4 Natural Remedies for Arthritis
As the greatest generation enters into their golden years, there are a few things that they’ll need to bring with them. These include new hobbies, new friends, possibly a new home health aide!
Yet, what no senior citizen wants to bring along is arthritis. Defined as the “painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints,” this disease seems to be a constant as our senior citizens age. So, many elderly individuals are finding natural remedies to their symptoms through supplemental therapies. The following will explore four natural remedies for arthritis!
Tai Chi
When someone mentions Tai Chi, the image that comes to mind tends to be one of peace and slow movements. These peaceful motions have proven themselves as a formidable supplemental therapy for arthritic symptoms. In fact, the CDC has even recommended some Tai Chi courses for elderly individuals to manage the aforementioned symptoms.
Massage
It’s a well known secret in the home health care community that massage isn’t just for getting the kinks out of your neck; it’s also a great therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)! The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states that “massage by a registered massage therapist can help decrease RA pain and improve flexibility in the muscles, joints and tendons.”
Yoga
If seniors want to practice being present, while also managing their osteoporosis, yoga is a great supplemental therapy. Subhadra Evans, a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center, conducted a study to measure the correlation between practicing yoga and the symptoms of RA. She found that, as early as six weeks of yoga, patients were already beginning to notice positive changes in how they managed their RA.
Acupuncture
For those who are trying to find a reprieve of joint pain, spending an afternoon with needles might not sound so appealing. Yet, there have been arthritic patients who have found a successful relief within acupuncture.
A 2019 study conducted by Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that “acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment modalities is beneficial to the clinical conditions of RA and can improve [the] anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidative effect, and regulation of immune system function.”
It should be noted that if senior is dealing with limited mobility or is on blood thinning medication, acupuncture might not be the best way forward. As always, patients should talk to their doctor or home care nurse in Delray Beach, FL before booking any upcoming appointments!
Thanks to Expicare Nursing Agency for their insight into in home nursing care and natural remedies for arthritis.
