Valentine’s Day is the next holiday to look forward to – but instead of flowers and chocolates, it may be time to focus on loving yourself and your joints. Joint health becomes more critical as you age.
Loving your joints comes in many forms, including orthopaedic treatments. Dr. Brandon Downs and the Orthopaedic Specialists team offer a range of therapies, including PRP injections, joint replacements, and physical therapy.
Dr. Downs also shares lifestyle tips to keep your joints healthy as you age.
Joint health enhances mobility, independence, and well-being. Joints enable you to move and do everyday activities.
Each joint provides a range of movements that allow you to walk, lift, bend, and move without restriction or pain. They help you maintain your independence and your lifestyle when you take care of them.
Healthy joints also help prevent injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that surround the joints.
Maintaining joint health keeps you mobile and independent. Without care, joints may be painful and limit movement.
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, showing your joints some love is just what you need. Here are four expert ways to keep your joints healthy and mobile:
Movement is essential for joint health and good mobility. Regular low-impact exercises maintain joint lubrication, allowing joints to move smoothly and without discomfort. It also strengthens the surrounding muscles, which keep the joints healthy.
Wearing supportive shoes cushions steps and reduces strain on knees, hips, and spine. Protective gear for weightlifting and other sports helps prevent impact and injury.
Eating a nutritious diet is an excellent way to love your joints. A healthy diet not only helps you maintain a healthy weight but can also reduce joint inflammation and pain.
Drinking water daily lubricates joints. Water maintains synovial fluid, enabling smooth movement and reducing wear on your joints. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily for optimal joint health.
We offer tips to help you love your joints more, but we also provide information on what to avoid for healthier joints. For example, smoking is a major no-no when it comes to joint health. Smoking affects the tissues that protect the joint, as well as the circulation that keeps them healthy.
You should also consider avoiding inflammatory foods, especially those that are overly processed, high in salt and sugar, or full of unhealthy fats. Not only do these cause weight gain, but they also increase inflammation, which leads to joint discomfort.
Avoid poor posture, which strains the muscles and ligaments around the joints and can eventually lead to pain. Do not normalize joint pain. If you feel discomfort, it’s usually your body letting you know there's an issue.
You should seek help when you first see signs of joint pain. Early intervention makes a difference in your comfort, mobility, and recovery. Call Dr. Downs at Orthopaedic Specialists today to schedule your appointment at one of our five Nashville, Tennessee, area offices, or request your consultation online.
