diyhealth.com

Arthritis Prevention

Arthritis: Prevention


Top Prevention

1. Weight control

If you are overweight, then try losing some weight as this excess body weight is an additional contributing factor to the development of arthritis. It increases the pressure and the damage done to your joints. This damage is more noticeable in lower extremities. You must make sure that your weight lies within the normal body weight range as per your height and age. Losing just a few pounds can help take some stress off your joints, thus decreasing the wear and tear on your joints. This way you can significantly reduce the damage done to your hip and knee joints. Dropping just 10 percent of your body weight is enough to do the trick.ย 

2. Start exercising

You need to make sure that your joints are flexible so that they don’t stiffen any more. One way to achieve this goal is to keep your joints moving with the help of exercise. In fact, exercise is a great way to prevent arthritis, besides this, it also helps you in staying fit by dropping the extra weight. However, you don’t have to put a lot of stress on your joints, so it is better to get involved in some low impact exercises. Walking for 30 minutes each day, cycling or swimming can do the trick. You must do this at least 3 times in a week. Experiencing pain after exercise is normal only if it vanishes within two hours, if it lasts longer than this, then you must cut back on your exercising.

3. Medications

This method is advised for those who are suffering from early symptoms of arthritis. Certain medications are known to restrict the progress of arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are some of the over-the-counter medications which are very effective in providing relief from arthritis. These medications are nothing but the natural ingredients that are present in the body for rebuilding joints and cartilages. The products which contain chondroitin and glucosamine help in lubricating and strengthening the joints of the body. Some anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen are other medications which can help you in getting relief from arthritis.ย 

4. Prevent injuries

Another important thing that you must always keep in your mind is that you must prevent yourself from injuries. Allow your muscles to rest and recover after your workout. Make sure that you don’t perform vigorous exercise of the same body part every day. However, aerobic exercise can be done everyday. Also, warm ups, cool downs and proper stretching are also very effective when it comes to prevention of injuries because a muscle is less likely to get injured or become crampd during exercise if it is stretched before use. Other than this, continuous physical labor also contributes towards the development of arthritis symptoms, so it’s better to reduce the amount of hard physical labor.

5. Practice yoga

Yoga is perhaps the best known exercise when it comes to arthritis prevention. Not only does it strengthen your body joints, but it also maintains flexibility in your body over the course of your lifetime. Incorporating some light resistance training into your exercise routine along with yoga gives the best results. Yoga does not put too much stress on your joints, thus eliminating the chances of developing an injury. This is an added advantage of yoga.

6. Use heating pads or ice packs

Heating pads and ice packs both work to relieve pain. You can select whichever you are comfortable with. The ice packs numb the pain in the joints and muscles, whereas heat from the heating pads relax muscles that hurt. Some people find relief by holding a bag of frozen peas on the area, while others find relief from hot compresses. Whichever method you are going to choose, make sure that you limit the treatment to 20 minutes.

7. Proper diet

Turmeric contains curcumin which is known to suppress inflammation in the body, therefore, it is suggested to consume turmeric. Vitamin C tablets are another effective measure for the prevention of arthritis, these help the body in making more collagen which is an important component of cartilage. Also, cinnamon can prove to be very effective. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, this compound helps in removing the blockage and deposits that can cause arthritis. Try to drink plenty of water every day. Water lubricates the joints and cartilages, thus allowing you to have more movement. Your joints become more efficient shock absorbers. Drink at least 6 to 8 liters of water daily.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top