Osteoarthritis is often referred to as the “wear and tear” arthritis. Although there is some truth to this statement, closer examination of this condition reveals that there are multiple factors involved in its development. In fact, osteoar-thritis will also paradoxically develop in under-used joints. A good example of this is the case of a joint which is immobilized by a cast. The immobilized joint will start to show cellular changes that are characteristic of osteoarthritis within a few weeks!
Osteoarthritis does have a tendency to affect joints which have undergone a trauma, either repetitive in nature or a single severe episode. A mechanic using his hands over a long period of time may develop it in his finger joints, while a person who suffers a severe whiplash may develop it in their neck. This factor is not the only one however, as many individuals who undergo physical trauma never develop osteoarthritis. Certainly, genetics plays a role in this condition, but if current research holds true, lifestyle probably plays a greater role than genes.
We know that the body's ability to produce glucosamine (a key component in joint cartilage) steadily declines as we age. Interestingly, our rate of osteoarthritis seems to increase at about the same pace that our ability to produce glucosamine declines. It is possible that there are some nutritional factors which either enhance or inhibit our body's production of glucos amine, but research is not clear on this yet. There is some research indicating that diets high in meat and dairy tend to create a pro-inflammatory state in the body, another key factor in the development of osteoarthritis.
Finally, we know that poor body mechanics plays a key factor in the development of this condition. Joints subject to abnormal motion patterns due to poor posture, tight musculature, muscular weakness or poor joint play can start to show signs of this arthritis earlier than their “normal” counterparts.
For example, the person who notices that they have more tightness in one hip versus the other will more likely develop arthritis in that tight hip later in life.
Treatment of osteoarthritis varies greatly and depends largely on the severity of the condition. At the extreme end of the condition we have full joint replacements, while at the other end we may have individuals who address body mechanics in an effort to prevent osteoarthritis from developing. Osteoarthritis typically runs through the three stages of stiffness, instability and then more stiffness, as the body attempts to fuse the joint. Most individuals, however, will find themselves somewhere in the middle, trying to treat the symptoms of the arthritis which has already started, while also trying to avoid its further progression. These individuals will benefit from a trial of glucosamine sulphate for at least two months. There is substantial research on glucosamine sulphate which shows that it not only decreases the pain of ost-eoarthritis but also restores function in the joint. There are also a number of natural anti-inflammatory substances which show promise for controlling the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. White willow, turmeric, pro-teolytic enzymes, bromelain and a natural substance called MSM all have research demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects. These patients should also consider switching to a diet higher in plant products and lower in animal products in an effort to control inflammation.
Improving body mechanics is also critical in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Stretching and strengthening the area can be very helpful, but sometimes difficult to perform due to extreme stiffness. Getting into water, such as deep water aerobics or running, can help with stiffness and allow the individual to perform more exercise with minimal stress on the joint. Seeing a chiropractor is invaluable, as a chiropractic doctor can evaluate overall body mechanics, posture and joint play. Joint play is the small but critical amount of motion which is first lost in osteoar-thritis. Restoring this joint play through joint adjustment, mobilization and rehabilitation is critical in the management of this osteoarthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis is important. Individuals should consider early treatment of injured joints and the surrounding muscles. Paradoxically, exercise which is not too extreme actually helps the joints. The old adage “if you don't use it you'll lose it” does seem to have merit. Movement of joints allows circulation of fluid within the joint. Since it is fluid that nourishes the joint, it is most likely this factor which causes arthritis to develop in the under-used joints. Use of supplements like glucosamine sulphate on a smaller dosage may help prevent arthritis, as well as an overall healthy diet. Finally, assessment of body mechanics, posture, joint play and injury treatment by your chiropractor is critical for the prevention of osteoarthritis.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding osteoar-thritis please feel free to contact our clinic at 403-933-3088.
Dr. Greg Morris
Diamond Valley Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Greg Morris, Dr. Natalie Carrington and Dr. Mike Belding can all be contacted at the Diamond Valley Chiropractic Clinic, 403-933-3088.
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Friday, December 16, 2011
A Special Cookbook
The Rising Sun Longterm Care unit at the Oilfields Hospital is hosting a tea on Wednesday, December 7th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. There will be a basket raffle and bake sale as well as the opportunity to purchase their new cookbook for $20. Recipes in the cookbook come from residents, staff and family. If you miss the tea you can still purchase the cookbook from staff or residents – a great gift idea!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Views on Vision By Dr. Charles A. Boulet ~ A Real Life Example
Reading Disabilities in the Classroom, Pt 3 of 4
When I met Daniel, he had an obvious dislike for doctors and testing of any kind. He is in Grade 2 and falling behind rather quickly. This has been going on since he began learning to read last year. Daniel's teachers noticed that he had trouble sitting still and paying attention in class, so predictably, following an assessment by a pediatrician, he was started on Concerta (ADD/ADHD medication). That's what it is these days: We discourage 'drug' use, but push 'medications'. It's a very troubling mixed message to be sure.
Even though Daniel had been assessed by an optometrist and different medical doctors, no one had noticed a very serious problem with his visual function. Daniel can read very small letters on a chart and, like in so many other cases, this is often taken as sufficient evidence that the eyes are not a problem. Indeed, Daniel's eye health is excellent and, with glasses, he can see very well. He is very highly farsighted, which is frequently an un-diagnosed problem, but this had been well-managed since he was very young and so he has avoided many additional problems as a consequence.
Daniel's reading problem, then, is not an 'eyesight' or eye health issue. It is, rather, an 'eye teaming' issue - this is to say Daniel's eyes cannot work well together. Specifically, Daniel suffers with rather severe 'convergence insufficiency' - he cannot draw his eyes together to look at a near target. This is a simple thing to demonstrate: Get a partner, stand up in front of him and hold a pencil 40 cm in front of his nose. Tell him to look off into the distance - the eyes will spread apart and look as though they are parallel to one another). Then, have him look at the pencil - the eyes will draw together to see the pencil; if this doesn't happen, send your partner to see me. This is the normal behavior, but Daniel simply cannot do this. Of course, reading requires not only that we bring our eyes inwards (cross them), but this action should also be effortless. Even if a child can 'cross' his eyes, if this is with too much effort, it can cause disturbances to reading fluency.
When Daniel's eyes try to come together, it is so hard to do that one eye simply 'gives up' and wanders outwards. In the end, while trying to read, Daniel will alternate between his left and right eyes - going to school and learning to read is somewhat akin to climbing 100 flights of stairs, not by walking, but by hopping using one foot at times and the other at other times. This becomes excessively tiresome and downright frustrating, especially given his classmates seem to have no trouble at all. As a consequence, Daniel finds reading tasks onerous and he is smart enough to realize there are differences between him and his classmates. Given that our modern way of teaching relies almost exclusively on reading, Daniel is falling behind. Because reading is a chore, he finds paying attention quite difficult and this translates to distractibility and disruptions in class. When asked to sit and pay attention, Daniel most often obliges at first, but then falls back into the cycle of frustrated reading and distraction.
All of Daniel's symptoms can be easily explained by assessment of his visual function. In fact, with very little coaxing, Daniel can easily sit still and pay attention to a given task - so long as it's not reading-based. There are many problems with prescribing medications for what is a behavioral problem and these relate to health and the fact that they don't necessarily 'fix' the problem. Research and experience shows that Daniel's visual condition can be treated very effectively and that doing so smooths the road to reading. Not only that, it's easy to pick up on his condition early, even before a child starts formal reading.
Within 5 months, or so, of the start of Daniel's visual rehabilitation therapy, which his parents will learn to do at home, he will be well on his way to catching up from what he's missed. With any luck, he will also be reassessed for ADD/ADHD and his physician will find that in fact the diagnosis is no longer valid and Daniel no longer needs drugs, that is, medication, to survive in school.
Dr. Boulet is a former teacher and now operates Diamond Valley Vision Care in Black Diamond where he continues to work with children with learning difficulties.
Call 403-933-5552.
www.dvvc.ca and www.LearningManagement.ca.
When I met Daniel, he had an obvious dislike for doctors and testing of any kind. He is in Grade 2 and falling behind rather quickly. This has been going on since he began learning to read last year. Daniel's teachers noticed that he had trouble sitting still and paying attention in class, so predictably, following an assessment by a pediatrician, he was started on Concerta (ADD/ADHD medication). That's what it is these days: We discourage 'drug' use, but push 'medications'. It's a very troubling mixed message to be sure.
Even though Daniel had been assessed by an optometrist and different medical doctors, no one had noticed a very serious problem with his visual function. Daniel can read very small letters on a chart and, like in so many other cases, this is often taken as sufficient evidence that the eyes are not a problem. Indeed, Daniel's eye health is excellent and, with glasses, he can see very well. He is very highly farsighted, which is frequently an un-diagnosed problem, but this had been well-managed since he was very young and so he has avoided many additional problems as a consequence.
Daniel's reading problem, then, is not an 'eyesight' or eye health issue. It is, rather, an 'eye teaming' issue - this is to say Daniel's eyes cannot work well together. Specifically, Daniel suffers with rather severe 'convergence insufficiency' - he cannot draw his eyes together to look at a near target. This is a simple thing to demonstrate: Get a partner, stand up in front of him and hold a pencil 40 cm in front of his nose. Tell him to look off into the distance - the eyes will spread apart and look as though they are parallel to one another). Then, have him look at the pencil - the eyes will draw together to see the pencil; if this doesn't happen, send your partner to see me. This is the normal behavior, but Daniel simply cannot do this. Of course, reading requires not only that we bring our eyes inwards (cross them), but this action should also be effortless. Even if a child can 'cross' his eyes, if this is with too much effort, it can cause disturbances to reading fluency.
When Daniel's eyes try to come together, it is so hard to do that one eye simply 'gives up' and wanders outwards. In the end, while trying to read, Daniel will alternate between his left and right eyes - going to school and learning to read is somewhat akin to climbing 100 flights of stairs, not by walking, but by hopping using one foot at times and the other at other times. This becomes excessively tiresome and downright frustrating, especially given his classmates seem to have no trouble at all. As a consequence, Daniel finds reading tasks onerous and he is smart enough to realize there are differences between him and his classmates. Given that our modern way of teaching relies almost exclusively on reading, Daniel is falling behind. Because reading is a chore, he finds paying attention quite difficult and this translates to distractibility and disruptions in class. When asked to sit and pay attention, Daniel most often obliges at first, but then falls back into the cycle of frustrated reading and distraction.
All of Daniel's symptoms can be easily explained by assessment of his visual function. In fact, with very little coaxing, Daniel can easily sit still and pay attention to a given task - so long as it's not reading-based. There are many problems with prescribing medications for what is a behavioral problem and these relate to health and the fact that they don't necessarily 'fix' the problem. Research and experience shows that Daniel's visual condition can be treated very effectively and that doing so smooths the road to reading. Not only that, it's easy to pick up on his condition early, even before a child starts formal reading.
Within 5 months, or so, of the start of Daniel's visual rehabilitation therapy, which his parents will learn to do at home, he will be well on his way to catching up from what he's missed. With any luck, he will also be reassessed for ADD/ADHD and his physician will find that in fact the diagnosis is no longer valid and Daniel no longer needs drugs, that is, medication, to survive in school.
Dr. Boulet is a former teacher and now operates Diamond Valley Vision Care in Black Diamond where he continues to work with children with learning difficulties.
Call 403-933-5552.
www.dvvc.ca and www.LearningManagement.ca.
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