Are you experiencing joint pain? Find some great tips below to help alleviate your symptoms and promote overall joint health in the future!
Keep Moving
Sitting still for too long can cause your joints to become stiff. Moving around periodically throughout the day is essential to maintain healthy joints. Even if you work in an office or somewhere where you sit a lot, taking a break and walking around for a few minutes can be beneficial. Exercise is also key. Just make sure that you’re incorporating low-impact exercises into your routine, especially if you’re actively experiencing joint pain. Some examples include walking, biking, and swimming. Also, make sure to pay attention to your body’s signals, like pain or fatigue, during exercise. Soreness after exercise is usually not cause for concern, but if your pain lasts for an excessively long time, take a break and give your muscles a rest.
Strengthen Your Muscles
Reduce stress and excess weight on your joints by strengthening the muscles around them. This can be as simple as lifting light weights or using resistance bands two to three times a week. This is especially important for core muscles, because having a strong back and abs helps with balance, which can help prevent injury and prevent joints from wearing out.
Stretch Your Body
Stretching not only protects your body from injury, but it also makes you feel better. Stretching at least three times a week can help lessen strain on muscles and keep your joints from becoming too stiff. Yoga is a great way to incorporate stretching in your daily routine. Just make sure not to stretch without warming up first, because this can cause muscle strain and injury. It’s also important to maintain good posture, which yoga can help you with, because it can prevent joint pain and promote overall well-being.
Eat Right
Filling your diet with the right kinds of foods can also be beneficial when trying to fight or prevent joint pain. Eating fatty fish (salmon, sardines, herring), or any food with fatty acids, can help reduce inflammation and joint discomfort. Milk is also another good choice, because the Vitamin D and Calcium it contains strengthen bones, which can help prevent injuries. Antioxidant-rich foods like avocado, oranges, and broccoli (just to name a few) are also essential in fighting joint-damaging free radicals. To take your joint health to the next level, glucosamine supplements can be taken in order to uphold joint cartilage and reduce deterioration.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/ss/slideshow-keep-joints-healthy?ecd=wnl_wmh_082215&ctr=wnl-wmh-082215_nsl-ld-stry&mb=u@WtFSQ@uIcMLDwYjOyDgyhonS/H3cwyOEpyZQxLpms=
http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/protect-health-13/exercise-bones
http://www.naturemade.com/resource-center/articles-and-videos/joint-and-bone-health/food-and-nutrients-that-fuel-joint-health#VmHzLBTtxUl5jJzz.97