What is Arthritis and How Can I Resolve It?
- Jul 26
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Written by Lisa Decker, Owner of Aligned Fitness
Lisa Decker has been in the field of posture alignment and biomechanics for 20+ years and has helped thousands of people free themselves from chronic pain. She is the owner of Aligned Fitness Posture Therapy & Qigong in San Jose, CA, where she specializes in many areas of holistic wellness.
Arthritis is diagnosed and blamed for practically any joint pain in the body, but what exactly is arthritis? How do you get it? And most importantly, how do you get rid of it? Arthritis is defined as inflammation and stiffness of a joint. This occurs when the cartilage and fluid surrounding a joint get inflamed. The important question we must ask is, “What might be causing this inflammation?” It’s convenient to blame arthritis for one’s pain and treat it with injections, anti-inflammatories or in severe cases surgery; however, the body rarely inflames for no reason.
Root causes of arthritis
Our body is designed to protect us, and inflammation is its defensive mechanism. When our body loses its natural alignment, movement patterns become dysfunctional, and this causes friction and irritation at the joints. Swelling and restriction then occur to prevent damage. This friction and irritation are not a disease; in fact, they are our body’s way of protecting us!
Genetics or age?
When a client comes in with a diagnosis of arthritis, they often believe it's due to age. I question this because if we have arthritis in one knee, why does the other knee have no symptoms? Aren't they both the same age? Furthermore, we often see arthritis resolve only to return, which certainly wouldn't occur due to age.
Many people also believe their arthritis is caused by genetics. However, when we reestablish function, the pain is often alleviated, generating the question, "Did we change their genetic code?" Probably not. What more likely happened is that we reestablished functional alignment and mobility, leading to less friction and inflammation at the joint.
Is it the position or condition?
Arthritis may be the condition we are experiencing, but what we should be asking is, "What is the position of the joint in which we are experiencing this symptom?" As previously mentioned, when our structure is out of alignment, muscular compensations occur, and range of motion becomes dysfunctional. Oxygen flow is then restricted from getting to the tissues. In some cases, significant degeneration can occur at a joint, which may warrant surgery; however, in many cases, when the body is realigned and full range of motion is restored, the joint receives the oxygen and blood flow it needs, and the acute pain resolves.
Symptom versus Cause
It's important to look beyond the joint in question when treating arthritis. Our medical profession often focuses on the symptom, but we must remember that our body works as a system. The position of each joint affects those above and below it. For example, if you have arthritis in your knee, it's wise to assess the mobility and function of your hip and ankle. It’s important not to only treat the arthritic joint, as the whole body is connected and always working as a unit. We must restore function to the entire kinetic chain for optimal physical health and integrity.
You are not broken!
The most important thing to understand is that you are not fragile or broken. The body is a resilient system, and when alignment is restored and muscles are brought back into balance, function is returned. As a result, the body no longer has a reason to protect the joints, and we typically see a decrease in pain symptoms. Once we understand the root cause of arthritis, we can educate and empower ourselves to resolve this painful symptom once and for all.
Below are some steps to take if you have been diagnosed with arthritis:
Schedule a posture assessment and become educated and aware of your alignment.
Assess your mobility so you can understand where function may need to be restored.
Address muscular imbalances and asymmetries not only where you are experiencing symptoms but with all other joints as well.
Restore efficient movement patterns and functional biomechanics.
Strengthen the muscles around your joints to keep them from rubbing against one another and wearing down cartilage.
Find the optimal balance between activity and rest; excessive movement can cause wear and tear, but being too sedentary can be even harder on the body.
If you are playing a specific sport or engaging in one type of exercise program, switch it up. Diversity is essential for physical health.
If you have a high BMI, taking weight off an arthritic joint can help prevent excessive wear and tear.
Develop your somatic awareness. Ask yourself, "What movements feel good? What movements cause pain? Are there movements that feel different right to left?"
Educate yourself! Becoming aware of your posture and movement patterns is often the first step in healing.
If you are interested in a free 30-minute posture analysis, click here.
Read more from Lisa Decker
Lisa Decker, Owner of Aligned Fitness
Lisa Decker began her work 25 years ago as a personal trainer but realized quickly the importance of addressing dysfunctional alignment and muscular compensations before strengthening. She has a master's degree in Human Movement, a 3-year certification in medical Qigong, and multiple certifications in biomechanics, spinal decompression, posture therapy, breathwork, and corrective exercise. She is the owner of Aligned Fitness in San Jose, CA, where she specializes in helping others restore functional alignment and movement patterns to reduce chronic pain symptoms. Her goal is to educate and empower people to understand the root cause of their pain so they can safely and pain-free return to enjoying the activities they love.
