As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people have been increasingly struggling to put their joint health first. If you’ve noticed an increase in joint pain, soreness, and stiffness, you’re not alone.
With cold weather and social distancing measures still in place across the nation, people are spending more time indoors. This, in turn, is causing an increase in sedentary lifestyles.
Over the course of the past few months, knee pain, hip pain, back pain, and shoulder pain have exacerbated among both young and aging adults. In this blog, we’ll walk you through three ways to improve joint health. Continue reading.
1. Get Regular Exercise
You need to keep moving. To avoid a sedentary lifestyle, make sure you work out every day. We’re not talking about high-intensity training or rigorous exercise. Even low-impact activities like walking, cycling, stretching, and jogging can help you combat joint stiffness and exercise the delicate structures around your joints. The key is doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
As you exercise regularly, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight. By shedding those extra pounds, you’ll take a lot of pressure off of your weight-bearing joints. Over time, this will significantly reduce joint damage and help with a preexisting joint condition, if you have any.
Recommended Read: 5 Physical Therapy Exercises for Knee Pain
2. Follow An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
When it comes to improving overall joint health, reducing inflammation should be one of your top priorities. Consume more calcium and vitamin D to strengthen your joints. In addition, eating omega-3 fatty acids (foods and supplements), brassica vegetables, lentils, beans, whole grains, and root vegetables to reduce joint pain and improve joint mobility. Click here for the ten best foods to consume if you have arthritis.
While improving your diet is important, it’s not enough. We also recommend not smoking. If you can’t quite, at least cut back. Smoking takes a toll on your joints by promoting inflammation in your body. It also exacerbates the painful symptoms associated with joint conditions.
3. Use the Right Posture
Your posture plays a big role in determining your joint health. If you have a habit of slouching, your joints will sustain more pressure than usual. This can increase joint soreness and stiffness in the long run. Make sure you protect your joints and take additional pressure off of them by standing and sitting straight. In addition, keep your back straight when you lift and carry objects. Bend your knees, not your back.
Recommended Read: Experiencing Hip Pain During the Lockdown? Here Are 4 Reasons That May Be the Culprits
Houston Physicians’ Hospital’s Orthopedic Center of Excellence
If you’re still struggling to improve your joint health, click here to find a doctor who’s right for you. Our Orthopedic Center of Excellence is dedicated to helping you regain optimal joint mobility and flexibility. Apart from diagnosing and treating a wide range of joint conditions and disorders, we also specialize in knee replacement surgery, back surgery, and physical therapy services.