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Home Conditions Arthritis

Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease that involves painful inflammation of the joints. There are more than 100 varieties of arthritis; however, the five most well-known types of arthritis are:

• TMJ Disorder (affects the jaw joint);
• Fibromyalgia (constant pain and fatigue); 
• Lupus (a bone tired feeling); 
• Osteoarthritis (breakdown of joint cartilage); and 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (inflamed joints, pain, difficulty moving, swelling).
  

Rather than address multiple forms of arthritis here, we will focus on one type of arthritis — Rheumatoid arthritis (or RA) — which affects more than 2.1 million Americans and may be relieved by massage treatment. RA is an autoimmune disease that involves the inflammation of the lining of joints and/or internal organs. It can affect people of any age, though it is most common among 20- to 40-year-olds and occurs about three times more often in women than men. Rheumatoid Arthritis can run in families, though a genetic predisposition for the disease is not a guarantee that someone will have it.

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Many types of arthritis have unknown causes, though most are associated with long-term inflammation caused by toxins released from an infection in the body. In RA, several different pathogens trigger the body's complex immune system to target the synovial membranes of the joints rather than the invading pathogen. In later stages of RA, the antibodies may attack other areas of the body, including the heart and lungs. In relatively rare cases, the body may develop scar tissue that can cause the affected joints to fuse. After about fifteen years, approximately one-fifth of RA patients go into remission, with about 10% becoming permanently disabled. Most Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers can continue to work full-time.

How Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be Prevented and Treated?

Preventing RA can be difficult because the body is constantly bombarded with pathogens that may trigger an autoimmune response in a susceptible person. So, while prevention is difficult, once RA has been diagnosed it's important to prevent the disease from spreading throughout the body.

RA typically occurs in two phases:

• Acute phase, in which joints are stiff and inflamed); and
• Subacute phase, in which joints are stiff but not inflamed.
  

To help patients control their RA, doctors advise adopting a healthy lifestyle of eating right, exercising frequently, and undergoing treatments that reduce stress for arthritis sufferers of all types. Some experts recommend a vegetarian-based diet that focuses on alkaline (e.g., potatoes) rather than acidic (e.g., citrus fruit) foods. Massage, acupuncture, and Shiatsu may help reduce the effects of RA on range of motion in the joints and may keep the joints supple and mobile.

The American Arthritis Foundation encourages massage during the subacute phase, though not in the acute phase because massage stimulates circulation and may cause the disease to spread. When soft tissue is affected, massage can promote the mobility and health of the soft tissues around the joints, something that is important because the soft tissue may be under considerable strain in an RA sufferer. Massage also may help balance the nervous system, reducing the probability of an autoimmune response.