Learn the difference between “osteoporosis,” “osteoarthrosis,” and “osteoarthritis,” and how to manage inflammation in the joints with diet and exercise.

1. Osteoarthritis - Prevention
and Treatment Options
Lani Simpson D.C., C.C.D.
Certified Clinical (Bone) Densitometrist
www.LaniSimpson.com
510.898.0933
© Lani Simpson, DC, CCD

2. Dr. Lani’s No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide
"Dr. Lani's No Nonsense Bone Health Guide is FABULOUS!
Christianne Northrup, MD
Dr. Lani’s book is a masterful injection of sense and wisdom.”
Richard L. Shames, MD
“Dr. Simpson is my, go-to resource regarding bone health.
She is the expert. Leslie Hewitt, DC
www.LaniSimpson.com

3. Terms
Osteoarthrosis (OA):
Osteo (bone) arth (joint) osis (condition of)
Osteoarthritis: “itis” = inflammation
Osteoporosis:
Osteo (bone) por (porous) osis (condition of)
Degenerative joint disease (DJD) same as OA

4. Osteoporosis is NOT Osteoarthitis
It is possible to have osteoarthritis
without having osteoporosis.
However, both conditions can be
present at the same time.

5. Causes of Joint pain
Joint trauma and repetitive stress
Arthritic conditions: Rheumatoid & Psoriatic arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Gout, Bursitis, Infectious diseases, Septic Arthritis
Autoimmune conditions such as hypothyroidism
Poor nutrition, gastrointestinal problems that result
in malabsorption.
Some medications

6. Osteoarthritis (OA) Causes
Genetic factors
Repetitive use or trauma
Injury to a joint or joints that in later years results in
joint degeneration.
Mechanical disfunction of joint movement
Muscular imbalance
Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances
Gastrointestinal problems resulting in malabsorption

7. Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA is the most common form of arthritis, and
develops over months or years.
Osteoarthritis affects the entire joint, including the
bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and muscles.
OA symptoms are found in more than half of people
aged over 65, but can occur in younger people.
Joints most likely to be affected: knees, hips, hands,
neck and lower spine.

8. Osteoarthritis - What is it?

9. Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Symptoms can affect any joint in the body
Joints: crackles, stiffness, swelling, or tenderness
Hands: bump on the finger or bony outgrowth in
fingers or toes
Also common: joint deformity or limping

10. Osteoarthritis
Typically worse in the morning and better with movement
and worse again at the end of the day
Swelling of the affected joint may or may not be present

11. Osteoarthritis Lumbar Spine
illustration: Dr. Lani’s No-Nonsense Guide

12. OA Hands
The formation of hard nobs at the middle finger joints
(known as Bouchard's nodes) and at the farther away
finger joint (known as Heberden's node) are a common
feature of OA in the hands.

13. Osteoarthritis Lumbar Spine

14. OA of the Hip
Image: webmd.com

15. How to Help Osteoarthritis
Nutrition: non-inflammatory diet
Exercise: Pilates, Feldenkrais, Yoga
Maintaining good posture and egonomics:
Herbs: Turmeric, Boswellia, ginger
Hands on treatment:
• Chiropractic care
• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Rolfing

16. GUT HEALTH AND JOINT HEALTH

17. Our Amazing Digestive Tract

18. Gluten Intolerance (Celiac Disease) Damages Villi
Irr

19. If You Have Digestive Problems
Get to the root of what the problem is;
FIRST – Dump the Junk from your diet
Many potential causes:
•Imbalance of gut bacteria
•Too much stomach acid or not enough
•May be food allergy or sensitivity
•Could be lactose intolerance
•Possibly gluten intolerance

20. Foods and Supplements for Osteoarthritis
Eat generous amounts of organically grown vegetables and fruit daily.
Capsaicin
Stinging Nettle
Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)
Ginger
Curcumin
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine)
Wobenzym (enzyme complex)
Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Supplements
Avocado-soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU)
Boswellia Serrate

21. Are Studies Reliable?
Undenatured type II collagen abstract
Fifty-five subjects who reported knee pain after
participating in a standardized stepmill performance test
were randomized to receive placebo (n = 28) or the UC-II
(40 mg daily, n = 27) product for 120 days.
Daily supplementation with 40 mg of UC-II was well
tolerated and led to improved knee joint extension in
healthy subjects.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013; 10: 48.
Published online 2013 Oct 24. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-48
PMCID: PMC4015808
Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) for joint support: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study in healthy volunteers=

22. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
Natural occurring substances in the body
Do they limit or reduce structural disease
(cartilage loss) progression or provide pain relief
for people with OA?
These results suggest that consumption of N-acetyl
glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for 12 weeks or
longer has a positive effect on self-reported knee
function and household physical activity in middle-
aged and older Japanese adults with knee pain
and/or stiffness.

23. Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin
2010 British Medical Journal
Knee or hip OA 10 trials 3,803 subjects meta-analysis
Conclusions Compared with placebo, glucosamine,
chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint
pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space.
Health authorities and health insurers should not cover
the costs of these preparations, and new prescriptions
to patients who have not received treatment should be
discouraged.

24. Foods and Supplements for Osteoarthritis
Eat generous amounts of organically grown vegetables and fruit daily.
Capsaicin
Stinging Nettle
Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)
Ginger
Curcumin
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine)
Wobenzym (enzyme complex)
Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Supplements
Avocado-soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU)
Boswellia Serrate

25. Stinging Nettles
Studies: A German study shows that hox alpha, a
new extract of stinging nettle leaf, contains an anti-
inflammatory substance that suppressed several
cytokines in inflammatory joint diseases.
Turkish study, stinging nettle extract showed
antimicrobial effects against nine microorganisms,
as well as anti-ulcer and analgesic activity.

26. Hands on Treatment
Chiropractic care
Acupuncture
Massage
Physical Therapy
Other modalitiess

27. Heat or ICE?
Topical Salves and Creams

28. What Can You Do To Improve OA?
Lose weight if you are overweight; it can alleviate
excess mechanical stress on the affected joint(s).
Avoid intense activities that injure or strain the joint
cartilage.
Exercise. Can be beneficial that is at a level that does
not overly stress the affected joint(s). Strengthening
surrounding muscles will support and protect the joint,
and physical activity helps improve and maintain joint
mobility and aids weight-reduction efforts. The safest
activities are swimming, stationary cycling and light
weight training - which put little stress on the joints.

29. Recipe for Healthy Bones
Eat FOOD
Not too much
Mostly plants
“Omnivore's Dilemma”
Michael Pollan

30. Dr. Lani’s No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide
"Dr. Lani's No Nonsense Bone Health Guide is
FABULOUS! Christiane Northrup, MD
Dr. Lani’s book is a masterful injection of sense
and wisdom.” Richard L. Shames, MD
www.LaniSimpson.com
Berkeley, CA
510.898.0933