said.
