3 natural Arthritis fixes better than meds

Three inexpensive fixes work better than meds to ease arthritis pain and stiffness, according to a new study in PLOS One.

Scientists from the First People’s Hospital of Neijiang in China reviewed 139 randomized trials, covering nearly 10,000 people with knee arthritis.

They looked at 12 non-drug treatments, including:

- Knee braces
- Hydrotherapy (water-based exercise)
- Regular exercise
- Laser therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Ultrasound
- Shock wave therapy

…and more.

Using a method called network meta-analysis, they compared all the treatments, even if they weren’t directly tested against each other.

The top three…

1. Knee braces were best for reducing pain, easing stiffness, and improving daily function.

2. Hydrotherapy came second — especially good at easing pain during rest. It also ranked highest for improving overall function.

3. Regular exercise ranked third and worked across multiple measures, especially for pain and physical function.

High-intensity laser and shock wave therapy had some benefits, but didn’t beat the top three.

Ultrasound therapy came in last, despite being a popular recommendation from doctors, it performed worst in most categories.

When they ranked therapies by specific symptoms, here’s how things broke down:

● Pain relief: knee brace, exercise, high-intensity laser

● Improved function: knee brace, hydrotherapy, shock wave

● Stiffness relief: knee brace, exercise, hydrotherapy

● Pain at rest: hydrotherapy, high-intensity laser, low-level laser

● Pain during movement: knee brace, low-level laser, exercise

Bottom line…

You can match the best natural therapy to your worst symptom.

But across the board, the best options are still the simplest: a knee brace, hydrotherapy, and regular exercise.

But you don’t need to rely on any devices to fix your arthritis.