Maintaining Joint Health
Angela Rogers
January 16, 2008
As we age we say that our bones get achy and that our joints get creaky. This does not stop the aging joints from aching of course. Chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis can be crippling if they are not properly treated. We cannot really keep arthritis from developing as we age, but we can alleviate the symptoms and delay its onset by developing good joint health habits that will last throughout a life time.
The ligaments, which are muscles around joints will sometimes ache if not use or cramp up. If you have ever had a sudden sharp pain in the ankle or wrists, a muscle spasm is the cause. While these cannot really be stopped, their frequency and severity can be reduced by frequent exercise. Fitness exercise is a great way to maintain joint health regardless of our age, but cartilage lost cartilage that causes osteoarthritis cannot be replaced.
Unfortunately, this loss of cartilage is a natural process and cannot be stopped, but if the joints continue to be used and the are exercised regularly, the body will slow the loss of cartilage. Varying your routine and making sure the muscles get worked as part of your workout. Remembering not to overdo it will help the joints from registering a complaint and becoming swollen or inflamed.
If a joint does become swollen or inflamed, the best remedy next to taking a pain killer such as aspirin to help bring down the inflammation is to put ice on the affected joint. This will bring the swelling down and give the time for the pain killer to work the way that it is supposed to.
Getting a healthy diet is vital to maintaining joint health, but if a person who eats a well balanced diet and pays attention to proper nutrition is getting the nutrients the body needs to maintain proper joint health. Supplements such as glucosamine can help help replenish the padding used between the cartilage and the bones and reduce the pain of many joint conditions. The most important part of maintaining proper joint health though is getting out and moving regularly. The body will lose some cartilage as we age, but the process can be delayed through proper diet and exercise. With proper care our joints can function with little complaint well into our later years. If your joint health deteriorates too far, a medical replacement may be necessary.
The ligaments, which are muscles around joints will sometimes ache if not use or cramp up. If you have ever had a sudden sharp pain in the ankle or wrists, a muscle spasm is the cause. While these cannot really be stopped, their frequency and severity can be reduced by frequent exercise. Fitness exercise is a great way to maintain joint health regardless of our age, but cartilage lost cartilage that causes osteoarthritis cannot be replaced.
Unfortunately, this loss of cartilage is a natural process and cannot be stopped, but if the joints continue to be used and the are exercised regularly, the body will slow the loss of cartilage. Varying your routine and making sure the muscles get worked as part of your workout. Remembering not to overdo it will help the joints from registering a complaint and becoming swollen or inflamed.
If a joint does become swollen or inflamed, the best remedy next to taking a pain killer such as aspirin to help bring down the inflammation is to put ice on the affected joint. This will bring the swelling down and give the time for the pain killer to work the way that it is supposed to.
Getting a healthy diet is vital to maintaining joint health, but if a person who eats a well balanced diet and pays attention to proper nutrition is getting the nutrients the body needs to maintain proper joint health. Supplements such as glucosamine can help help replenish the padding used between the cartilage and the bones and reduce the pain of many joint conditions. The most important part of maintaining proper joint health though is getting out and moving regularly. The body will lose some cartilage as we age, but the process can be delayed through proper diet and exercise. With proper care our joints can function with little complaint well into our later years. If your joint health deteriorates too far, a medical replacement may be necessary.
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