Evidence-Based Treatments for Arthritis in Anchorage, AK

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints: knees, hips, hands, etc… . It causes chronic pain and disability across the globe. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for patients suffering from arthritis. The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve function, and to keep the arthritis from progressing and getting worse.

This post explores some of the treatment options available to patients. It groups the various interventions by category and indicates the type of office or clinic that can provide such. It also gives specific locations for all treatments including chiropractic care available to residents of Anchorage, AK.

I. Conservative & Rehabilitation-Based Interventions

A. Physical Therapy & Exercise Rehabilitation

The first option to explore is the combination of physical therapy and exercise rehabilitation. The goal here is to strengthen muscles around the joint to keep it working properly. This reduces strain and inflammation. It is most effective in cases of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip, especially in early-to-moderate stages.

This type of treatment is available in physical therapy and sports rehab clinics, as well as through outpatient hospital services. Examples of such in Anchorage include:

• Better Health Alaska
• South Anchorage Physical Therapy
• East Side Physical Therapy, LLC.
• Rebound Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy

B. Manual Therapy & Chiropractic Care

Manual therapy and chiropractic care are the next treatment group to be explored. Here, the treatment seeks to properly realign joints and reduce tightness and inflammation. It is best used for OA-related joint pain, especially in the spine and the extremities.

Typical treatment consists of joint mobilizations, spinal adjustments, and soft tissue therapy. A study on PubMed found that OA patients in a Canadian clinic showed ”reductions in mean pain scores in both a clinically meaningful and statistically significant manner concurrent with a course of chiropractic care.“¹ 

The best places to go to receive this kind of treatment are to the offices of licensed chiropractors, particularly those in integrated health or hospital-based programs. In Anchorage, AK one of the top-rated places to go is:

• Better Health Alaska

II. Injection-Based Medical Treatments

A. Intra-Articular Corticosteroid (CSI) Injections

Another treatment option available for arthritis is intra-articular corticosteroid (CSI) injections. These are targeted injections into the joint meant to help relieve pain. They are most commonly used to soothe symptomatic flares in moderate-to-severe OA.

You can access this type of care at orthopedic and rheumatology clinics, as well as offices for sports medicine practices. In Anchorage, the following locations will serve:

• Algone Anchorage Interventional Pain Clinic
• Alaska Center for Pain Relief

B. Viscosupplementation (Hyaluronic Acid)

Another type of injection available for arthritis treatment is viscosupplementation. This is an injection of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is normally found by nature in the knee joint, and these types of injections aim to replace HA that has been lost over time.

It is best used in cases of knee OA, especially where steroid use is contraindicated. It can be accessed at orthopedic/rheumatology injection clinics such as:

• Denali Injury and Spine Center
• Better Health Alaska
• Algone Anchorage Interventional Pain Clinic

III. Complementary & Adjunct Options

A. Acupuncture

In addition to the therapies detailed above, there are a number of complementary or adjunct options, too. One of these is acupuncture – a treatment method that developed in the East that has been growing in use in the West.

It is most often used to treat knee and hip OA. There is, however, some controversy over the effectiveness of acupuncture. This study on Pub Med, for example, found that the “benefits of acupuncture can be partially mediated through placebo effects related to the acupuncturist’s behavior.” Basically, positive expectations lead to positive placebo effects.² 

Regardless, patients seeking out acupuncture care should go to a licensed acupuncturists or an integrative medicine clinic. In Anchorage, these include:

• Avante Medical Center
• Snowblossom Acupuncture LLC.
• Hope Acupuncture

B. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

Another adjunct therapy is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This involves bathing the targeted area with a low-powered (cold) laser light. The light penetrates the area bringing healing energy to it.

LLLT is best used for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is not available everywhere, but some physical rehab centers, pain clinics, and sports therapy centers do offer it to their patients.

• Denali Injury and Spine Clinic
• Pairmore & Young: Synergy Chiropractic
• Springhill Chiropractic

IV. Interventional & Surgical Treatments

A. Arthroscopic Surgery

Arthroscopic surgery is an interventional treatment that makes a small incision and then inserts a scope and camera to make repairs of the joint. It is best used to resolve certain mechanical issues, like meniscus tears, along with OA.

It is normally not recommended for OA alone, but can be beneficial in cases involving certain structural problems. Arthroscopic surgery is available at specialized orthopedic surgery centers.

• Alaska Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic
• Providence Alaska Medical Center
• OPAlaska

B. Joint Replacement (Arthroplasty)

Another surgical option is joint replacement or arthroplasty. This involves replacing the whole joint with an artificial one. It is best used in cases of advanced OA in the knee, hip, or shoulder after conservative care efforts have failed.

With current technology, the effects are long-lasting with many implants lasting from 15 to 30 years. Arthroplasty is available in orthopedic hospitals specializing in joint replacement. Such locations in Anchorage, AK include:

• Alaska Regional Hospital
• Providence Alaska Medical Center
• Alaska Orthopedic Specialists

V. Chiropractic Care in Arthritis – Why It Matters

Chiropractic care was briefly mentioned above, but we wanted to revisit the topic to stress its overall importance. Time and time again it has been shown to be an effective form of therapy for arthritis. This is largely because it treats the whole person, not just a single injured joint. That means, patients seeking chiropractic care for arthritis should experience improved overall health – not just a reduction in knee or shoulder pain.

Consider this article on Pub Med once again. It found that OA patients receiving chiropractic care reported significant pain reduction—more than 2-point drop on pain scales.³ 

Furthermore, chiropractors in general possess a wealth of knowledge about the musculoskeletal system – the system most affected by arthritis. They can provide many forms of assistance in fighting arthritis from exercise advice to adjustments to simple education. They stand as a significant part of the patient’s first line of defense in fighting this disease.

VI. Where to Go for Arthritis Care

Conclusion

There are several important takeaways from this article. First, arthritis treatment should be personalized. It should begin with rehabilitation and manual therapies like exercise and chiropractic care. From there, it should only fall back to more invasive techniques like injections or surgeries, if needed.

Second, chiropractic care assists in both pain relief and function improvement, especially in cases involving hip and spine OA. Also, complementary modalities like LLLT can provide additional outcome improvements while surgical options have proven effective and durable for advanced cases of the disease.

As always, consult a medical professional with appropriate credentials – PTs, chiropractors, rheumatologists, etc…- to prepare and guide you through your treatment plan. You’ll find multiple PTs, chiropractors, and more under the same roof at Better Health Alaska, ready and available to help you get started. Reach out and make an appointment today. You won’t regret it.

Studies and Sources

1. Reichardt, A., et al., “Utilization of chiropractic services in patients with osteoarthritis and spine pain at a publicly funded healthcare facility in Canada: A retrospective study,” PubMed: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2022;35(5):1075-1084. 
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35253731
2. Suarez-Almazor, M. E., et al., “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Effects of Patient-Provider Communication,” PubMed: Arthritis Care and Research, 2010 Sep;62(9):1229–1236.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3651275/
3. Reichardt, “Utilization of chiropractic services …” 2022
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35253731