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It seems to be entirely commonplace to have a joint or two replaced. We seem to think that joint replacements and injuries are due to an active lifestyle- that years of athletics and activity lead to “wear and tear”, and that if we avoid these surgeries we are either lucky or simply not active enough.

I would argue that this is not true. Our joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles should be strong and healthy enough to last throughout your life, no matter how active you are.

Maintaining the health of our musculoskeletal system is an important component to sustaining a healthy, happy life. The purpose of this system is to provide support for our internal organs, to protect us from injury, and to give us the structure and function to move our bodies.

Injury to the musculoskeletal system poses a threat to our quality of life by limiting movement, causing pain, and creating emotional stress associated with the change in our health.¹

Root Causes of Musculoskeletal Pain

There are a myriad of root conditions that can cause issues in the musculoskeletal system. They range from hundreds of injury types to chronic, diagnosable conditions. When these root conditions cause postural imbalances, weak and/or tight muscles, and/or weak and/or connective tissues, pain often arises as a result.²

While there are many contributing factors that play into the development of disease, epigenetics also play a role in the musculoskeletal system. As with all human conditions, our lifestyle is essential to determining our overall health. Having joints that require replacement is a sign that there is degeneration of vital structures in your body.

All the causes of musculoskeletal pain and degeneration have some degree of underlying nutrient deficiencies and inflammatory processes that weaken the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. These are things that are well within our control to improve! I find that empowering- you have some control!
The most common musculoskeletal issues are:

  • Osteoarthritis – most commonly diagnosed in adults over 50 years old. Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint in the body and is caused by a breakdown of cartilage.
  • Osteoporosis – causes bones to become weaker and increases the risk of fractures. Most adults begin to see a decrease in bone mass after the age of 30. However factors such as a family history of osteoporosis, nutrient deficiencies, extremely low caloric intake over time, excessive alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to developing osteoporosis.
  • Injuries – sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations and chronic overuse issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain from sitting all day.
  • Fibromyalgia – a disorder with musculoskeletal pain felt throughout the body. Fibromyalgia pain is often described as a dull, achy pain due to stiffness and tenderness felt in the muscles and connective tissues. Fibromyalgia is often caused by a life altering or physically and/or psychologically traumatic event, or it can develop over time.4

How to Support Your Musculoskeletal System

Investing in your musculoskeletal health is fairly straightforward. A holistic approach to lifestyle habits such as eating a nutrient dense diet, drinking plenty of water, being physically active, sleeping well and managing stress sets the foundation to a healthy musculoskeletal system. This approach becomes increasingly important if you are experiencing musculoskeletal imbalance and/or pain.

The following modalities are designed to support your musculoskeletal health. Evidence shows that they can be helpful in supporting a healthy inflammatory response, promoting healthy circulation and restoring functional movement and flexibility.³

  • Nutrition – Focus on a whole foods diet rich in 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised meats, fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy. Eat nuts and seeds, healthy oils (olive, avocado, and coconut oils, butter, and ghee) and plenty of color rich fruits and vegetables. These provide a healthy dose of all essential nutrients including sulfur-rich compounds, collagen, methionine, minerals, and vitamins to build a healthy musculoskeletal system, fight inflammation and oxidative damage, and control pain.
  • Eliminate processed foods, industrial vegetable oils (which cause immediate oxidative damage to all tissues in your body- including your joints), and sugars. These “foods” are not only inflammatory, leading to joint damage, but actually rob your body of the nutrition it needs to build and maintain a healthy skeletal system.
  • Supplementation – Fish oil, krill oil, curcumin / turmeric, ginger, glucosamine, collagen, chondroitin, MSM, Boswellia serrata extract and devil’s claw may help support healthy joint function and support a healthy inflammatory response.* Adequate levels of vitamin D can help relieve musculoskeletal pain and helps with calcium deposition in the bones.
  • Mindfulness and Meditation – Chronic pain sufferers often experience emotional and psychological distress as a result of their physical pain. Studies show that emotional and psychological distress, in addition to stress, plays a part in the continuation of chronic pain. It becomes a vicious cycle. A practice of mindfulness and/or meditation can help mitigate this.
  • Acupuncture – Acupuncture may help promote blood flow, help support a healthy inflammatory response and support normal muscle relaxation.
  • Physical Therapy – Manipulation of muscle, bone or the spine, hydrotherapy techniques, gentle electrical impulses, ultrasound, diathermy and strengthening exercises.
  • Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi – Incorporate a practice that is gentle on the body while strengthening muscles and increasing mobility.5

We Can Help

When you have musculoskeletal issues it is important to take the reins and take charge of your own wellbeing, let me help you uncover any underlying imbalances which may be contributing, provide you with a whole-body preventive approach to your physical health, and help bring a sense of balance to your body.

Book an appointment with me today and together we will get to the root of the problem and develop a plan so you can start living a healthier, stronger life.

Love,
Dr. Eliza

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Give me a call and let’s start working together to help you with your musculoskeletal system.

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If you need help and guidance in your journey to better health, schedule your appointment today

Call me at 970-328-5678. to book your appointment today!

References

1.Arendt-Nielsen, L., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., & Graven-Nielsen, T. (2011). Basic Aspects of Musculoskeletal Pain: From Acute to Chronic Pain. The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 19(4), 186–193.

2. McSwan, J., Gudin, J., Song, X. J., Grinberg Plapler, P., Betteridge, N. J., Kechemir, H., Igracki-Turudic, I., & Pickering, G. (2021). Self-Healing: A Concept for Musculoskeletal Body Pain Management – Scientific Evidence and Mode of Action. Journal of pain research, 14, 2943–2958. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S321037

3.Myers, S., & Vigar, V.(2019). The State of the Evidence for Whole-System, Multi-Modality Naturopathic Medicine: A Systematic Scoping Review DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0340

4.Jahan, F., Nanji, K., Qidwai, W., & Qasim, R. (2012). Fibromyalgia syndrome: an overview of pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. Oman medical journal, 27(3), 192–195. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2012.44

5. Lewis, R., Gómez Álvarez, C. B., Rayman, M., Lanham-New, S., Woolf, A., & Mobasheri, A. (2019). Strategies for Optimising Musculoskeletal Health in the 21ST Century. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 20(1), 164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2510-7