In our clinic we frequently encounter individuals with chronic joint conditions which have resulted in a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA).
So What is Osteoarthritis Exactly?
OA is a condition whereby from wear and tear over time, the cartilaginous ends of bones have become damaged. It can affect any joint like those in the hands, wrists, hips, knees, back, ankles and feet. These problems, which may have started as mechanical issues in a joint, can cause degeneration of the cartilage often followed by a pattern of ongoing pain that can be affected by activity, increased stressful use, and even changes in the weather!
Think of your joints like hinges on a door. If those hinges start to rust (OA), the hinges just don’t move as well. Now on top of the rust, imagine that the door is off centre and is pulling more on one of those rusty hinges. The hinge being rusty is one area that you’d want to address but you’d definitely also want to take care of the off centre door! Continuing with the metaphor, we’d like to talk about how to grease the hinge and also how to keep that door moving better.
Relief of Osteoarthritis
![Bone broth can provide relief from osteoarthritis](https://www.solefit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/bone_broth_osteoarthritis.jpg)
More and more companies are coming out with high quality bone broth but one of the most inexpensive ways to get it is to visit your local butcher and look in their freezer section (click here for recipe). To our knowledge there is still no definitive studies showing the benefits of bone broth for OA, but many arthritic sufferers tout it as a magic elixir. If nothing else, it’s a healthy food that will help to make your soups, stews, and other broth based recipes taste really good! Click here for more information on bone broth.
![knee brace for OA](https://www.solefit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Unloader-One-9-1.jpg)
Unloader knee braces can be incredibly effective at providing relief from osteoarthritis pain in the knees. Lightweight and breathable, many of these braces allow you to adjust ‘on the fly’ the amount of unloading that the knee joint needs.
If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis or any other arthritic condition, use the tools and bandaids necessary to help unload the affected area to allow you to get back to your day to day activities. At the same time, try to find a few minutes a day to work on flexibility/mobility/nutrition/strengthening. Your joints will thank you!
As always, we’d love to hear back from you if you have any questions and/or feedback. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for upcoming events, sales, and blog articles!