Joint pain and joint stiffness is all too common, and one of the top reasons people visit their healthcare practitioners.
Gaining weight, sports injuries, slips and falls as well as simply getting older can all lead to joint pain, joint stiffness and in many cases, arthritis.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 50 million adults in the US were told by a doctor they have some form of arthritis. This can include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, lupus, or fibromyalgia.
This staggering statistic makes prevention and maintenance of your joints very important. Here are a few easy tips that can help you keep your joint pain (and joint stiffness) in check.
7 Easy Tips for Joint Pain
- Exercise
Not only can exercise help you to maintain a healthy weight, but aerobic exercise can also help in reducing swelling in your joints which can cause joint pain and joint stiffness. Make sure you choose exercises that don’t put too much pressure on your joints. Make sure to choose low-impact exercises such as swimming or walking.
- Change it Up
Couch potatoes, and anyone who sits in a chair, or at a desk all day is in a high risk group for joint stiffness and pain. As a rule, less movement means more joint stiffness. Make sure you take frequent breaks while you are at work, incorporate stretching into your breaks, or even go for a short walk.
- Control Your Weight
Easily the best thing you can do for your joints to prevent joint stiffness. If your body is bearing too much weight the more wear and tear on your joints. Losing the weight will reduce pressure on your knees, hips, and back and prevent joint injury and joint stiffness. Research shows that with every pound gained, a person puts four times more stress on their knees.
- Build Muscle
Strong muscles means stronger joints. If you don’t have a good amount of muscle tone, your joints will take a pounding. Pay special attention to the muscles around your knees as they support the weight of your entire body. Weight training will help to build muscle and keep the ligaments strong.
- Consider Massage
Massage can provide relief to both muscles and joints. Rotating ice and heat can also take down inflammation, and provide some relief for joint pain, swelling and joint stiffness as well.
- Stop Smoking
Cigarettes are full of harmful chemicals that poison the oxygen your body craves to help relieve pain, ultimately making joint pain more difficult to manage.
- Beware of Painkiller
If you are going to take an over the counter pain reliever, use Aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood, which makes it move better throughout your body. This can bring oxygen to the areas that need it most and alleviate joint pain and joint stiffness.
