Your joints play a very important role in your body. They connect bones, provide support, and help you move. When joints are damaged, either by injury or disease, it can cause a great deal of pain or discomfort. Consider these tips to help prevent joint pain.
1. Watch your weight. Extra pounds will add extra stress to the joints causing them to wear and tear over time. Joints in the knees, hips, and ankles are especially at risk in overweight individuals.
2. Incorporate low-impact exercises into your day. Swimming, cycling, yoga, and walking are all activities that are easy on the joints and will also help you maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to include strength training as well. Strong muscles help support the joints and protect them from daily stressors.
3. Be mindful of harmful habits. Carrying a heavy purse every day, sitting at your deskwith poor posture, looking down at your phone for prolonged periods of time, and even wearing the wrong types of shoes can all have a detrimental impact on your joints and cause what we refer to as a “repetitive injury”. Another harmful habit to consider ditching is smoking. Research shows that individuals who smoke have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis and bone fractures.
4. Eat a nutrient-dense diet. Not only will eating healthy help ward off unwanted weight, but nutritious foods can also help fight inflammation.For more advice on how to clean up your diet, check out this infographic.
Joint pain becomes more prevalent as we age, so prevention is key, and be sure to get help when you need it. If an injury occurs or you’re experiencing joint pain and you’re not sure why give our office a call. We can help you identify the culprit and start a treatment plan that will get you back on track.
