Abstract
Although modern medicine has been successful in managing infection and saving victims of multiple trauma, healthcare providers have offered little relief to individuals with chronic diseases, such as arthritis. Many patients with arthritis are seeking help with disease management from alternative therapies. When used along with allopathic medicine, these therapies may, in fact, increase quality of life for patients with arthritis. This article, second in a two-part series on alternative therapies, returns to the seven fields of practice identified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore additional treatment options for individuals with arthritis. Part 1 in this series was published in the September/October 2003 issue of Orthopaedic Nursing.