Are you having trouble with your joints? How well you can move your body in different directions is reflective of the range of motion of your joints. Injury, trauma and wear and tear all contribute to stiffness and limitation of your range of motion.
It is often hard to identify when a problem begins because joint stiffness is not always accompanied by pain. Joint stiffness can be the result of many different conditions: trauma, wear and tear (osteoarthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Differentiating one form of arthritis from another can be difficult, that is why it is important to track symptoms recording location, duration, time of day, swelling, prgression, other body parts, diet and activities. Providing your chiropractor with this information can help he/she to identify which type of arthritis you have and to recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
Depending on the condition of your joint(s), treatment may involve any combination of mobilization, adjustments, stretches, exercises, dietary and ergonomic (good body mechanics) advice. Chiropractors are experts on all of these topics and can help to develop a program specific to your needs.
Of all the things you can do for yourself to help in the recovery process, range of motion stretching and exercise are the most important. Gentle exercise, be it walking or swimming, can help to increase mobility, reduce fatigue, increase bone density, and increase the strength of muscles that support a joint. There is a lot of merit to that old saying, “if you do not use it, you lose it!”