5 Things You Can Do to Take Better Care of Your Joints

5 Things You Can Do to Take Better Care of Your Joints

Joint pain affects many people, and often worsens as we age. Arthritis is a common cause, but there are many other reasons your joints may hurt, limiting your activity and making life less enjoyable.

While many people just try to power through the pain and hope it goes away on its own, it usually doesn’t. However, that doesn’t mean you’re helpless. Joint care is something that you can manage, both with basic lifestyle changes and with help.

Here are 5 ways you can take better care of your joints and reduce pain.

  • Remain active. Exercise can strengthen the muscles that support your joints. Resistance routines are often recommended to build up weaker areas, but don’t forget to work in some aerobic exercise too. Low-impact activities like swimming and yoga will increase your energy level and offer whole-body benefits. Exercise also helps with weight control, which can reduce the daily stress on your joints.

  • Eat a balanced diet. Inflammation and arthritis are often linked. Eating a balanced diet not only improves your overall health and helps you control your weight; eating foods that contain antioxidants like berries, kale and beans can help reduce the inflammation. Foods rich in vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids are also thought to be helpful. Your physician may also recommend dietary supplements like Flexogenix+, specifically developed for those with joint pain.

  • Get enough sleep. It can be a vicious cycle. People who suffer chronic joint pain will tell you that lack of good sleep often makes their pain worse, but the pain can make getting to sleep in the first place a challenge. Sleep provides the body an opportunity to heal, so invest in a good-quality, firm mattress and consider taking a pain reliever that will last throughout the night. You’ll also want to practice good sleep hygiene by darkening your room, turning off the TV and reducing ambient noise and other distractions.  

  • Control pain. Chronic pain takes a toll, not just physically but psychologically. One study notes that severe joint pain and psychological distress are statistically linked. Controlling your pain will improve your mobility, allow you to remain social and participate in your favorite activities, all of which help reduce the depression that often comes with joint pain. Medication can help you manage the pain, as can hot and cold packs or braces. However, you’ll want to consult with your joint specialist first.

  • Get support. Don’t go it alone. In addition to seeking medical care from a seasoned specialist, consider joining a support group. It can be a great relief to share stories and get tips from others experiencing the same joint pain issues as you. You’ll also become part of a social group, and that can help combat feelings of hopelessness. Also check online for web forums and associations which may have local membership chapters.

With joint pain affecting millions of people in the U.S., remember you’re not alone. There are plenty of resources out there to help you educate yourself about self-care and pain management, and these solutions not only help your joints but your overall well-being.

Don’t assume there’s nothing you can do, or that you must submit to risky and expensive surgery to get relief. It’s time to think about non-surgical joint care in a new way—as something you can control.

If it’s time to get help with joint pain, contact the experts at Flexogenix and make an appointment. They’ll offer resources to support you in your mission to take charge of your joint health. You’ll wonder why you waited so long!

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† While we are in network for most major insurance carriers we have some treatment programs that are not recognized or covered by many insurance carriers.