Commonly referred to as “wear & tear” arthritis, Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects an estimated 27 million Americans. The condition occurs when joint cartilage loses elasticity and deteriorates. Without cartilage to reduce joint friction and absorb shock, one’s ligaments and tendons are over-stretched and bones may rub together causing symptoms such as pain, swelling, stiffness, bone spurs and restricted motion.
Risk factors for OA include: joint injury, over-use, obesity, and other diseases that affect joints like rheumatoid arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop or at least slow the progression of most forms of arthritis. There are a variety of medical treatments for arthritis. These include medicine to reduce inflammation and pain, injections to reduce friction and improve function and sometimes, surgery to repair damage and/or optimize function of a joint.
More recently, therapies that focuses on improving a patient’s over-all emotional and psychological well-being are proving most effective in reducing pain and increasing range of motion in joints affected by arthritis. These therapies include: physical activity to strengthen muscles; weight management to avoid over-burdening joints; stretching and massage to keep muscles flexible, and cognitive/behavioral modification such as creative visualization (imaging), creative problem solving, and relaxation techniques such as breath work, yoga, and meditation.
Healing Hands School of Holistic Health offers a variety of classes that teach effective strategies to manage the pain and symptoms of Osteoarthritis. These include:
Somatics – a holistic practice that engages a patients thinking, emotions, commitments, visions and actions;
Therapeutic Mobilizations – a highly effective method for treating joint pain and restrictions within the joints;
Therapeutic Stretching – an advanced stretching modality that involves passive stretching and contraction of targeted muscles to optimize joint movement and diminish pain;
Tui Na (Acuppressure) – that involves stimulation of acupressure points to diminish pain and balance the energy running through injured areas of the body;
Yoga – exercises and poses, meditation techniques and breathe-work to create space between the vertebrae, within the joints, and around the internal organs to create more balance and ease in the body.
Healing Hands School of Holistic Health has been serving residents through two regional campuses located in Escondido and Laguna Hills for over 23 years. With more than 80 Holistic Health courses and two Certification Programs to offer, HHSHH is considered a trail-blazer for Holistic Health education in Southern California. To date, HHSHH has prepared more than 6,000 students for successful and rewarding careers in Massage Therapy and Holistic Health. To find out more about the educational programs or financial aid available at HHSHH please visit us on-line at www.HealingHandsSchool.com or call us at (949) 305-2722 in Laguna Hills, or (760) 746-9364 in Escondido.
Healing Hands in Escondido will be featuring Somatics starting on September 27th. Enrollments have already begun!