Arthritis Prevention

There are a number of ways you can reduce your risk of developing certain symptomatic forms of arthritis. Many of them have to do with your lifestyle choices. For one, maintaining a healthy weight can prevent you from developing arthritis in your knees. Being overweight puts a strain on your knees, hips, and the ball of your feet. Carry extra weight causes joint damage to these weight-bearing areas. It can even warp the natural structure of the joint. If you’re overweight, simply losing ten pounds can go a long way in reducing your risk. You can continue to loss weight gradually in order to reduce your risk even further, but ten pounds is a good, an attainable goal to start with.

Exercising regularly is also a good means of protecting yourself against the occurrence of arthritis symptoms. Exercise while help you maintain healthy muscle tone. Light exercise, like leisurely swimming, combats joint swelling and stiffness. You should also meet with a physical therapist, and establish an exercise routine that focuses on strengthening your thigh muscles. After exercising apply hot and cold therapies. Be careful not to overdo it. If exercise is causing you pain, it’s a sign that you should cut back a bit. In general, it’s best to avoid higher impact sports like baseball, soccer, and football. Running, however, does not seem to increase the risk of osteoarthritis or other forms of non-inflammatory arthritis.

Eating right is another great measure of protection. Proper nutrition aids your body in all of its functions, so it just makes sense that your diet can contribute to or minimize your risk of arthritis. A healthy, well-balanced diet consists of a balanced proportion of vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products, and of sugar, salt and saturated fat taken only in moderation. It’s equally important to consume the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin E, in particular, has been known to help reduce arthritis related joint pain. Additionally, medical research studies have yielded results that indicate that certain carotenoids, including beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, which are found in fruits and vegetables, may reduce the risk of arthritis. Some rheumatoid arthritis suffers even opt to become vegetarians because they believe that eating animal products causes the body to produce hormone-like compounds that promote inflammation.

Another powerful tactic for symptomatic arthritis prevention is injury prevention. Talk to a physical therapist to learn how to perform activities without the excessive squatting and bending that damages cartilage.

Regularly shifting positions to distribute your body weight and reduce joint stiffness.
Warming up before an exercise session and “cooling down” afterwards.
Resting well after strenuous activity.
Doing light aerobics, and endurance, strengthening, and range of motion exercises on a regular basis.
Practicing good posture at all time.
Utilizing safety equipment while exercising or playing sports.
Wearing a protective brace or splint on a previously injured area.
Using a cane or walking stick as support while walking.

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