Updated September 2026
Arthritis is a broad term for conditions that affect the joints and may cause pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced mobility, or changes in function. The right approach depends on the type of arthritis, the joints affected, symptom severity, and overall health.
At Canada Chiropractic in Salt Lake City, Dr. Angie Canada, DC evaluates musculoskeletal symptoms individually. Chiropractic care may be one part of a conservative plan for certain joint and movement-related complaints, but it is not a cure for arthritis and should not replace appropriate medical care.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis refers to conditions affecting one or more joints. Symptoms may include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced range of motion, tenderness, and difficulty with everyday activities. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two commonly discussed types, but they are not the same condition and should not be treated as though they have the same cause.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of arthritis. It involves changes in the structures of a joint over time, including cartilage, bone, and surrounding tissues. It commonly affects knees, hips, hands, and the spine.
Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced mobility, and difficulty performing everyday activities. OA is more common with age, but it is not simply an inevitable part of getting older or the result of wearing out a joint. Previous injury, joint loading, genetics, body weight, muscle strength, and other biological factors may influence its development and progression.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks tissues in and around the joints. It can cause pain, swelling, prolonged morning stiffness, fatigue, and reduced joint function, and it can affect parts of the body outside the joints.
Because RA is systemic, diagnosis and medical management should be coordinated with an appropriate medical provider, often a rheumatologist. Chiropractic care does not treat the autoimmune cause of rheumatoid arthritis.
Can Arthritis Cause Back or Neck Pain?
Degenerative changes associated with osteoarthritis can affect spinal joints and may contribute to back pain, neck pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Imaging findings and symptoms do not always match perfectly, so decisions should be based on the whole clinical picture rather than an X-ray or MRI finding alone.
Back Pain Treatment · Neck Pain Treatment
Can Chiropractic Care Cure Arthritis?
No. Chiropractic care cannot reverse osteoarthritis, regrow damaged cartilage, eliminate rheumatoid arthritis, or cure the underlying disease process. Claims that adjustments restore deteriorated joints, stop bone spurs, reverse arthritis, correct arthritis through alignment, or treat the autoimmune cause of RA should not be made.
The appropriate question is whether conservative musculoskeletal care may help a particular patient manage stiffness, restricted movement, or mechanical discomfort.
Where Chiropractic Care May Fit
For some people with osteoarthritis or age-related joint changes, chiropractic care may be considered as one component of a broader conservative management plan. Care may focus on joint mobility, comfortable movement, musculoskeletal function, muscle tension, soft-tissue restrictions, activity tolerance, and exercise recommendations.
Treatment should be individualized based on symptoms, examination findings, health history, and comfort. Not every arthritic joint should be manipulated, and arthritis does not automatically mean chiropractic care is appropriate.
Why Movement Matters With Osteoarthritis
Physical activity is an important component of osteoarthritis management. Regular movement can support joint mobility, muscle strength, physical function, balance, and daily activity tolerance.
The CDC recommends physical activity as part of osteoarthritis management and notes that exercise can help reduce pain and improve function.
What Types of Exercise May Help?
The best activity depends on the person, affected joints, and symptom severity. Joint-friendly activities may include walking, cycling, swimming, water exercise, strength training, mobility work, and tai chi. A useful starting point is often an activity that causes little or manageable discomfort and can be performed consistently.
People with significant pain, instability, recent injury, or uncertainty about exercise should discuss options with a qualified health-care professional.
What About Manual Therapy?
Manual therapies may be used as part of conservative care for some musculoskeletal complaints. Depending on the patient, this may include joint mobilization, chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue work, massage therapy, and mobility techniques.
These tools may help address symptoms and movement; they do not reverse arthritis itself. Chiropractic Care · Massage Therapy
Does Every Arthritic Joint Need an Adjustment?
No. The decision to use an adjustment or mobilization depends on the specific joint, symptoms, range of motion, examination findings, bone and joint health, medical history, comfort, and contraindications. Some patients are better suited for gentler mobilization, soft-tissue care, exercise guidance, or another type of treatment.
What About Bone Spurs?
Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, can develop as part of osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint changes. An adjustment does not remove or restore a bone spur. Treatment should focus on symptoms, movement, and function rather than promises to eliminate structural changes on imaging.
When Arthritis Symptoms Should Be Medically Evaluated
Joint pain is not always simply mechanical. Seek appropriate medical evaluation for a hot or markedly swollen joint, significant redness, fever, sudden severe pain, unexplained swelling, persistent morning stiffness involving multiple joints, significant fatigue with joint symptoms, rapidly worsening symptoms, new neurological symptoms, or symptoms after significant trauma.
These findings may require evaluation for inflammatory arthritis, infection, injury, or another medical condition. Chiropractic care should not delay appropriate diagnosis or treatment.
What If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
People with RA may still experience stiffness or mechanical discomfort, but care requires additional consideration. RA can affect bone and joint stability and may involve the cervical spine in some patients. A chiropractor should know about an existing RA diagnosis, medications, previous imaging, and recommendations from the medical team before deciding whether manual treatment is appropriate.
Dr. Angie’s Approach to Joint Pain and Stiffness
Dr. Angie Canada, DC has practiced chiropractic since 2012 and uses an individualized, evidence-informed approach. Her background includes chiropractic training, Sports & Exercise Science, and 13 years of prior massage-therapy experience.
She considers symptom type and location, health history, prior injuries, joint mobility, muscles and soft tissues, activity, neurological findings when relevant, diagnoses, and patient goals. The goal is to determine whether conservative musculoskeletal care may support movement, comfort, or function—and whether another evaluation should come first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritis and Chiropractic Care
Can a chiropractor cure arthritis?
No. Chiropractic care cannot cure osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. It may help some people manage certain musculoskeletal symptoms but does not reverse the underlying disease.
Can chiropractic care help osteoarthritis stiffness?
Some people with OA-related stiffness may benefit from conservative care focused on mobility, movement, soft tissues, and activity. Whether care is appropriate depends on the individual patient.
Can a chiropractor treat rheumatoid arthritis?
Chiropractic care does not treat the autoimmune cause of RA. RA requires appropriate medical management, and any conservative musculoskeletal treatment should account for diagnosis, medications, bone and joint health, and medical recommendations.
Can an adjustment remove bone spurs?
No. Adjustments do not remove bone spurs or reverse osteoarthritis-related structural changes.
Is exercise good for arthritis?
For many people with OA, appropriate physical activity is an important part of symptom management and maintaining function.
Should I avoid movement if my joints hurt?
Not necessarily. Complete inactivity can contribute to stiffness and loss of strength. Severe pain, sudden swelling, trauma, or other concerning symptoms should be evaluated before continuing activity.
Chiropractic Care for Joint Pain and Stiffness in Salt Lake City
If arthritis-related stiffness, back pain, neck pain, or reduced mobility is making everyday activity harder, an evaluation can help determine contributing factors.
At Canada Chiropractic, Dr. Angie Canada, DC provides individualized care based on symptoms, movement, health history, examination findings, and goals. If chiropractic care appears appropriate, she can discuss conservative options. If symptoms suggest medical evaluation, imaging, physical therapy, rheumatology, or another type of care would be more appropriate, that should be part of the plan.
