As we get older, the cartilage in the joints in our fingers can wear down and cause swelling, pain, weakness, and a greatly reduced range of movement. Known as secondary carpometacarpal osteoarthritis or CMC OA, this condition can occur in any finger but most commonly occurs in the thumbs. While once considered just another reality of getting older, CMC OA is now recognized as one of the many conditions that respond well to chiropractic care.

The most common chiropractic treatment for thumb osteoarthritis is a procedure known as passive joint manipulation, or PJM. In this procedure, the chiropractor performs passive movement of the joint within the joint’s normal physiological range over the course of several treatment sessions.

A study published by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has shown PJM to be highly effective in both reducing pain and in increasing hand strength in patients who have undergone the treatment. As part of this study, 19 patients between the ages of 70 and 90 years of age who suffer from thumb osteoarthritis were given a series of four PJM treatments over the course of two weeks. Patients reported on average an immediate 30 percent reduction in pain levels after the initial treatment. Patients were also seen to increase hand strength an average of 18 percent.

The results of this study match other studies which have shown chiropractic care to be a healthy, safe and effective treatment option for many forms of osteoarthritis. Chiropractic care can offer new hope to patients suffering from hip, knee or shoulder osteoarthritis as well as osteoarthritis of the fingers or thumb.

Dr. Heath Gallantine and the staff at Lexington Family Chiropractic can give you lasting relief from the pain of osteoarthritis.

You don’t have to live with the pain.

Contact us today to see how we can help you.

Monday

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Tuesday

Phone calls only (9am-6pm)

Wednesday

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Thursday

Phone Calls Only (9am-6pm)

Friday

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
Phone calls only (9am-6pm)
Wednesday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday
Phone Calls Only (9am-6pm)
Friday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

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