Hot Health Tips | November 2004

Hot Health Tips

Natural Solutions for Arthritis
By Dr. Marissa Bentham

Arthritis: “itis” meaning inflammation, “arth” referring to a joint. There are a number of different types of arthritis, each one with a unique cause and set of symptoms. For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that will affect 8 out of 10 Americans at some point in their lifetime, and contrary to popular belief, it is not just a disease of the elderly. Arthritis is more common in women than men, and can develop in young adulthood, although the risk increases over the age of 45. Simply stated, arthritis is the breakdown or degeneration of joint tissue that results in painful, swollen, and stiff joints. Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and the spine. If you suffer from arthritis, it may be hindering you from the living the active lifestyle that you desire, and may be affecting your workout routine. But inactivity is not the solution; your joints need motion to stay lubricated and healthy. Let’s look at a few natural solutions for pain relief and for preventing the progression of this condition.

The most common treatment for arthritis is the use of prescription medications: anti-inflammatories and pain killers. The two biggest drugs on the market are Celebrex and Vioxx. As many of you may now be aware, Vioxx recently underwent one of the largest drug recalls in history. Vioxx has had more than 84 million users since its FDA approval, but was withdrawn from the market in early October due to the increased risk of heart attack and strokes in Vioxx users. Drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex work by lowering the levels of inflammatory agents (called prostaglandins) in the body. In order to lower prostaglandin levels naturally, arthritis sufferers need to decrease their intake of sugar and sweets, and start a high quality fish oil supplement. Here’s why… As we’ve discussed many times over, the avoidance of sugar will lower insulin levels in the blood. Elevated insulin levels are one of the major reasons that inflammatory prostaglandins are produced. Thus, stopping sugar and sweets is essential to controlling arthritis pain and other types of chronic degenerative illness. As well, omega-3 fats, which are found in high levels in fish oils, are a natural way to balance prostaglandin levels.

By now, most of you have likely heard of Glucosamine or Chondroitin Sulfate. These are the natural precursors to the tissue that comprises the cartilage of our joints. Taking a Glucosamine or Chondroitin supplement will provide your body with the natural building blocks that it needs to repair and rebuild the damaged joint cartilage. I recommend finding a supplement in a liquid form, as liquid has a much higher absorption rate (80-90%) when compared with tablets (20-30%).

One of the major influences on the development of osteoarthritis is biomechanics. If a joint in your body is out of alignment, (due to poor posture, improper ergonomics, repetitive stress or injury) this will cause uneven stress on that joint. Much like poor wheel alignment will cause uneven wear on your tires, the increased wear and tear on a misaligned joint will cause early damage and degeneration. The best way to evaluate the alignment and biomechanics of your knees, hips, and spine is to see your chiropractor for a check-up! In addition to adjustments of the misaligned joints, your chiropractor may provide ergonomic and postural recommendations or prescribe orthotics to stabilize and support proper joint function.

If arthritis pain is affecting your workouts at Curves, please don’t let it stop you altogether. The patented hydraulic machines are specifically designed to provide a low impact workout that is safe on your joints. Because cartilage does not have a direct blood supply, studies have proven that motion through low impact exercise is one of the best ways to ensure that critical nutrients reach damaged joints…a process called imbibition.

Feel free to talk to one of our fitness technicians about some ways to modify the exercises that are difficult for you. As always, we are available by e-mail or to sit down with you one-on-one if you have more specific needs or questions. We encourage you to keep up the great work!