Painful joints are the beginning of a viscous cycle.
When your joints are in pain, regardless of whether it is caused by arthritis or something else, it makes it difficult to do just about anything. As humans, we are inclined to listen to our bodies very attentively. When we are in pain, we rest until the pain subsides, but when you have joint pain, resting often makes the problem worse. The more you rest, the more weight you gain and the more muscle you start to lose. This leads to even more pressure being put on your joints and as a result, more pain. So, how do you keep your joints healthy? Our assisted living in Durham has come up with these tips to help:
#1. Stay loose by stretching regularly.
Stretching is a great way to reduce inflammation and improve your flexibility. Although stretching may not be at the top of your list, taking a few minutes to loosen up in the mornings and evenings will go a long way to reducing your pain.
#2. Make time for regular exercise.
As we stated earlier, the more weight you carry, the more pressure you are putting on your joints, especially your weight-bearing joints, including your knees, back and hips. One of the best things you can do to lose weight is to start exercising regularly. Not only will exercise help you to lose weight, it’ll also help you build muscles that support and protect your joints.
There are many things that you can do to protect your joints and keep them healthy. Would you like to learn more? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.
