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ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM |
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 BIOPTRON FOR THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS
BIOPTRON Light Therapy is an effective
complementary therapy for the treatment of arthritis /
rheumatism. The non-invasive, safe and simple nature of
BIOPTRON therapy makes it ideal for home use by sufferers
themselves.
BIOPTRON Light Therapy can help to :
• Relieve pain and decrease its intensity
• Strengthen muscles and expand body motion
• Increase walking distance and speed
• Improve the quality of sleep
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS ?
Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint. The main symptoms
of Arthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and lack
of function in one or more joints. It can vary in severity
from mild aches and pains to extreme disability causing
loss of employment and independence. Bending, standing
up and walking can become increasingly difficult if
arthritis affects the spine, hip, knee or foot joints,
while disease in the elbow or hand joints can eventually
prevent normal activities such as washing, dressing,
cooking, writing, etc.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS ?
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in
the world. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease,
and is caused by the wearing away of the protective
pad of cartilage that lines many joints, such as the
hip, knee, elbow, hand and foot joints. This cartilage,
known as the articular cartilage, acts like a ‘shock
absorber’ and protects the joints from stress
and friction during movement. As we get older, the cartilage
becomes less flexible and less resilient to mechanical
stress. Eventually, small cracks appear in the cartilage
and it starts to wear away, leaving nothing to protect
the underlying bone which also starts to degenerate.
This causes pain and swelling in the joint, making movement
more difficult.
WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that is thought to
be caused by an abnormal response of the immune system.
It affects multiple joints, usually in a symmetrical
pattern. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swelling (inflammation)
of a thin layer of tissue that lines the joint, called
the synovial membrane. This provokes the body’s
immune system into attacking the synovial membrane in
an attempt to remove whatever is causing the initial
inflammation. Unfortunately, this reaction makes matters
worse and causes even more inflammation in the joint,
resulting in swelling and pain and eventually leading
to erosion of the articular cartilage and damage to
the underlying bone. Tissues around the joint, such
as tendons, can also be affected, which may result in
the joint becoming unstable and/or deformed.
HOW IS ARTHRITIS USUALLY TREATED ?
Unfortunately, at present, arthritis cannot be cured.
However, medication is available to relieve pain and
reduce joint swelling. Simple pain killers (such as
acetaminophen) are often tried first. If there is no
useful effect then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(e.g. asprin, ibuprofen) may be prescribed. These drugs
may help to relieve some symptoms, however they may
also have side effects with continual use (e.g. diarrhoea,
indigestion, stomach ulcers) and should be used with
care. In severe cases a steroid injection can provide
temporary relief. However, steroids also have side effects
(e.g. diabetes, raised blood pressure, weight gain).
Surgery can improve joint function and reduce pain by
replacing an arthritic joint with an artificial one,
such as the hip, knee or elbow. Such procedures have
significantly improved the quality of life for many
people with arthritis but are usually used as a last
resort due to the obvious risks associated with major
surgery.
HOW DOES BIOPTRON LIGHT THERAPY HELP WITH ARTHRITIS
?
 When the BIOPTRON device is held over the injured area,
energy from the emitted light penetrates the underlying
tissues. This produces a biological response, called
photo-biostimulation, causing various reactions within
these tissues that may result in the reduction of pain
and promotion of healing :
• Improving local blood supply & reducing
muscle spasm
• Reducing the release of chemicals that stimulate
pain receptors thus having an anti-inflammatory effect
• Inducing the release of endorphins, the body’s
natural pain-killing agents
• Direct action on nerve fibres to prevent transmission
of pain impulses to the brain
In centres specialising in the treatment of patients
with rheumatoid arthritis, BIOPTRON Light Therapy has
become part of the standard therapeutic procedures during
hospitalisation. However, as this form of therapy is
simple, safe and cost effective, BIOPTRON can be supportive
for home use by suffering patients themselves.
FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO TREAT ARTHRITIS WITH THE BIOPTRON
PLEASE VISIT OUR BIOPTRON TREATMENT GUIDELINES PAGE.
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