9 Tips For Joint Health | Keep Your Joints Healthy As You Age

Keep your joints healthy is key to staying mobile and not experiencing pain as you age.  Although you may not be able to prevent all join injuries or arthritis, there are many things you can start doing today to help keep your joints healthy.

Let’s explore some common causes of joint pain and then delve into 9 keys to keeping your joints healthy and some ideas on what you can do if you’re currently experiencing joint pain.

What Could Impact Your Joint Health

While this list is certainly not definitive, here are four of the most likely reasons you may be experiencing joint pain during your workouts.

Arthritis

Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, ranging from autoimmune (rheumatoid arthritis) to wear and tear with age (osteoarthritis). People can have arthritis in one or multiple joints, and it causes pain to the affected areas.

For a long time, people thought arthritis sufferers should avoid exercise out of fear it would damage their joints. Now, medical professionals know that many arthritis sufferers can actually improve their condition with exercise. If you experience joint pain as you age, it’s likely caused by a form of arthritis.

Tendonitis

Like arthritis, tendonitis is also caused by inflammation. However, while arthritis refers to inflammation of the tissues that line the joints themselves, tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, the tissues that connect the bones and the joints.

Tendonitis is more common in a specific area from overuse; for example, runners often get Achilles tendinitis (along their heel) or patellar tendonitis around their kneecap. While it doesn’t directly affect the joint, it can certainly cause pain in the joint.

Injury or Surgery

If you’ve injured your joints or recently had hip or shoulder surgery, for example, your pain during exercise may not be a surprise.

In the case of specific injuries or post-operative care, it’s best to consult with your doctor to see if physical therapy is necessary before resuming an exercise regimen.

Failing to Maintain a Healthy Weight

Carrying a few extra pounds isn’t likely to cause joint pain, but if you are truly overweight, the extra baggage could be putting undue strain on your joints.

By losing some of the weight, you should be able to alleviate your joint pain. Studies have shown that losing as little as 11 pounds cuts the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee in half.

A word of caution: if you have mild joint pain during your workout, it’s okay to work through it. Movement helps re-lubricate painful joints that have become stiff due to arthritis or other causes.

But if you experience sharp, severe pain in a specific joint during your workout, stop and ask your doctor before continuing an exercise regimen, as it could be a sign of joint damage that needs rehabilitation.

9 Tips On How To Keep Your Joints Healthy

So now you know what’s causing your joint pain—but what can you do to keep it at bay? Making a few simple changes can transform your workout from painful to powerful.

Use these 9 tips to keep your joints healthy, especially during exercise.

1. Warm Up Before Your Workout

Skipping your warm-up is a bad choice for many reasons, one of them being that exercising with stiff muscles exacerbates joint pain, too. Focus on a total body warm-up that will loosen up your muscles and prepare your body to move! We like to say a warm-up should act as a “dress rehearsal” for your workout: a mini version for the activity you’ll be doing.

Try These 10 Best Warm Up Exercises: For Women + Avoid Injury

More Warm-up Ideas:

• If you’re going for a run, walk for a few minutes to warm up.
• If you’ll be weight lifting, do some bodyweight moves like squats or march in place just to get your blood flowing.
• And always include movements that wake up your ball and socket joints, like hip circles and arm circles.

2. Foam Roll

Foam rolling helps your fascia, which is the connective tissue running through your body that surrounds and separates your muscles, joints, and organs. Fascia helps cushion your joints from impact, so when it’s tight or brittle (as it can become with age) your joints and muscles can suffer.

By performing what’s called myofascial release with a foam roller, you are bringing more fluid back into the fascia, helping your joints stay cushioned and thus pain-free during exercise.

Foam rollers are affordable and easy to use; aim to foam roll about three times a week to reduce your joint pain.

Here are 6 foam roller moves to loosen tight muscles to help you get started.

3. Stretch Daily to Keep Your Joints Healthy 

While warming up before a workout is crucial, it’s equally important to stretch out all the major muscle groups after you’re finished.

Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds, breathing into it and feeling your muscles relax a little deeper with every exhale. 

When your muscles are tight, you decrease the range of motion within your joints, leading to additional pain during your workout.

If you can loosen your muscles post-workout, you’ll have happy joints ready to go for your next sweat session.

Try Some Of These Great Stretches:

• The 8 Best Leg Stretches
• 7 Hip-Opening Stretches That Will Make You Say “Ahhhhh”
• Hamstring Stretch Routine 
• Low Back Yoga Stretches

4. Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet To Keep Joints Healthy

Researchers have identified that many foods found in the Mediterranean diet can help combat inflammation, which is a major cause of arthritis-related joint pain. Staples of the Mediterranean diet include fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines; antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies like berries, spinach, and kale; and monounsaturated fat sources like almonds, avocados, and olive oil.

You may also try incorporating more turmeric into your diet as it’s an anti-inflammatory spice that has been shown to improve joint swelling and stiffness in arthritis patients. Some people also take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to help their joint pain; these are both structural components of cartilage that are naturally occurring in the body.

10 Foods To Eat For Healthy Joints

When you’re on a mission for how to keep your joints healthy, eating the right healthy foods matters. I wanted to make it easy to eat food that is good for joints and cartilage so I included some of my favorite recipes below!

1. Salmon

Try making this light but satisfying Teriyaki Salmon Salad or this easy Foil Packet Grilled Salmon & Veggies

2. Berries

I enjoy eating my berries in the morning in this Berry Light Breakfast Smoothie.

3. Avacado

You’ll love this twist on a classic sandwich Avocado Tuna Salad sandwich or these Healthy Salmon Avocado Boats.

4. Spinach

If you want to sneak spinach into a dish, try this Sweet Potato Spinach Lasagna. The whole family will love it.

5. Tuna

Turmeric Tuna Boats is a fun lunch or appetizer that combines 2 of our anti-inflammatory foods.

6. Almonds

Grab a handful of these satisfying nuts or try using almond flour when you’re baking.

7. Turmeric

My favorite way to eat turmeric is actually to drink it. Try this Creamy Turmeric Golden Milk and you won’t be sorry!

8. Olive oil

Easy to cook with daily but if you want to up your olive game, try this nummy Olive Tapenade the next time you need a midnight snack.

9. Sardines

Sardines are typically a love-it-or-hate-it fish but the health benefits make it worth incorporating into your diet when you can!

10. Kale

Kale is easy to incorporate into your salad but if you are looking for a warming, hearty option try this Creamy Sausage and Kale Soup (husband approved.)

5. Break Up Your Workouts To Reduce Strain

For people with joint pain, it may be beneficial to adopt a certain methodology to your movement: if you’re doing a bodyweight workout or weight training, for example, don’t run through a circuit that’s just upper or lower body for too long. Alternate back and forth between upper and lower body exercises to avoid putting too much stress on any one area at a time.

For example, some people choose to do “arm day” and “leg day” but for people with joint pain, it’s better to break your workouts up so you’re not straining any one part. Do a set of push-ups, then focus on squats, etc.

6. Try Aquatic Workouts for Healthy Joints

Sometimes switching up your workout routine can be the best thing you do for your joints.

Taking your workouts to the pool can give your joints some much-needed relief, while still providing resistance that gives you a great workout. Swim laps, check out water aerobics, or try this 30-minute pool workout for inspiration.

7. Get The Proper Footwear

Everything in your body is connected, and regardless of the activity you’re doing, if your shoes don’t provide enough stability and cushion against the impact of your movement, your joints can suffer! Everything from ankle, knee and hip pain can be aggravated or even caused by improper footwear. Use this guide to find the best show for any workout.

8. Incorporate Both Low and High Impact Exercise For Keeping Your Joints Healthy 

If you suffer from joint pain, too much high-impact exercise can aggravate your body. But incorporating a little of it when you can is great for weight loss and making your muscles stronger.

Balance your workout routine with some higher impact work like plyometrics, interval training, or running, and then lower-impact cardio work like elliptical workouts, walking, swimming, or cycling.

The variety will help keep your body healthy and your muscles engaged without getting overworked.

9. Use Heat To Treat Joint Pain

Get in the habit of heating things up before your workouts. Unlike new injuries that respond well to ice, heat is best for treating chronic pain. The heat helps increase blood flow and soothe tight or painful joints.

Apply a warm towel or hot pack to areas that are stiff and sore before your workout to minimize discomfort.

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