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Showing posts from November, 2018

Introduction to Osteoarthritis

“Arthritis” is a term that refers to joint inflammation, but there’s a lot more nuance to it than that. It’s also the most common cause of back pain and debilitation among Americans. At Dr. Pete’s Carrollton chiropractic office, we provide treatments that are fitted to each patient’s health history. In the case of osteoarthritis, a lot of our efforts will be focused on preventing more damage. Osteoarthritis differs from rheumatic arthritis in that it is not an autoimmune condition. Instead, it is what happens when the cartilage within joints wears down. Cartilage is a slippery substance that provides cushioning and lubrication, but if its surface becomes pitted from erosion, it won’t be able to do its jobs as well. As bones are able to move less freely, the joints will become more sensitive. In the most extreme cases, bones may rub against each other, causing them to become deformed or for bits of them to splinter off. Cartilage erosion is a degenerative process, but people are at grea

Avoiding Overuse Injuries

Chiropractic isn’t just about spinal adjustments; it’s about treating musculoskeletal ailments in a way that is non-invasive and low-risk. At Dr. Pete’s Carrollton office, we do a lot of work with soft tissues, helping athletes to maintain or regain comfortable function. But many of the injuries in sports medicine are preventable, which is why we want to teach our patients to avoid overuse. Not all muscle injuries occur in a single, dramatic incident. Overuse can cause muscle fibers to fray slowly, and although this makes large breaks likelier, an athlete will usually feel pain or weakness before that. A person can suffer from overuse even if they only work out occasionally if they do so during overly long sessions. This is why we encourage patients to work out daily in periods of about thirty minutes instead of trying to cram all their exercise into the weekend. We also encourage athletes to do different activities on different days, allowing them to build up different muscle groups a