Web Exclusive: Caring for Older Joints

Aug 02, 2013 at 03:07 pm by bryan


Being over-the-hill hurts. Those of us that have successfully aged beyond 40 understand.

For most people, there is a certain age that begins the era of joint pain. For me it was 50. Until then I thought everyone else was a bunch of whiners.

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Once I reached 50 I started to notice occasional joint pain for no good reason. For some people the painful years begin earlier in life. For many it is around 40 and for some lucky folks it may be 60 or 70.

A person can still feel good after 40, but it requires a little regular maintenance. We can no longer take our health for granted.

We can blame the changes to some degree on the natural tendency of tissues to become less flexible as aging occurs. This process varies with individuals but it will affect us all eventually.

The connective tissue in our bodies tends to become less stretchable, less likely to rebound, weaker and more likely to suffer damage from minor traumas. The minor damage we suffer from day to day can often be repaired with rest. But the repair and recovery process is much slower than when we were younger.

The bones become less dense and in some cases exhibit more advanced degenerative changes. The joint surfaces have eroded and become less smooth. In addition the volume and character of the joint fluid is changed. Our joints are not as capable of handling stress loads, pressure and strain as they once were.

When I work with patients recovering from muscle and joint injuries my motto is “movement good: strain bad”. I do not want patients to become so immobilized that they become weaker and sedentary while recuperating. However, I urge caution to avoid straining too much while the tissues heal.

I encourage gradual return to activities when the body’s connective tissues are ready to handle the loads. If a patient tries too aggressively to resume normal activities they risk a recurrence or a new injury.

Whenever a person begins a new workout routine or is recovering from an injury, the muscles respond much faster than the connective tissue can develop the strength to withstand the added stress. This can lead to unnecessary injuries.

Caring for older joints is a lot like recovering from an injury when you were younger. It is possible to develop more strength and greater flexibility and be able to do many things pain-free, but it takes time.

Like many other situations that we face as we age, patience is a key factor in improving our joint health. So is wisdom.

Wisdom is required to avoid being taken in by all the advertisements for magic pills and potions that promise to renew aged joints. Yes, products such as chondroitin can be helpful for some, but taking the product is not a panacea.

Regular routines of movement with the right amount of strain is key to maintaining joint strength and flexibility. It also might be necessary to receive treatment for muscle contractures and trigger points that might be restricting joint movement.

I recently worked with a patient that had lost quite a bit of motion in her right shoulder. She had been told that she had a rotator cuff injury. Although that statement was technically true, the rotator cuff injury was not the actual reason for her shoulder restriction.

As we worked with her we found two very painful contractures in muscles that affect shoulder movement.

During examination, we located the affected muscles and applied brief treatment. In a matter of minutes she was able to move her shoulder through a near normal range of motion with minimal pain. As her eyes opened widely in surprise, she said that was the first time in years that she could perform so well. Through a program using acupuncture, manual treatment and restorative rehab training we were able to help her regain full mobility.

If you have developed joint restrictions and chronic joint pain, don’t despair thinking there is no hope. With the right care, older joints can function well.

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