The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also known as joint degeneration. Any
person over the age of 30 has some joints in their body that are beginning to show wear. The most
common cause of degeneration is the normal wear and tear of the body as we age. Degeneration can be
accelerated by trauma, poor diet, disease or illness, medications, repetitive stress, and poor posture.
The most common cause of early degeneration of the spine is the subluxation. The joints of the
misaligned vertebrae will begin to wear out sooner. The wearing out of the cartilage leads to joint
narrowing, creating bone spurs and thickening or calcification of the ligaments.

These worn out joints can begin to swell and become painful. More commonly, the degeneration begins
as a feeling of stiffness, tightness, and maybe a dull ache. Rarely is it bad enough to seek treatment. The
most common treatment to treat these symptoms is OTC medications. But the drugs just mask the
symptoms and advance the degeneration of the joints. The end game of the degenerative joint is
surgery i.e. shoulder, hip and knee replacement surgeries. However there are no replacement parts for
the spine. It is imperative that all people should have their spines checked regularly for subluxations and
the beginning signs of degeneration.

Don’t let osteoarthritis stop you from living your life. Stop it before it starts or stop it from getting any
worse. Call the Family Chiropractic Center and let Dr. Staley help you live your life to the fullest.