Chiropractor Resources, Chiropractic Techniques, Chiropractic Advice

The Ultimate Chiropractic Resources

  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
    • Chiropractic
    • Medicine
    • General Massage
    • Acupuncture
    • Aroma Therapy
    • Reflexology Massage
  • Techniques
    • General Techniques
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • General Information
    • Latest News
      • Levoscoliosis and Structural Scoliosis
      • Paresthesia Definition
      • Thecal Sac Impingement
      • Disc Desiccation
      • Listhesis Treatment
      • Autoimmune Inflammatory Vasculitis
      • Anterior Cord Syndrome
      • Antalgic Gait
      • Lumbosacral Spondylosis
      • Myelomalacia
      • Radiculopathy vs. Radiculitis
      • How You Can Treat Tension Myositis Syndrome
      • Things You Need to Know About Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy
      • Skelaxin
      • Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?
      • All About the Symptoms of Hydromyelia
      • Military Neck
      • Pelvic Obliquity
      • Pelvic Obliquity Symptoms
      • Physiatrist
      • Chiropractic Hip Adjustment
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Cervical Lordosis
      • About Brittle Bone Disorder
      • What to Expect in Couples Massage
      • Anterolisthesis, Retrolisthesis, and Chiropractic Care
      • Straight Spine
      • Medication: Requip
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Lumbar Lordosis
      • Straight Back Syndrome
  • For Chiropractors
    • Massage Training
    • For Massage Therapists
You are here: Home / Symptoms / Enthesopathy and Treatment

Enthesopathy and Treatment

June 11, 2019 By eChiropractor Team

What is Enthesopathy?

EnthesopathyThere are many forms of bone attachment disorders that fall under the category known as enthesopathy.  Bone attachments, called entheses, can have various disorders (enthesopathies) associated with them.  If a disorder falls under the category of one of the inflammatory disorders, it is called enthesitis.  Enthesitis and enthesopathy are only different in name, as they are two terms which are both used to define the same symptoms and the same condition.  There are many medical conditions that are associated with enthesopathies. These include ankylosing spondylitis, plantar fasciitis, spondyloarthropathy, Achilles tendonitis, rotator cuff syndrome, bursitis, and a number of other similar conditions.1  Enthesopathy, in a nutshell, is a “disease occurring at the site of attachment of muscle tendons and ligaments to bones or joint capsules”.2

Causes and Symptoms of Enthesopathy

Enthesopathy and TreatmentThe bones meet the ligaments or tendons (entheses), and sometimes there can be inflammation and degeneration.  There may be many reasons for enthesopathy.  Anything from regular daily habits, like workplace repetitive stress movements, to other factors such as infection, metabolic changes, and sometimes medications can cause these types of problems.  Some other seemingly unrelated diseases can also act as the trigger for the development of enthesopathy. These include Crohn’s disease, Reiter’s syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, and tennis elbow.3  Arthritic conditions associated with enthesopathy include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis.4  Patients may experience debilitating symptoms like pain and swelling that occur due to enthesitis.  This can impact the physicality and function of areas of the body like the heel, fingers, toes, elbows, and chest.5

Traditional Treatments

Enthesopathy and TreatmentThere are traditional treatment options that the patient’s doctor could recommend for enthesopathy.  Doctors may advise afflicted patients to focus on resting or to keep the affected area immobile.  In cases where the condition and its symptoms are more severe, impeding the normal function of the patient’s life even beyond what the condition usually affects, patients may need to wear a brace at the affected area for additional assistance.  At times, the pain and inflammation may lead to conclusions where a doctor would want to prescribe analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications, as well as steroid injections to manage the bothersome symptoms.6 

Some of the medications that doctors use to treat these types of inflammatory conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, can include NSAIDs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, methotrexate, and TNF blockers, like those that are under the common names of Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade.  Patients who also suffer from painful foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, may also be given a heel insert. That’s because it is common for most patients to overlook the importance of proper support in their shoes.  Strain and unbalance on the feet further contributes to developing or aggravating conditions in the rest of the body.7  It is important to resolve the onset of enthesopathies so that patients can return to normal activities.  Like any other disorder, it is best to be caught sooner in its development and treated properly rather than being left undiagnosed and to worsen.

Chiropractic Care

EnthesopathyChiropractors already see and treat patients who have many of the conditions associated with enthesopathy.  While chiropractors are unable to treat every ailment that might befall a patient, they do know effective methods for both the processes of rehabilitation and recovery from many conditions.  The primary philosophy of chiropractic and other forms of complementary and alternative care is to work to treat the underlying condition as effectively and safely as possible. And they want to help patients avoid the side effects that can come with such traditional treatment options like medications.  Instead of masking the problem with pills, which very often do no more than temporarily reduce the symptoms without addressing the real issue, chiropractors can employ many different techniques and treatment methods depending on the individual patient’s situation.  Some of the options include Kinesio taping, light therapy, Active Release Technique (ART), myofascial therapy, exercises, stretching, and even nutritional recommendations. 

Patients who take into consideration the recommended lifestyle changes, such as exercise programs, that their chiropractors suggest are more likely to see improvement and strengthening between visits.  Patients should remember to balance their recovery effort between restoring strength and flexibility and the time that they should also spend allowing their body to properly rest to avoid overexertion and stress, especially early in the recovery process.  The types of injuries that are found under the umbrella of overuse and strain are overall easier to treat, due to the natural elasticity of muscles, than enthesopathies because tendons and ligaments are stiffer structures.  Despite this increase in difficulty, chiropractic care can still be a good option for patients who are seeking treatment for their enthesopathy but who also wish to avoid medication or surgery.8  Chiropractors can help patients both to recover from existing pain and prevent future recurrence of injury and inflammation.

References:

1 http://en.wikipedia.org

2 http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com

3, 6 http://arthritis.answers.com/alternative-treatments/understanding-the-causes-and-treatment-options-for-enthesopathy

4 http://arthritis.about.com

5, 7 http://arthritis.about.com

8 http://www.posturepress.com

 

Learn more regarding joints clicking and treatments.

Email, RSS Follow

Find This Useful? Check Out These Related Posts:

TendinopathyDid You Know That Your Leg Pain May Be Tendinopathy? What Is OsteoarthrosisWhat Is Osteoarthrosis and How Can You Manage It arthritis and chiropracticArthritis and Chiropractic Treating Shoulder Instability

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
find a chiropractor in your area
search our listings
Keywords
Zip Code
glossary

Featured Video

Recent Posts

  • How Can a Yoga Wheel Help You Be More Flexible

    How Can a Yoga Wheel Help You Be More Flexible

    November 26, 2019
  • How McDonald’s Nutrition Can Affect Your Diet

    How McDonald’s Nutrition Can Affect Your Diet

    November 19, 2019
  • How a Pillow for Neck Pain Can Give You a Fresh Start

    How a Pillow for Neck Pain Can Give You a Fresh Start

    October 31, 2019
  • A Dog Chiropractor is Not the Only Animal Health Specialist

    A Dog Chiropractor is Not the Only Animal Health Specialist

    October 25, 2019
  • Trading Painkillers for Chiropractic Care

    Trading Painkillers for Chiropractic Care

    October 22, 2019

copyright © 2021 echiropractor.org

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use Site Map Contact Us

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.