5 Best Practices to Safeguard Your Joints for Seniors
Like most of us, you won’t pay too much attention to your joints until there is a problem. If you’re experiencing pain and finding it difficult to get around, this is a cause for concern that you shouldn’t ignore. As you enter your senior years, your mobility will inevitably decline. However, there are things you can do to keep your joints and muscles in working order, such as those listed below.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is linked to all kinds of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular issues and cancer. What you may not know is that tobacco use can hamper your joints. When you smoke, it increases inflammation in your body, which makes it more difficult to recover from an injury. Your senior years should be filled full of excitement and joy. Therefore, quitting the habit for good will improve your general health in more ways than one.
Drink Water
It’s a fact that water makes up roughly 80% of your body’s cartilage. If you don’t drink enough water, this can result in damage to your joints and cause pain and discomfort. As a senior, you already know the importance of keeping hydrated, which is why making minor changes and swapping soda for water can make all the difference and improve your heart health and joints.
Monitor Your Weight
Your joints are supposed to handle a certain amount of force. This means that if you are overweight or obese, you are putting more pressure on your joints that they may not be able to sustain. For every 10 pounds of weight you put on, this can add up to 40 pounds of additional force to your knees. If you aren’t happy with your weight, speaking to a dietitian and incorporating regular exercise into your routine can benefit you enormously. There are all sorts of activities that seniors can partake in, including swimming, cycling, hiking, and yoga. Changing your diet and eating healthy fats and whole grains can help too.
Listen to Your Body
When exercising, you may experience muscle soreness. However, joint pain after physical activity is something more serious. Joint pain after exercising is your body’s way of letting you know there is something wrong. If the pain doesn’t subside, you may have early-onset osteoarthritis that can be diagnosed by your doctor.
Visit a Chiropractor
Chiropractic treatment is mainly used to treat pain relief for joints, muscles, and bones. Instead of suffering in silence, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a chiropractor. If you are worried about leaving your home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all chiropractor offices will have Sneeze Guards installed, alongside other safety measures to keep you protected. Once you start having regular treatment, you should notice a huge improvement in your muscles and joints.
Safeguarding your joints will help you keep hold of your independence and ensure you get the most out of your senior years. Pain and discomfort can stop you in your tracks and negatively impact your day-to-day life, so making use of the tips above can help improve mobility as you get older.
