On Saturday, March 1, one of our most inspirational patients was featured on the front page of the Metro section of the Boston Globe (Read Article). Rich Busa, is 84 years young, still runs trial marathons and is planning on winning the US National Snow Show Championship for the 9th year in a row this weekend!
What is most amazing about Rich is that he has significant arthritis in his low back. So much so, that a radiologist looking at his films, without knowing Rich’s story, would wonder how long he was in a wheelchair. Yet he does all the activities he want to do!
Arthritis is real, but it is a descriptive term. I like to use the analogy of arthritis being “rust” in joints. When I say arthritis in this blog, I’m talking about wear-and-tear arthritis; also known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis. I am not talking about rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto-immune disease.
Joints need to move. When joints become dysfunctional (or stuck),over time they start to wear out, or rust. Of course having arthritis is not good news, but it does not mean you are doomed. We treat patients with arthritis everyday in our office. As we treat them, they feel and move better so they can be active and participate in life again. When we take follow-up x-rays, the arthritis usually looks exactly the same. That means it is not the arthritis that caused the pain, it was the lack of motion. Just as a a rusty hinge needs more oil and maintenance to function, an arthritic joint, once restored to motion, also needs maintenance. Joint maintenance includes exercise, stretching and periodic chiropractic adjustments.
A clinical study performed in our office followed 30 patients over a 5 year period who had spinal arthritis on presentation. Not one patient who followed their recommended rehab program and then received periodic chiropractic maintenance care had progression of their spinal arthritis. Patients who stopped care and then returned did have a progression of their arthritis.
Obviously the best advice is to start chiropractic care before you get arthritis. Just as you see a dentist on a preventative basis to prevent tooth decay, regular chiropractic care has the potential to prevent spinal decay (or arthritis). If you don’t take care of your teeth, worst case scenario you can get dentures. You only get one spine… take care of it!
For more information on the chiropractic care and arthritis please contact me at: