Arthritis
Arthritis means irritation and wear in the joints. In the spine, it often affects the small facet joints and discs, causing stiffness, aching, and sometimes nerve irritation.
Some joint changes on X-ray or MRI are normal with age and don’t always cause pain. What’s not normal is strong, persistent pain, big drops in mobility, or nerve symptoms that keep getting worse.
Healthy joints need movement, muscle support, good circulation, and building blocks like collagen, vitamin C, quality protein, minerals, and healthy fats. Hormonal changes can also influence how bone and joint tissues remodel over time.
At Roots Health Clinic, we focus on how your joints, muscles, spine, hips, and lifestyle all work together—not just what the scan shows. Our goal is to reduce pain, improve function, and help you protect your joints for the long term.
Movement is still possible with arthritis
Arthritis is common, but it affects everyone differently. Some people feel mild, occasional stiffness. Others struggle with daily pain, reduced mobility, and fear of movement.
In the spine, arthritis often involves:
the facet joints at the back of the spine
the intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers
surrounding ligaments and muscles that tighten to protect painful joints
Many people are told their pain is “just age,” or that their scan looks “terrible.” But the truth is:
some people with very “worn-looking” joints have little or no pain
others with modest changes on imaging can feel very limited
Mechanical stress, lifestyle, and even hormonal influences all play a role in how bone and joint tissue remodels over time.
At Roots, we combine hands-on care with movement and education to help your joints cope better with everyday life.
What's going on in the joints?
A joint is where two bones meet. It’s made of:
Cartilage – the smooth, cushioning surface between bones
Synovial fluid – the lubricating “oil” inside the joint
Joint capsule and ligaments – the strong sleeve holding the joint together
Bone – which can change shape over time, forming extra bony edges (osteophytes)
With arthritis, we often see:
thinning or roughening of cartilage
joint space narrowing
osteophytes (bony spurs) forming at the edges
stiffness and aching, especially after rest or overuse
In the spine, arthritis commonly affects:
the facet joints (small joints at the back of the spine)
the discs, which can flatten or dry out over time
These changes don’t automatically mean you’re broken. They reflect how your joints have been loaded and supported over the years—through posture, work, sport, injuries, and, in some people, shifts in hormone balance that affect bone and cartilage turnover.
Why you might be feeling this way
Arthritis symptoms rarely come from one single cause.
Common contributors include:
long periods of sitting or static posture
repetitive or heavy loading at work or in sport
previous injuries or surgeries (including scars from abdominal or pelvic operations)
muscle imbalances such as weak glutes and stiff hip flexors
poor ergonomics at the desk or in the car
excess bodyweight and metabolic stress
low-grade inflammation from lifestyle and digestion
hormonal changes (for example around menopause, thyroid issues, or prolonged stress hormones) that can influence bone density and joint health
stress and poor sleep, which increase pain sensitivity
Your pain is a message from your body that certain joints are under more stress than they can handle—or that they’re not getting enough support and recovery.
How we can help at Roots
Your arthritis care plan at Roots Health Clinic is personalised, but often includes:
Chiropractic care
To improve spinal mechanics, ease pressure on overloaded joints, and help the nervous system move more freely.
Physiotherapy and strengthening
To build strength and control around the spine, hips, knees, and shoulders, so muscles—not joints—do more of the work.
Manual therapy and targeted massage
To release tight, overworked muscles and fascia that protect painful joints but also limit motion.
Functional movement retraining
To help you bend, lift, walk, and exercise in ways that respect your joints and reduce irritation.
Posture and ergonomic coaching
For your desk, car, and home setup, so your joints get relief during the rest of your day—not just in the clinic.
Lifestyle and basic nutrition guidance
When appropriate, we discuss sleep, pacing, gentle activity planning, and simple joint-supportive nutrition principles, including where collagen-rich foods, adequate protein, and vitamin C might fit into your overall plan.
Our goal is to help you feel stronger, more confident, and less restricted—so arthritis doesn’t dictate your life.
Arthritis or a stiff, achy spine? Get whole-body joint care in Prague.
Arthritis and joint stiffness can be frustrating—but you don’t have to simply “put up with it.”
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, our chiropractors and physiotherapists look beyond the scan to see how your joints, muscles, movement, and lifestyle all fit together.
We’ll help you:
understand what’s normal wear-and-tear—and what needs attention
reduce pain and stiffness in your spine and other joints
build strength and confidence so you can keep doing the things that matter most
What joints need to stay healthy
Joints are living structures. They respond to what you do every day—not just one-off events.
They need:
Regular, varied movement – to nourish cartilage and keep tissues hydrated
Strong, coordinated muscles – to support and protect the joints
Balanced alignment and mechanics – so forces are shared fairly across the joint surfaces
Good circulation – to bring oxygen and remove waste products
And they need building blocks:
Collagen – the main structural protein in cartilage, ligaments, and connective tissue
Vitamin C – essential for collagen production and ongoing tissue repair
Quality protein – provides the amino acids needed to maintain joint tissues
Minerals – such as magnesium, calcium, and zinc, important for bone, cartilage, and muscle function
Healthy fats – support cell membranes and can help modulate inflammation
Alongside smart loading and movement, these factors quietly support your joints in the background. They don’t replace good mechanics or rehabilitation—but they make it easier for your body to respond to treatment.
When you should seek emergency care
Most arthritis-related pain is not dangerous.
However, you should seek urgent medical care if you notice:
sudden, severe back pain with fever or feeling very unwell
loss of bladder or bowel control
numbness in the groin or inner thighs (saddle area)
rapidly worsening weakness in arms or legs
unexplained weight loss with persistent night pain
a very hot, red, swollen joint that is extremely painful
These signs may indicate something more serious than typical osteoarthritis and need immediate assessment.
What people often notice after care
With consistent care and home strategies, many people report:
less stiffness and daily pain
easier bending, turning, and walking
improved posture and confidence in movement
fewer “bad days” and flare-ups
less reliance on pain medication
feeling stronger and more capable, even with arthritis on the scan
a clear understanding of what helps their joints—and what to avoid
You may still have arthritis, but your experience of it can change dramatically.
Arthritis in the spine – what’s normal and what’s not?
By middle age, many people show some degree of:
disc degeneration
small bone spurs
mild joint space narrowing
This is often described as “degenerative changes” and can be part of normal ageing—like grey hair inside the spine.
More “normal” findings:
mild to moderate wear-and-tear on imaging
occasional stiffness after sitting or first thing in the morning
aches that ease with gentle movement
Less normal and worth closer attention:
strong, persistent pain that doesn’t change much with position
significant night pain that regularly wakes you
clear nerve symptoms: numbness, tingling, weakness in arms or legs
unexplained weight loss, fever, or feeling generally unwell
sudden, hot, swollen joints that are extremely painful
At Roots, we listen to your story, examine how you move, and consider imaging where appropriate. The aim is to understand how much of your pain is coming from the joints themselves, and how much is from muscles, nerves, or sensitisation around them.