At this time of year, I get more patients asking me what's the best treatment for aching, swollen or inflamed joints in Bristol.
Many people suffer from joint pain, but a good osteopath in Bristol will be able to help.
Diagnosis is important as there are so many reasons for joint pain, some of which can be treated by a Bristol osteopath. Some might need a referral to their GP or local hospital.
What are the causes of aching, swollen and inflamed joints?
Some of the possible causes include:
Injury or trauma
Physical Injury causes damage to the joints, ligaments and or muscles that support the joint.
Osteopaths are well-placed to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate most muscle-skeletal injuries including joint injuries. They are also well placed to refer to the more serious injuries.
Wear and tear
Wear and tear (Osteoarthritis) in joints come in many stages of severity.
Nearly all are appropriate for osteopathic care. Osteopaths in Bristol can diagnose and may refer a patient for an X-ray or MRI scan.
Osteopaths can’t mend the wear and tear, but they can improve the health of the joints and muscles, as well as help to offload worn joints.
Inflammatory disorders
If a Bristol osteopath suspects a diagnosis of an inflammatory disorder then onward referral to a GP or rheumatologist is important.
It may be that at a later stage, osteopathic treatment is appropriate, but initially, the condition will need to be assessed further and controlled with careful management.
Osteopaths in Bristol are well placed to differentiate between the above causes and an osteopathic consultation is a good place to start. Find out more here.
How do Bristol osteopaths treat joint pain?
Some of the ways in which Bristol osteopaths treat joint pain include:
Improving quality and range of movement with appropriate articulation of the joints.
Improving the health of local muscles, sometimes with soft tissue techniques to loosen the muscles and also strengthening exercises.
Improve blood flow and circulation to and from the area to speed up healing and reduce swelling.
Treatment should always be accompanied by rehab exercises to speed recovery and give the patient the right tools to prevent recurrence.
Keeping joints moving is vital but I advise patients at my Henleaze osteopathic clinic that this needs to be within pain-free ranges.
Joints often ache more in Autumn and Winter - visit here to find out why.
To make a booking at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic, visit here.