How to Prevent Joint Pain
Joint pain hurts. It can also affect your ability to function and complete everyday tasks. As Cleveland Clinic explains, there are many factors that can increase your risk of experiencing joint pain:
- Growing older. Years of living mean years of wear and tear.
- Being overweight. Carrying too much weight can stress your joints and cause pain.
- Having a history of previous joint injuries. A prior injury may leave you vulnerable to arthritis or other forms of chronic pain later in life.
- Using or overusing muscles repeatedly. Repetitive strain injuries can damage joints and cause pain.
- Battling mental or physical health issues. Both mental and physical health conditions can have joint pain as a symptom.
Thankfully, there’s no reason that you have to accept joint pain as an inevitable part of life. If you’re interested in learning how to prevent joint pain, you’ll discover that there are plenty of useful tips. Having them in your arsenal can improve your comfort and make it easier to accomplish your daily to-do list.
Listen to Your Body
Mild muscle soreness after a workout can be a sign that your muscles have been put through their paces. However, joint pain is often a sign that something is wrong. It may be a cue that you’re using an incorrect form during your workout routine. Alternately, it may be a red flag for an injury or an early sign of arthritis. Listening to your body will let you take the proper steps to safeguard your joint health.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keeping your weight in a healthy range isn’t just good for your waistline. Consider this: Every extra pound that you carry can quadruple the stress on your knees. If you’re overweight, don’t feel like small changes won’t matter. After all, you don’t have to reach your ideal weight to see results. Any extra weight that you drop eases the strain on your joints.
Warm Up and Cool Down
When people commit to an exercise routine, they often skimp on the warm-up and cooldown. Don’t make this mistake. While these parts may seem purely optional, they help prepare the body so that you avoid injury. Warming up and cooling down are especially important as you age because the body is generally less able to bounce back quickly.
Drink Water Instead
Cartilage is the flexible connective tissue that cushions many of the body’s joints. It’s largely made up of water. When you’re hydrated, your cartilage is too. When you’re dehydrated, your body may draw water out of the cartilage, leaving your joints in trouble. How can you avoid issues? Instead of relying on coffee, soda, or energy drinks to quench your thirst, drink water. Whenever you’re thirsty, reach for a glass of water. Drink more when you’re exercising and when the weather is especially hot.
Take Your Vitamins
A healthy body needs the right materials to stay that way. Calcium and vitamin K are great for building bones. Vitamin C helps repair tissues and support the immune system. Vitamin E relieves pain, and folic acid helps make new cells. Eating a healthy diet is a good way to get many of the nutrients needed. Supplements can help close the gaps.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking increases inflammation throughout the body. It also makes it harder for the body to heal. Both of these situations are horrible for the joints. If you smoke, stop now.