Rheumatology conditions such as arthritis are prevalent inflammatory diseases impacting over 250 million individuals globally. This condition is characterized by severe joint pain and can be highly incapacitating. Chiropractic care, the third largest healthcare profession in the U.S., can bring integrative therapies as more options to manage these musculoskeletal conditions. We will discuss chiropractic care's role in integrative rheumatology in this article. We will cover the various therapeutic modalities that chiropractors use for rheumatology patients, the functional labs, and other integrative methods that chiropractors may use to manage rheumatological conditions.

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What is Integrative Rheumatology?

Integrative rheumatology is a subset within the specialized field of rheumatology. It offers a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology encompasses systemic autoimmune conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system along with other musculoskeletal disorders. These rheumatological conditions often affect the joints, bones, and muscles, leading to pain, stiffness, and deformities. Moreover, they can impact other body parts, including the skin, eyes, organs, and nervous system. Common examples of rheumatic diseases include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia.

Integrative rheumatology recognizes that addressing rheumatology involves looking at how it affects the person as a whole and not just focusing on the specific disease or symptom. The goal of integrative rheumatology is to address the underlying factors or root causes that are contributing to the symptoms. Practitioners such as chiropractors utilize various approaches within integrative rheumatology to provide holistic care to their patients so they can enhance their overall health and quality of life.

What Kind of Therapeutic Modalities Do Chiropractors Use for Rheumatology Pain Management?

Chiropractors have various tools and techniques within their practice that they can use to manage pain in rheumatology patients. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used modalities:

Adjustments

A licensed chiropractor will use their hands or special instruments to manipulate joints in the body. Chiropractors often use this therapeutic treatment to relieve pain in rheumatic conditions by realigning the joint and increasing the range of motion.

Soft-Tissue Therapy

Chiropractors use this therapy to alleviate muscle tightness. It can also reduce spasms and ease tension in the fascia of each muscle, thereby inducing relaxation. Soft-tissue therapy can be used as an alternative to adjustments or in conjunction with adjustments.

Exercises and Stretches

Moderate exercise and stretching can be beneficial as adjunctive therapy for treating rheumatological conditions. Chiropractors will implore this approach with their patients to help them restore and maintain joint stability and improve mobility.

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio taping is a form of joint bracing utilizing different taping techniques to support the joint or muscle to allow them to heal. Patients with rheumatological conditions will sometimes need their joints and muscles supported so they can still exercise to improve their conditions, and chiropractors can use this modality to support the patient's musculoskeletal system.

Integrative Nutrition

Chiropractors will refer to integrative medicine experts to help their patients with personalized nutrition plans to reduce inflammation and promote a well-rounded healing strategy for their musculoskeletal ailments. Currently, many chiropractors are also getting certified in functional or integrative medicine to offer a more holistic approach to their care.

Functional Medicine Labs Ran By Chiropractors That Can Help Individualize Treatment For Rheumatology Patients

The following labs can be helpful to chiropractors so that they can make treatment plans that are more tailored to their patients' individual needs:

Arthritis Panel

Chiropractors can utilize functional medicine labs, such as the Arthritis Panel, to customize treatments for patients with rheumatological conditions like osteoarthritis or RA. By monitoring inflammatory markers like RF (rheumatoid factor) and CRP (C-reactive protein), this test provides insights into inflammatory processes occurring in individuals, allowing for targeted approaches to their care.

hs-CRP

The hs-CRP test can be helpful for chiropractors to assess for minor increases in CRP (an inflammatory marker) in rheumatic conditions. Increased levels of CRP can often signal a flare of the rheumatic disease offering the practitioner insight into managing the symptoms and the inflammatory response. Continued monitoring of this marker can guide therapy modifications.

Comprehensive Stool Panel

This test will help practitioners analyze the microbiome's health, which can significantly affect joint and overall health. This microflora analysis can aid functional chiropractors in personalizing nutritional protocols for rheumatology patients to improve their health, thus improving their response to treatment.

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

Metabolic imbalances can impact pain and inflammation in rheumatology patients. The OAT will assess metabolic health, nutrient deficiencies, gut health, energy production, and detoxification ability. This test can help practitioners analyze imbalances that can contribute to pain conditions, further guiding a more personalized treatment protocol.

Food Sensitivity Panel

Food sensitivities occur when the immune system reacts abnormally to specific food components and activates an immunoglobulin (IgE, IgG, IgA) response. Prolonged consumption of foods that trigger an IgG response can contribute to leaky gut syndrome leading to chronic inflammation. Gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been linked to symptoms such as joint and muscle pain and numbness in the legs and arms. Assessing for food sensitivities can help chiropractors provide personalized nutritional plans to improve their patient's musculoskeletal health.

Micronutrient Panel

This Micronutrient Panel can assess for specific nutrients such as vitamins B and Omega 3 fatty acids. Sufficient amounts of these nutrients have been associated with decreased pain and symptoms in rheumatic conditions making this a consideration when it comes to testing for rheumatology patients.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D levels should be checked regularly in rheumatology patients as deficiencies in this nutrient can lead to symptoms like muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling. Testing for D levels can also support proper dosing of this vitamin for optimal function.

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Integrative Nutrition for Rheumatology Patients

Integrative nutrition strategies involve managing inflammation in rheumatology patients. Some of these specific nutritional plans include the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) and Mediterranean diets. Other approaches involve increasing specific nutrients like vitamins B1, B2, and omega-3 fatty acids and avoiding processed foods.

The AIP diet focuses on nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods while eliminating foods such as grains, legumes, and processed oils that are considered pro-inflammatory. This diet is an excellent consideration for rheumatology patients that have an autoimmune component to their condition.

Another specific nutritional plan beneficial for rheumatology patients is the Mediterranean diet. This diet prioritizes whole, unprocessed foods, anti-oxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, nutritious fats such as olive oil, fatty fish like sardines, and nutritious nuts and seeds. This diet has been shown to lower the risk of rheumatic disease. It can improve rheumatology symptoms by reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and providing essential nutrients. Other integrative nutrition approaches involve increasing specific nutrients like B vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids, as having sufficient amounts of these nutrients can lower the risk of arthritis and manage inflammation and pain associated with rheumatic conditions. The consistent thread between all these approaches is to avoid processed foods. These foods include refined grains, factory-farmed meats, and trans fats. These processed foods are pro-inflammatory and can cause more chronic inflammation in rheumatology patients. Integrative practitioners are well-trained in providing guidance to personalized nutrition plans and should be consulted.

Supplements and Herbs for Rheumatology Patients

These supplements are particularly helpful for rheumatology patients:

Boswellia Serrata

This traditional herb possesses anti-inflammatory properties that have been found effective in alleviating rheumatology-related symptoms. A meta-analysis encompassing seven studies demonstrated remarkable pain reduction and enhanced joint function among more than 500 osteoarthritis patients. A recommended 100-1,000 mg dosage should be taken consistently for at least four weeks for optimal results.

Omega-3

The pain and inflammation-relieving benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can provide relief for rheumatology conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. A daily intake of at least 2.7 grams of omega-3 supplements over three months has been associated with symptom reduction in morning stiffness and tender joints. These positive effects can potentially decrease reliance on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Vitamin C

When managing rheumatoid conditions like gout, Vitamin C, known for its potent antioxidant properties, can play a valuable role in mitigating inflammation. Studies have indicated that supplementing daily with vitamin C in the range of 200-2,000 mg, with 500 mg being a typical dosage, can effectively reduce serum uric acid levels in patients with gout. It's worth noting that optimal results are typically observed when the supplementation period is less than one month.

Vitamin D

There is an association between deficient Vitamin D levels and rheumatology symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, numbness, and tingling in the extremities. Sufficient vitamin D levels have been shown to alleviate symptoms related to fibromyalgia. It is recommended to test vitamin D levels regularly for these patients, and the suggested supplement dosage is 2400 IU daily for low levels and 1200 IU for moderate levels.

Curcumin

A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials has demonstrated that curcumin, administered at a dosage of 1 gram, exhibits comparable effectiveness in relieving arthritis symptoms to common analgesics. Curcumin can be a valuable therapeutic option for alleviating symptoms associated with rheumatology symptoms including pain.

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Summary

Rheumatological conditions such as arthritis affect millions in the U.S. and can cause pain, inflammation, and joint dysfunction, leading to disability and impairment of daily life. Having multiple options to treat these conditions is necessary to support these individuals properly. Chiropractors can offer integrative methods that address the relationship between the body's alignment and optimal function to alleviate many of the symptoms associated with these conditions. These practitioners are becoming integral to the health care system as they offer complementary services in managing conditions such as rheumatic diseases.