Understanding Spondyloarthritis: How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Spondyloarthritis is a term used to describe a group of inflammatory arthritic conditions that primarily affect the spine and other joints. If you’re experiencing persistent pain and stiffness in your back, neck, or buttocks it might be time to investigate the cause. These could all be signs of spondyloarthritis. This condition can also cause discomfort in your legs, feet, and other joints, making simple daily activities like walking, bending, or even sitting at your desk a painful challenge. Fatigue is another common symptom, leaving you feeling unusually tired and lacking energy. At Bayside Chiropractic, our chiropractors can help you manage these symptoms and improve your quality of life. Call us at (02) 9523 9940 to book an appointment. In the meantime, read on for a better understanding of spondyloarthritis and how chiropractic care can help.
What Is Spondyloarthritis?
The term “spondyloarthritis” comes from “spondylo,” meaning spine, and “arthritis,” meaning joint inflammation. This group of inflammatory conditions primarily affects the spine but can also involve other joints and tissues.
Key features include:
- Inflammation of the Spine and Sacroiliac Joints: Pain and stiffness are common in the lower back, buttocks, and neck.
- Peripheral Joint Involvement: Pain, stiffness, and swelling can occur in the joints of the legs and, less commonly, the arms.
- Enthesitis: Inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, often felt at the back of the heel or underneath the foot.
- Systemic Symptoms: Inflammation can also affect the eyes, skin, and other parts of the body.
Types of Spondyloarthritis
Several types of arthritis fall under the spondyloarthritis umbrella:
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: Mainly affects the spine, leading to severe, chronic pain and stiffness.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: Associated with the skin condition psoriasis, causing joint pain and skin lesions.
- Reactive Arthritis: Develops after an infection elsewhere in the body.
- Enteropathic Arthritis: Linked to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis: A form that doesn’t fit neatly into the other categories but presents similar symptoms.
Chiropractic Care for Spondyloarthritis
Chiropractors are holistic practitioners who can offer substantial benefits for individuals with spondyloarthritis.
Here’s how chiropractic care can help:
Comprehensive Assessment
Our chiropractors perform detailed assessments to understand your specific condition. This includes examining your spine and other affected joints, evaluating your posture, and considering how your symptoms impact your overall movement and health. We’ll consider your medical history and ask questions about your family’s medical history. It may be that we’ll recommend imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs, or even a trip to the GP to get blood tests to check for inflammatory markers and the presence of specific genes.
Spinal Adjustments
One of the key chiropractic techniques is spinal adjustment. This involves applying controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal is to improve spinal motion and enhance your body’s physical function. Depending on where you are on your spondyloarthritis journey, adjustments may help. Benefits include:
- Reduced Inflammation: By improving joint function, adjustments may decrease inflammation in the spine and sacroiliac joints.
- Enhanced Mobility: Restoring proper alignment in the spine can increase flexibility and reduce pain, making everyday movements easier.
- Alleviated Pain: Adjustments may relieve pressure on nerves and reduce pain signals sent to the brain.
Sometimes a gentler approach is required and this is where joint mobilisation techniques (without the high, sudden force) may come into play.
Soft Tissue Therapy
In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractors use soft tissue techniques to address muscle and ligament tension associated with spondyloarthritis. This can include:
- Myofascial Release: A technique to release tension in the connective tissues.
- Trigger Point Therapy: Targeting specific tight spots in the muscles to alleviate pain.
- Massage: To improve circulation and reduce muscle stiffness.
Exercise and Rehabilitation
Exercise is crucial in managing spondyloarthritis. It helps maintain mobility and brings mood boosting and pain killing hormones into play. Both extremely helpful when you’re dealing with chronic pain. Our chiropractors will create customised exercise programs that include:
- Stretching Exercises: To maintain flexibility and reduce stiffness in the spine and other joints.
- Strengthening Exercises: To support the spine and improve overall muscle strength, reducing the burden on inflamed joints.
We’ll take your condition and your overall health into consideration when prescribing these exercises, so they’ll be effective, while still being achievable.
Lifestyle and Ergonomic Advice
Our chiropractors offer practical advice on lifestyle and ergonomic adjustments to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
This includes:
- Posture Correction: Tips on maintaining proper posture during daily activities.
- Ergonomic Modifications: Adjustments to your work and home environment to reduce strain on your spine and joints.
- Stress Management: Techniques to reduce stress, which can exacerbate inflammation.
Why Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is not just about treating symptoms; it’s about addressing the underlying causes of your discomfort. By focusing on the entire musculoskeletal system, chiropractors help you achieve better overall health and prevent future problems. This holistic approach is especially beneficial for conditions like spondyloarthritis, where multiple joints and tissues are involved.
Conclusion
Living with spondyloarthritis can be challenging, but chiropractic care offers a path to relief and improved function. At Bayside Chiropractic, our chiropractors are dedicated to helping you manage your symptoms through tailored, non-invasive treatments that address the root of the problem. Call us at (02) 9523 9940 to make an appointment and start your journey to better health.
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Information provided in this article (including text, graphics, images, outbound links, and other material) is for informational purposes only. It is general in nature and is not to be used or considered as a substitute for personalised professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified allied health provider regarding any symptoms, medical conditions, or treatments and before undertaking any new health care regimen.
References
Arthritis Australia [ND] Spondyloarthritis. [Online] Available at https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/types-of-arthritis/spondyloarthritis/. Accessed on 1/6/24.
Eustice, C. (2023, March.) Spondyloarthropathy Conditions 6 Rheumatic Diseases That Cause Joint Pain and Inflammation. Very Well Health. [Online] Available at https://www.verywellhealth.com/spondyloarthropathy-explained-190443. Accessed on 1/6/24.
