Alternative Therapies for Osteoarthritis: What's Really Effective?
Alternative Therapies for Osteoarthritis: What's Really Effective?
Alternative therapies for arthritis include everything from acupuncture, copper bracelets, and magnets to glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and yoga. But are any of these therapies really a match for your achy, creaky joints?
Many people with arthritis look to these alternative therapies to help relieve the pain, stiffness, stress, anxiety, and depression that accompany their disease. The Arthritis Foundation reports that two-thirds of people with arthritis have tried alternative therapies.
Knee Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Should I wrap or brace my knee? What pain reliever can I take when it hurts? Should I use heat or ice on my knee? Could the pain be a sign that my arthritis is getting worse? Are there any activities I shouldn't do? Do supplements like glucosamine help?
Read the Knee Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor article > >
And some of these alternative treatments really work, say leading arthritis experts, and even have scientific evidence behind them (although most doctors admit that more research is needed). On the other hand, many more alternative treatments don't work or need more studies to support any anecdotal claims.
Here's what's known -- and not yet known -- about some of the more popular alternative arthritis remedies.
The mind-body practices of yoga and tai chi may help many people with arthritis.
Though there are few studies that look at the effects of yoga on arthritis per se, a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology did find that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who participated in a yoga program over a three-month period had greater grip strength than those who did not practice yoga.
Another study published in the Journal of Rheumatology reported that people who practiced yoga showed a significant improvement in pain, tenderness, and finger range of motion for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands.
"Yoga and tai chi are exercises, and exercise is good," sums up David Pisetsky, MD, chief of rheumatology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "They can help improve muscle strength and balance."
Exercise also helps people with arthritis maintain a healthy weight, which can aid in alleviating some of the symptoms of the disease. Excess weight can make achy joints feel that much worse. Swimming, walking, and other low-impact exercises can also help with pain relief and weight loss.
A recent study by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine estimated that 3.1 million adults in the U.S. are treated with acupuncture each year. And a lot of these individuals likely got needled to treat their arthritis. Acupuncture involves using thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body in hopes of removing blockages to channels of energy known as meridians, allowing energy to flow properly through the body.
Many people with arthritis look to these alternative therapies to help relieve the pain, stiffness, stress, anxiety, and depression that accompany their disease. The Arthritis Foundation reports that two-thirds of people with arthritis have tried alternative therapies.
Recommended Related to Osteoarthritis
Knee Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Should I wrap or brace my knee? What pain reliever can I take when it hurts? Should I use heat or ice on my knee? Could the pain be a sign that my arthritis is getting worse? Are there any activities I shouldn't do? Do supplements like glucosamine help?
Read the Knee Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor article > >
And some of these alternative treatments really work, say leading arthritis experts, and even have scientific evidence behind them (although most doctors admit that more research is needed). On the other hand, many more alternative treatments don't work or need more studies to support any anecdotal claims.
Here's what's known -- and not yet known -- about some of the more popular alternative arthritis remedies.
Battling Arthritis With Movement
The mind-body practices of yoga and tai chi may help many people with arthritis.
Though there are few studies that look at the effects of yoga on arthritis per se, a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology did find that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who participated in a yoga program over a three-month period had greater grip strength than those who did not practice yoga.
Another study published in the Journal of Rheumatology reported that people who practiced yoga showed a significant improvement in pain, tenderness, and finger range of motion for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands.
"Yoga and tai chi are exercises, and exercise is good," sums up David Pisetsky, MD, chief of rheumatology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "They can help improve muscle strength and balance."
Exercise also helps people with arthritis maintain a healthy weight, which can aid in alleviating some of the symptoms of the disease. Excess weight can make achy joints feel that much worse. Swimming, walking, and other low-impact exercises can also help with pain relief and weight loss.
Sticking It to Arthritis Pain
A recent study by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine estimated that 3.1 million adults in the U.S. are treated with acupuncture each year. And a lot of these individuals likely got needled to treat their arthritis. Acupuncture involves using thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body in hopes of removing blockages to channels of energy known as meridians, allowing energy to flow properly through the body.
