Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences and Graduate, University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine
“Our goal is to prevent disease before it even begins. Osteoarthritis can be prevented for many by maintaining a healthy body weight and by reducing the risk of injuries in young adulthood. By teaching safety measures and proper body mechanics to young athletes, we can reduce the risk of injury as well as the risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life. Avoiding overuse of joints may also reduce the risk of developing arthritis, so teaching patients about proper ergonomics and posture is an important prevention measure. Lastly, evaluating for and treating vitamin D deficiency is another possible preventative measure. The treatment goals for a patient with osteoarthritis include controlling pain and improving joint function. In order to accomplish these goals, naturopathic treatments include anti-inflammatory and analgesic interventions to reduce pain, ideally reducing dependence on NSAID pain relievers. NDs may also include other therapies like hydrotherapy, acupuncture, manipulation and other physical therapies. To improve joint function, the naturopathic physician aims to slow cartilage loss and ideally restore cartilage quantity within the joint space.”
