Once upon a time, joint pain relief was a concern of the aged. Hip problems, for example, are legendary in the elderly. But increasingly, it seems to be something that can affect a person at any age.

Victims of joint pain are increasingly of all ages. In children, this is mostly due to the computer age. Kids who spend a lot of time on computers and playing video games are getting joint pain at a very young age. But what can you do for joint pain relief?

The first thing to focus on for joint pain, as with any medical condition, is prevention. Many doctors recommend reducing as much as possible the repetitive strain by taking frequent breaks from whatever physical activity, whether work or play. While taking these breaks, they say it's a good idea to take time to stretch the muscles around the joints as well.

Using anti-inflammatories can also help, whether oral or topical or both. There are herbal alternatives for these which are especially helpful if it is an ongoing condition and the person does not want to have to take a lot of pharmaceuticals. It is also possible that treating the muscles around the joints can help bring some joint pain relief.

Several people I know have tried acupuncture and have had good results. A coworker once twisted her ankle but had acupuncture immediately and was right back on her feet. A friend of mine suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for years and was able to decrease many of her drugs because she got more joint pain relief from acupuncture treatments.

Even in the case of conditions where the joint pain comes from problems that cannot be cured, the pain can often at least be lessened. For the person who has spent years with pain every day, even a slight amount of joint pain relief can seem huge.

It is an ongoing debate over whether heat or cold works best for joint pain relief. In the end, it would seem to make a difference what type of joint problem the person has. In some cases, the person reports feeling the pain is worse with cold, therefore, heat is better. In others, the joint feels hot. In these cases, cold generally brings improvement.

Dietary changes also seem to bring relief to some people, often those who have autoimmune problems such as rheumatoid arthritis.

While it is sad to see younger and younger people being affected by joint problems, it is also bringing more and more attention to the issue. It is likely that we will be seeing more research into this subject and, therefore, more alternatives to joint pain relief are on the horizon.