Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chiropractic Care: What Is the Connection?

The rheumatoid arthritis It is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints and can cause inflammation, stiffness, and limitations in daily activities.

In the Dr. Marc Bony Chiropractic Center in Mataró We also serve people who live with rheumatoid arthritis and want to take care of their spine, mobility, and overall well-being.

Important: Chiropractic does not diagnose, treat, or cure rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis requires medical follow-up. Chiropractic care, when appropriate for a person’s individual situation, has a different objective and should be considered separately from the treatment of the disease.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, particularly affecting the lining of the joints.

It can produce:

• Joint inflammation.
• Stiffness.
• Sensitivity.
• Restricted movement.
• Tiredness or fatigue.
• Energy loss.
• Periods of increased and decreased disease activity.

It often affects the small joints of the hands and feet and can appear symmetrically on both sides of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are not the same thing

It is important not to confuse the rheumatoid arthritis with the osteoarthritis.

Although both can affect the joints, they have different mechanisms, courses, and treatments.

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

The diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are the responsibility of qualified healthcare professionals, particularly specialists in rheumatology.

Treatment may include:

• Disease-modifying medications.
• Biological treatments.
• Other medications, depending on the individual case.
• Adapted exercise.
• Support measures and health monitoring.

Appropriate treatment started early can help control disease activity and reduce the risk of joint damage.

Chiropractic care is not a substitute for these treatments and should not be used to delay or interrupt them.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Spine

Although many people associate rheumatoid arthritis primarily with the joints in the hands, wrists, or feet, this disease can also affect other joints.

In some people, there may be involvement of the cervical spine, especially in certain cases of long-term illness.

For this reason, it is especially important to be familiar with the diagnosis and medical history of a person with rheumatoid arthritis before performing any procedure on the spine.

Not all techniques are suitable for everyone

When there is or is suspected:

• Active inflammation.
• Joint instability.
• Cervical involvement.
• Osteoporosis.
• Structural changes.
• Or any other risk factor.

It may be necessary avoid certain techniques or request a medical evaluation in advance.

What is the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and chiropractic care?

A person with rheumatoid arthritis may see a chiropractor for reasons related to:

• Spine.
• Movement.
• Mobility.
• Posture.
• Musculoskeletal function.
• General well-being.

But this It does not mean that a chiropractic adjustment treats rheumatoid arthritis.

At our center, we make a clear distinction between the two.

Our chiropractic approach focuses on evaluating each person's spine and function on an individual basis.

What do we do before recommending chiropractic care?

Before beginning any treatment, we perform a individual assessment.

This may include:

• Interview regarding medical history.
• History of Illnesses and Injuries.
• Spinal Evaluation.
• Postural analysis.
• Assessment of movement.
• Tests in the field of chiropractic.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it is especially important that you tell us about:

• Your diagnosis.
• The affected joints.
• The medication you take.
• Possible neck problems.
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia.
• Previous transactions.
• Recommendations from your rheumatologist or other healthcare professionals.

When we determine that an additional medical evaluation is necessary, we recommend that it be conducted before proceeding.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

The chiropractic adjustment It is one of the techniques used in chiropractic care.

Depending on:

• Age.
• Medical history.
• Mobility.
• Physical characteristics.
• The person's specific situation.

Different procedures and varying degrees of force may be used.

Not all adjustments produce a clicking sound, and Sound is not the purpose of the procedure.

In people with inflammatory conditions, structural abnormalities, or joint instability, certain techniques may not be appropriate.

For this reason, We do not automatically apply the same procedure to everyone.

Do subluxations cause rheumatoid arthritis?

We should not present rheumatoid arthritis as a result of a misaligned vertebra or alleged nerve interference.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex autoimmune disease.

From a chiropractic perspective, we can assess the function and mobility of the spine, but this does not mean that a spinal misalignment is the cause of rheumatoid arthritis or that correcting it can cure the disease.

Our goal is to clearly explain the difference between the chiropractic approach and the established causes and treatments for a disease.

Chiropractic and the Nervous System

The spine protects the spinal cord and is part of the musculoskeletal system, which enables the body to support itself, move, and perform various actions.

The nervous system enables communication between the brain and different parts of the body.

This anatomical relationship is one of the reasons why the spine is of particular importance in chiropractic.

However:

A spinal adjustment should not be presented as a way to reduce inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, restore the immune system, or alter the course of the disease.

Care Tailored to Each Individual

Every person living with rheumatoid arthritis has different circumstances.

Disease activity, the joints affected, medication, age, bone density, and other health conditions can influence what type of care is appropriate.

For this reason, our approach does not consist of applying a standard protocol.

We evaluate each case individually.

When we determine that a technique is not appropriate or that a prior medical evaluation is necessary, we inform the person.

Chiropractic as a Profession

The legal status of chiropractic varies by country.

In various countries, it is regulated within their respective healthcare systems, and there are specific university programs for chiropractic training.

In Spain, however, chiropractic is not currently listed among the licensed and regulated health professions covered by Law 44/2003 on the Regulation of Health Professions.

Dr. Marc Bony, Doctor of Chiropractic

The Dr. Marc Bony holds a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, obtained through specialized university training in chiropractic in the United States.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chiropractic Care in Mataró

In the Dr. Marc Bony Chiropractic Center in Mataró, our goal is to evaluate each person individually and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate for their circumstances.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it's important to let us know during your evaluation so we can take the following into account:

• Your diagnosis.
• Your medical history.
• Your medication.
• Current disease activity.
• Any instructions provided by your healthcare professionals.

Chiropractic care should be clearly distinguished from the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and It is never a substitute for follow-up care with your doctor or rheumatologist.

Would you like to learn about our approach to chiropractic care?

You can request a Chiropractic evaluation at our center in Mataró.

We will assess your individual situation and explain what we do, what type of care may be appropriate for you, and when we believe a preliminary evaluation by another healthcare professional is necessary.

Dr. Marc Bony Chiropractic Center
Prim Round 77
08302 Mataró – Barcelona
Phone: 937 586 314

SCHEDULE YOUR CHIROPRACTIC EVALUATION

Important Notice

The information contained on this page is provided solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Chiropractic care does not diagnose, treat, or cure rheumatoid arthritis, nor does it replace medical or rheumatological care.

Chiropractic is not currently included among the healthcare professions recognized and regulated by Law 44/2003 in Spain.

In people with rheumatoid arthritis, there may be circumstances that contraindicate certain manual techniques, especially when there is inflammation, joint instability, or involvement of the cervical spine.

Do not stop or change any medications or treatments for rheumatoid arthritis without first consulting the healthcare professional in charge.

Source: Access Medical Associates LLC