book your $49 Arthritis Discovery Session today
Schedule your $49 Discovery Session today!
Arthritis does not have to mean giving up the activities you love or jumping straight into joint injections or surgery. At Simply Well Chiropractic in Cincinnati, we help adults with arthritis reduce pain, improve mobility, and stay active using a comprehensive, non-surgical approach centered on SoftWave Therapy.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition where one or more joints become inflamed and painful because the smooth protective cartilage and surrounding tissues are breaking down. As cartilage wears away, bones rub more directly against each other, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
Common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Persistent joint pain that may worsen with activity or after rest
- Morning stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes
- Swelling, warmth, or tenderness around the joint
- Clicking, grinding, or a feeling of “catching” in the joint
- Difficulty with everyday tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or gripping objects
Common Types of Arthritis we see
There are many forms of arthritis, but a few types are especially common in people seeking non-invasive, regenerative treatments like SoftWave.
Knee osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis happens when the smooth cartilage that cushions your knee joint gradually wears away, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and grinding or catching with movement. It often makes walking, climbing stairs, squatting, or standing for long periods difficult, and symptoms typically worsen over time without proper care.
Hip osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage inside the ball-and-socket hip joint, leading to deep groin, side-hip, or buttock pain and stiffness that can limit walking and standing. Many people notice difficulty putting on shoes, getting in and out of the car, or sleeping comfortably on the affected side as the condition progresses.
Shoulder osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis develops when cartilage in the shoulder joint wears away, allowing more friction between bone surfaces and causing pain, stiffness, and loss of motion. Reaching overhead, lifting objects, or sleeping on the affected shoulder often becomes painful, and many people feel grinding or popping with movement.
Ankle osteoarthritis
Ankle osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in the ankle joint wears down, often after prior injuries like sprains or fractures, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness around the joint. Walking on uneven ground, standing for long periods, or going up and down stairs can become increasingly painful as the joint degenerates.
Post-traumatic joint arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis develops in a joint that was previously injured—such as after a fracture, ligament tear, dislocation, or significant sprain—when damage accelerates cartilage breakdown over time. Even years after the original injury, people may develop increasing pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced function in that joint as degenerative changes progress.
Lumbar spine arthritis
Lumbar spine arthritis affects the small joints and cartilage in the lower back, leading to stiffness, aching, and sometimes pain that radiates into the hips or legs. It can make bending, twisting, prolonged standing, or getting up from a seated position uncomfortable, especially first thing in the morning or after sitting too long.
Cervical spine arthritis
Cervical spine arthritis is arthritis in the joints of the neck, where cartilage and joint surfaces degenerate and create inflammation and stiffness. People may experience neck pain, reduced ability to turn the head, headaches, or pain and tingling that travel into the shoulders, arms, or hands when nerves become irritated.
Facet joint arthritis
Facet joint arthritis affects the small stabilizing joints along the spine, where cartilage breakdown causes local inflammation and mechanical pain. It often produces aching or sharp pain with extension, rotation, or prolonged positions, and in some cases can irritate nearby nerves, contributing to referred pain into the limbs.
Thumb CMC arthritis
Thumb CMC (carpometacarpal) arthritis involves the base joint of the thumb, where the thumb meets the wrist, and is very common in people who use their hands repetitively. It typically causes pain with pinching, gripping, opening jars, or turning keys, along with weakness and visible enlargement or bumping at the base of the thumb.
First MTP (big toe) arthritis
First MTP arthritis affects the main joint at the base of the big toe, leading to pain, stiffness, and often a progressive loss of upward motion in the toe. Walking, pushing off during gait, wearing tight shoes, or higher-impact activities can trigger sharp pain, and some people develop a noticeable bump or bony enlargement over the joint.
SoftWave Therapy does not “cure” these conditions, but it can be used to reduce pain, calm inflammation, and support tissue repair in many types of arthritic joints.
How SoftWave Therapy Helps Arthritis at the Source
SoftWave Therapy uses patented acoustic waves to stimulate your body’s natural healing processes inside arthritic joints. Instead of masking pain, these sound waves are designed to interrupt damaging inflammation and encourage the joint to repair itself at the cellular level.
Benefits for Arthritis Patients
With consistent care, long-term SoftWave Therapy can lead to meaningful and lasting improvements for people living with arthritis.
Cumulative Healing Effects
Regular sessions stimulate the body’s natural repair mechanisms, promoting tissue regeneration and reducing chronic inflammation over time. This ongoing process helps restore joint health and function, rather than just masking symptoms.
Sustained Pain Reduction
By addressing the underlying causes of arthritis pain, such as inflammation and tissue degeneration, long-term care leads to more durable pain relief and less reliance on medications.
Improved Daily Function
Many patients report being able to return to activities they had previously given up, experiencing greater independence and a higher quality of life as joint function improves over time.
Enhanced Mobility
Consistent SoftWave therapy improves blood flow and encourages the growth of new blood vessels, delivering vital nutrients and oxygen to damaged tissues. This supports greater flexibility, range of motion, and joint stability.
Prevention of Further Degeneration
Ongoing treatment may slow the progression of arthritis by continuously supporting tissue repair and modulating harmful inflammation within the joints.
How SoftWave Therapy Works for Arthritis
SoftWave Therapy uses patented acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. When these gentle, targeted waves are delivered directly to arthritic joints, they:
Turning Sound Into Healing Signals
When the sound waves reach your joint, they create a tiny disturbance in the cells that acts like a wake-up call. This mechanical stimulus triggers your cells to start repairing and rebuilding damaged tissue.
Reducing Inflammation
Your immune system has cells that can either drive inflammation or help resolve it. SoftWave Therapy helps shift your immune response toward the “healing” side, reducing swelling, stiffness, and painful inflammatory activity in arthritic joints.
Rebuilding Your Joint’s Cushion
SoftWave Therapy encourages your body to produce more collagen and other structural building blocks that support healthy cartilage. Think of cartilage like the padding in your sneakers – as it wears down, bones rub together and cause pain; supporting cartilage health helps restore that protective padding.
Improving Blood Flow
Joints naturally have limited blood supply, which slows healing. The acoustic waves help stimulate the growth of tiny new blood vessels and improve circulation so more oxygen and nutrients reach damaged joint tissues.
Calling In Stem Cells
SoftWave Therapy releases special chemical signals that attract your body’s own stem cells to the area, acting like a repair crew sent directly to the damaged joint. These cells can transform into the types of tissue needed to support regeneration and long-term healing.
Interrupting Pain Signals
The treatment also helps interrupt the pain messages traveling from your joints to your brain. By turning down the volume on these signals, many patients notice less discomfort and an easier time moving throughout the day.
Our Non-Surgical Arthritis Care Plan in Cincinnati
At Simply Well Chiropractic, we don’t just run a machine and send you home. We build a customized arthritis care plan that integrates SoftWave Therapy with strategic chiropractic and movement guidance.
1
Detailed Assessment
- Review of your medical history, imaging, and prior treatments
- Hands-on joint and movement evaluation
- Discussion of your goals (avoiding surgery, staying active at work, playing sports, etc.)
If you are under the care of a rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, or primary care provider, we encourage collaboration so your care remains coordinated.
2
Discovery SoftWave Session
Your $49 Discovery Session includes:
- A focused consultation about your arthritis pain
- A test treatment with SoftWave Therapy over the affected area(s)
- Real-time feedback on how your joint responds during and after the visit
This session helps us determine if you are a good candidate and whether a full treatment plan is likely to give you meaningful improvement.
3
Personalized Treatment Plan
Depending on your exam and response, your plan may include:
- A series of SoftWave Therapy sessions spaced over several weeks
- Gentle chiropractic adjustments (as appropriate) to improve joint mechanics
- Simple at-home mobility and strengthening exercises
- Education on pacing activities and reducing joint stress day-to-day
Our focus is on getting you real-world results: walking farther, climbing stairs more comfortably, sleeping better, and doing more of what matters to you.
Why Managing Arthritis Early Really Matters
Arthritis is more than “just getting older.” When joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are left unaddressed, the underlying damage inside the joint can quietly progress over time. Cartilage wears down, inflammation becomes more chronic, and surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons can weaken or tighten in response to the ongoing stress.
If arthritis is not managed, you may notice that everyday tasks—like walking, climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, exercising, or even sleeping—become harder and more painful. This often leads people to move less, which can create a cycle of stiffness, muscle loss, weight gain, and even more pressure on already irritated joints.
Over the years, unmanaged arthritis can significantly limit independence, activity level, and overall quality of life.
Taking arthritis seriously and managing it early helps you protect the joints you have now and slow further degeneration. With the right treatment plan, many people can reduce pain, improve mobility, stay active, and delay or even avoid more aggressive options such as long‑term medications, injections, or surgery. Managing arthritis well is really about preserving your ability to do the things you love—both now and in the years ahead.
Why SoftWave Is Different from Other ARTHRITIS Treatments
Most people with arthritis are offered a combination of conventional treatment options. Each has a place, but many patients are looking for ways to go beyond symptom management and support actual healing in their joints.
Common traditional treatments include:
- Over‑the‑counter pain relievers (NSAIDs, acetaminophen) to reduce pain and inflammation
- Prescription anti‑inflammatories or disease‑modifying medications
- Cortisone or other injections to calm a painful flare
- Physical therapy and exercise programs to improve strength and mobility
- Bracing or supports to stabilize joints
- In advanced cases, joint replacement surgery
These can be helpful, but they often focus mainly on symptom control. Medications may reduce pain in the short term but can carry side effects with long‑term use, and injections or surgery may not be what you want unless absolutely necessary.
| Treatment | How It Works | Duration | Side Effects | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medications (NSAIDs) | Masks pain signals | Hours to days | GI problems, long-term risks | Ongoing |
| Cortisone Injections | Reduces inflammation temporarily | Weeks to months | Weakens joint structure over time | $200-$500/injection |
| Physical Therapy | Builds strength through exercise | Months | Can increase pain initially | Ongoing weekly |
| Surgery | Removes/replaces joint | Permanent | Infection risk, long recovery | $15,000-$50,000+ |
| SoftWave Therapy | Stimulates body’s natural healing | Builds over time | Minimal (mild soreness occasionally) | One-time series |
Why Cincinnati Residents Are Choosing SoftWave Therapy FOR ARTHRITIS
Pain Reduction Without Medications
Unlike NSAIDs that only work while they’re in your system, SoftWave creates lasting pain reduction by addressing the inflammation and tissue damage causing the pain. Many patients report 50-70% pain reduction after completing a treatment series, with results that last months or longer.
Improved Mobility and Function
Stiffness and limited range of motion are some of the most frustrating aspects of arthritis. SoftWave therapy restores joint mobility so you can:
- Climb stairs without pain
- Get in and out of your car comfortably
- Play with grandchildren
- Return to golf, gardening, or your favorite activities
- Sleep through the night without joint pain waking you
No Downtime, No Recovery
Unlike surgery, you don’t need to plan your life around recovery. SoftWave sessions take just 15-30 minutes, and you can return to normal activities immediately. There’s no anesthesia, no needles, and no restrictions on what you can do afterward.
Fewer Medications Long-Term
One of the most significant benefits patients report is reduced reliance on pain medications. Many are able to decrease or eliminate daily pain medication once SoftWave treatment results stabilize, reducing side effects and long-term health risks.
An Alternative to Surgery
If you’ve been told you “might need” joint replacement surgery, SoftWave offers a legitimate alternative worth exploring first. Even if surgery eventually becomes necessary, SoftWave can extend the timeline or potentially eliminate the need altogether.
Safe for Long-Term Use
Because SoftWave uses your body’s own healing mechanisms rather than foreign substances, it can be safely repeated as needed. There are no cumulative toxicity concerns like there are with long-term NSAID use or repeated cortisone injections.
Cincinnati’s trusted softwave provider
Dr. Faith is a chiropractor at Simply Well Chiropractic in Cincinnati who focuses on helping patients with arthritis and chronic joint pain move more comfortably without surgery or long‑term medications. As a certified SoftWave provider, Dr. Faith has extensive experience using this non‑invasive technology to support tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility in arthritic knees, hips, shoulders, hands, and feet. Over the years, Dr. Faith has helped many Cincinnati patients return to walking, exercise, and daily activities with less pain by combining SoftWave Therapy with personalized, conservative care plans.
Dr. Faith earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2022.
She holds Ohio chiropractic license (DC-05144).
Dr. Faith Swartzendruber, DC, integrates her SoftWave Therapy training and chiropractic license with her education background to deliver SoftWave treatments that are both clinically informed and patient-centered.
Dr. Faith has helped hundreds of Cincinnati patients overcome chronic pain with SoftWave Therapy and chiropractic care.
NEW PATIENT OFFER: $49 Arthritis Consultation & SoftWave Assessment
If you live in the Cincinnati area and are looking for arthritis treatment that goes beyond pain pills, injections, or “wait until it’s bad enough for surgery,” we would love to meet you.
Schedule your $49 Discovery Session to find out if SoftWave Therapy at Simply Well Chiropractic can help you walk, move, and live with less arthritis pain.
Call our office at (513) 271-1233 or request an appointment online today.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Faith Swartzendruber, DC
Ohio Chiropractic License: DC-05144 | Palmer College of Chiropractic
Founder, Simply Well Chiropractic, Cincinnati