Tag Archive for: joint dysfunction

What is Bursitis?

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is an inflammation of one of the body’s bursae (the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints). This painful condition can be caused by a mild injury, repeated use (such as prolonged kneeling on a hard surface), arthritis, or infection. Commonly affected joints include the shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip.

Bursitis is typically identified by the localized pain or swelling that occurs when the small sac (bursa) found inside joints become inflamed. The fluid-filled sac helps to lubricate and cushion the joint. When it is inflamed, movement can be painful. Usually, bursitis occurs in larger joints such as shoulders and hips. Symptoms of bursitis may include swelling, redness, a warm joint area, aching or stiffness in the joint that gets worse with movement.

Without seeing your health care provider, you usually can’t tell the difference between bursitis and pain caused by a strain or arthritis.  Often just resting and elevating the joint can help. Applying ice may help relieve pain and swelling. Once the joint is no longer painful, you can work to strengthen the muscles around the joint and prevent further flare-ups.

Chiropractic and Physiotherapy treatments can help most people with musculoskeletal disorders such as bursitis. Treatment options can include manipulations, or modalities such as cold lasers, ultrasound and a decompression table.

Contact Diversified Health to speak with one of our health care practitioners for information on the treatment options that could be right for you.

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What is Tennis Elbow? What Causes It?

Tennis elbow is an overuse and muscle strain injury caused by the repeated contraction of the forearm muscles that you use to straighten and raise your hand and wrist and affects 1% to 3% of the overall population. Repeated motion and stress to the tissue can cause inflammation or even a series of tiny tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony “knob” at the outside of your elbow, and the results can be painful.

Common Causes

Many common activities other than playing tennis, can cause this painful condition, including gardening, working around the house, or any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist. Pain and weakness caused by tennis elbow can make it difficult to do simple everyday activities such as shake hands, use a doorknob, or hold a coffee cup.

If You Think You Have Tennis Elbow:

It’s always best to consult a healthcare provider to get an expert opinion. Luckily, up to 90% of cases can be remedied by nonsurgical treatments, and symptoms usually diminish within four to six weeks after receiving appropriate treatment.

For immediate relief, resting the affected arm and applying ice may help relieve symptoms, and anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce pain. Braces or wrist splints may also help to relieve the symptoms of tennis elbow along with specific range of motion exercises.

Treatment Options

The type of treatment prescribed for tennis elbow will depend on several factors, including age, overall health, medical history, and severity of pain. The goals of treatment are to reduce pain or inflammation, promote healing, and decrease stress and abuse on the injured elbow.

Physiotherapy & Chiropractic treatments can help treat tennis elbow; using a combination of Ultrasound, Class IV Laser, Shockwave Therapy and Graston Instruments to reduce inflammation. Specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your forearm will help to strengthen those muscles and prevent the condition from re-occurring.

Your practitioner will also discuss changes you may need to make to your work environment, sport technique or sports equipment that you are currently using.

Tennis Elbow Relief in Victoria, B.C.

Contact Diversified Health to speak with one of our health care practitioners for more information on tennis elbow and what options could be right for you.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis has taken a step into the spotlight for many during the Winter Olympics. Canadian athlete, Spencer O’Brien (snowboard) has spoken openly about her journey with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and how it has affected her life and sport. Debunking the misconception that arthritis, in its many forms, is a disorder of the older persons, her struggle is one that many can relate to on some level.

So what is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis, also referred to as RA, is an autoimmune disorder, occurring when a person’s immune system attacks its own body systems. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis does not cause the same type of wear and tear damage to the joints in the same way. The damage inflicted by rheumatoid arthritis is caused by swelling of the linings of the joints of the body. This can result in erosion of the bones and joints and can often cause joint deformation.

It is a chronic, inflammatory disorder that can affect much more than just your joints though. It can have a significant impact on a person’s entire body; including the heart and lungs, circulatory system, skin and eyes. Approximately 40% of people with RA experience symptoms that don’t involve joints.

Risk Factors

Gender plays a role in te disorder. More women than men develop rheumatoid arthritis and they tend to be more severely affected by it. They also are more likely to develop the disorder at a younger age.

Genetics may be a factor. If you have a family member with RA, you are at a higher risk for developing it yourself. however, the science is still out on whether there is a specific genetic cause for the disorder. A genetic predisposition to sensitivity of certain environmental factors, such as viral or bacterial infections which are suspected to trigger the disorder, can play a role in your risk factor.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Depending on what areas of the body are affected primarily, the symptoms do vary but generally include the following:

–           Swollen joints that may also be warm and tender

–           Stiffness and reduced range of motion in your joints; especially after inactivity or in the morning

–           fever, fatigue, weight loss

 

The symptoms tend to start in the smaller joints and spread to larger joint areas over time as the disorder progresses. Symptoms may almost seem to come and go and be in flare ups rather than being consistent and progressive in intensity.

Your physician may use a number of diagnostic tools to assist in determining if you have RA. Blood tests, imaging tests and a physical examination of symptomatic areas are a few tools that are used.

Treatment

While there is currently no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment can be highly successful at reducing the impact this disorder can have.

The goal of treatment is remission: achieving a state where the activity of the disease is low or even gone. The earlier that treatment is started, the more that remission can be attained.

Prescription medications are often used to help reduce the symptoms and discomfort associated with the disease. Therapy is often helpful in managing the progression and assisting in performing daily tasks that can become more difficult as joint flexibility may be reduced. In cases where joint degeneration or alteration has occurred, surgery is also an option that is explored.

 

For more information and education about Rheumatoid Arthritis, check out this helpful link. If you are concerned about your joint health or have questions about RA, make sure to follow up with your primary care provider. Joint pain and stiffness doesn’t have to be something that you just learn to live with.

Yours in Health,

Diversified Health Clinic

 

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