Chiropractic Unlocks the Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine
By Chris Brown
The back is the central hub of mobility and flexibility for the body. Diseases which attack spinal movement are disastrous when it comes to one's overall ability to move. One such disease, ankylosing spondylitis, not only locks the back by fusing spinal bones, but generates an unsightly hunched appearance. Treating this slow-developing disease early is key to limiting its effects and chiropractic offers a proactive weapon against its spinal solidification.
The Hunchback of Ankylosing Spondylitis
At its core, ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease of the spine. However, aesthetically, it is most obvious through the chronic inflammation's consequences of fusing small spinal bones. This leads to back stiffness and a permanent hunched posture. Because of the ribs' connection to the spine, ankylosing spondylitis can also cause breathing difficulties. While there is no cure, ankylosing spondylitis is best treated early in the disease. The time to seek medical consultation is when low back pain emerges slowly, worsening in the morning or the middle of the night. Also, a key identifier of ankylosing spondylitis is if the pain subsides with exercise and worsens with inactivity. Mainstream treatment is primarily pain management with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy stretching. Actual recovery and improved mobility may be attainable though, through chiropractic manipulation.
Chiropractic Releases Ankylosing Spondylitis Backs
A 2005 case study published in The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association indicates that it may be the first direct study of the condition's response to chiropractic and resulted in amazing conclusions. In the study, a 34-year-old who had been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis 10 years prior experienced a miraculous 90 percent improvement in the disease activity index and an 85 percent improvement in the functional index following 18 weeks of chiropractic treatment. It should be noted that this is a singular case study, and the patient was relatively young, but it provides some scientific evidence of what chiropractic can accomplish if ankylosing spondylitis is treated early.
The Joint Chiropractic is your one-stop-shop for chiropractic care. It offers appointment-free, walk-in service at an affordable, insurance-free price. The doctors at The Joint are able to loosen your stiff back, returning range of motion and reducing pain, with or without an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis. So stop by one of The Joint's over 600 clinics nationwide to experience the difference of chiropractic care today.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Arlington, Tex.