5 Ways to Help to Relieve Joint Pain
Joint pain can severely limit what activities you can do on a daily basis. It can disrupt your lifestyle or cause discomfort at every moment. Fortunately, you don’t have to let joint pain dictate how you live. Here are five ways that can offer relief to joint pain:
Weight plays a major role in your joint pain’s intensity, frequency, and how effective other relief programs or methods are in treating said pain. Those extra pounds put more pressure on your joints, specifically the knees, hips, and feet. Check where you stand weight-wise using the BMI or Body Mass Index method. It will tell you whether or not you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese depending on your height and weight.
Physical exercise doesn’t just improve your mood; it’s also a great way to lose weight and strengthen joints and muscle groups. As a warm-up, perform range of motion movements that help promote joint flexibility. Exercises that require you to bear weight on your lower body, such as running, can damage your joints. Instead, choose low-impact exercises, like swimming, that allow you to stretch and move your joints around without the damaging impact. You can also use ankle compression sleeves when you work out to support the arch of the foot and Achilles tendon, which is highly susceptible to injury during intense workout sessions.
Hot and cold compresses can have a huge impact when it comes to joint pain. Start your day with a long, warm bath to alleviate stiffness in your joints. During cold nights, use an electric blanket to loosen the joints. Cold compress works well in treating swelling and inflammation of joints. If you don’t have a gel ice pack to use, freeze a bag of vegetables and wrap with a towel before applying to the affected area.
Give acupuncture a try to relieve your joint pain. This is an ancient Chinese practice that balances the chi or energy in your body. It requires the insertion of several thin needles to critical areas to alleviate pain and takeout impurities. Proponents of this alternative therapy say that the inserted needles reroute the flow of energy to restore your body into its peak health. Most people fear the thought of needles, but these are so tiny. The superfine needles are smaller than your pores, so there is hardly enough pain felt. If you are in desperate need of relief to take away the pain in your joints, look for a licensed acupuncture specialist in your area.
This yellow spice called turmeric has super powerful anti-inflammatory properties that will help decrease the painful swelling in your joints. Turmeric is often found in Indian cuisine, and it is the one that gives off the lovely yellow color. The super-potent chemical in turmeric that reduces pain is called curcumin. Consider adding a sprinkle of this spice into your dishes. It has a mild, subtle flavor profile that will amp up the taste of your meal. You can also buy tea bags and drink an infusion after every meal. There are also turmeric capsules available in health food stores, so you can take this as maintenance to keep joint pain away.
Getting a massage is not just relaxing, but it can also take away the stiffness in your joints. Loosen the area with a soothing massage to help reduce your pain. When you get regular massages, you relax the muscles so you can improve your range of motion. For best results, work with a certified physical therapist regularly to get massage treatments on your aching joints. If you are busy, you can also ask the therapist to teach you home massages that you can do for yourself.
As people grow older, the body begins to wear out. Your joints will have less lubrication and strength in which case pain starts to develop. Keep in mind that you don’t need to opt for invasive surgical procedures or take liver-damaging medication to preserve your mobility and joint function. Use the five tips outlined above to help you improve your joint health and live comfortably and with minimal restrictions.
