Give your joints the TLC and expert care they deserve. Taking care of our joints is essential for living a pain-free and active life, and when it comes to maintaining their health, a little love goes a long way.
Our shoulders, hips, knees and toes — even our backs — have joints working overtime to keep us moving. Naturally, over time, we begin to feel the long-term impact of all that hard work: from old injuries, age-related wear and tear, overuse or inactivity to the onset of certain conditions, especially arthritis.
Our hips and knees do a lot of heavy lifting and are commonly prone to degenerative conditions among those over age 50. According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), about 790,000 total knee replacements and 450,000 total hip replacements are performed in the U.S. annually. This number represents many advancements in joint replacement surgery, making it one of the safest and most reliable treatments in any area of medicine and often a lifelong solution.
Although surgery is always the last option, it is important for patients to not fear treatment due to misconceptions. With the guidance of orthopedic experts relief and lost mobility can be regained.
Make Lifestyle Changes
With a comprehensive orthopedic provider who focuses on all aspects of hip and knee care, conservative measures come first. There are some basics that help our health regardless of age or condition, and those are: maintain a healthy weight and diet, stay active and drink lots of water.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
The more weight your joints have to bear, the more strain they endure. Consider this, losing one pound of weight removes four pounds of pressure from the knees. Maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce stress on your joints, especially the weight-bearing hip and knee joints.
Try: Following a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity
Benefit: Prevent conditions like osteoarthritis from developing
Eat Joint-Friendly Foods
Incorporating joint-friendly foods into your diet can provide the necessary nutrients for healthy joints.
Try: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like berries, oranges, and spinach.
Benefit: Reduce inflammation and promote better joint health
Stay Active with Low-Impact Exercises
Regular exercise is crucial for joint health and combats bone density loss, but it’s important to choose activities that are also easy on your joints.
Try: Low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and brisk walking
Benefit: Improve flexibility, strengthen muscles surrounding the joints and reduce the risk of joint pain or injuries
Consult Experts When Pain Persists
When lifestyle changes provide no lasting relief, it’s time for an expert’s guidance. It’s not normal for your joint discomfort to last for days or limit your daily activities. With the proper diagnosis, your orthopedic specialist may prescribe medications, physical therapy, gait aids or minimally invasive procedures, such as injections.
Navigate Your Orthopedic Journey
While joint pain may be a common issue, it’s comforting to know that there are numerous treatment options available to manage and alleviate discomfort. In certain cases, joint replacement surgery may be the necessary step towards restoring mobility and regaining your quality of life.
