Osteoarthritis can be a debilitating condition that can impact mobility and quality of your life. Although many anti-inflammatory medications have been developed over the years to treat this condition, most of them have side effects that can be detrimental to the patient. People are turning to alternative treatments such as acupuncture and acupressure to treat osteoarthritis. It is not surprising that more people are turning to traditional bodyworks to treat osteoarthritis. This is mainly due to the lack of side effects.
Acupuncture
A significant number of people have turned to acupuncture to manage the chronic pain caused by this debilitating condition. What is osteoarthritis? And what role does acupuncture have in managing this condition. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis is a condition that is characterized by the structural or functional failure of the joints. It can affect one joint, and often affects nearby muscles, ligaments, linings, joints cover, and underlying joints. Sometimes, it can lead to progressive cartilage loss.
Osteoarthritis is usually caused by cartilage loss, but it can also occur due to heredity, aging and injury. Cartilage is a protein substance that acts as a ‘cushion between the bones of the joints. There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary and secondary. Primary osteoarthritis is usually caused by the aging process of the joints. The loss of cartilage can cause friction between the joints, which can lead to mobility problems and pain.
Types
Primary osteoarthritis is usually inherited. Secondary osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is usually triggered by other conditions such as diabetes, gout or obesity. Obesity can increase the mechanical stresses between joints, which can adversely affect the cartilage. Research shows that obesity is the second leading risk factor for developing degenerative arthritis.
Despite being the most important risk factor, aging remains to be the most serious. Although symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary from person to person, the most common ones are pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving the joints. Osteoarthritis treatments are designed to reduce joint pain and inflammation. Treatments are also designed to improve and maintain joint function.
Because of its many relieving effects, acupuncture has been used for a variety of illnesses for more than 3000 years. But, only the last five decades have seen extensive scientific research. Many western medical professionals have become curious about the mechanisms of traditional medicine such as acupuncture and acupressure, and how they can provide pain relief for patients with osteoarthritis.
TCM
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) states that most illnesses are caused by blockages or imbalances in the flow life energy. These blockages and imbalances can be corrected by acupuncture using very thin needles. Acupuncture is based on the belief that the body has 12 major meridians, eight secondary meridians, and thousands of acupuncture point which can be stimulated to bring about satisfactory benefits to various organs.
This ancient bodywork involves inserting very thin needles into skin and manipulating them to produce electrical impulses. Many studies have been conducted over the years to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating osteoarthritis. Research has shown that acupuncture stimulates the production of endorphins within the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers, helping osteoarthritis patients to manage their pain.
Conclusion
Research shows that most acupuncture points are located close to the nerves. These nerves can be stimulated to produce a feeling of fullness in the muscles or dull aches. The stimulation of the muscles triggers the transmission signals to the central nervous, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord, to produce endorphins. These hormones are produced by the body in times of stress and pain. Endorphins, along with other neurotransmitters help to block the transmission of pain signals from the brain. Patients will experience less pain.