Lifestyle Changes That Can Alleviate Your Arthritis

Keep your body moving

It might seem counterintuitive to move more when you have arthritis when you’re dealing with inflamed joints, swelling, stiffness, and even reduced range of motion. However, living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise benefits you in many ways, such as:

• Improving range of motion
• Strengthening muscles and bones
• Reducing joint stiffness
• Minimizing pain

Low-impact exercises that don’t put added stress on your arthritic joints can help reduce daily symptoms and increase your endurance long term. Depending on your capabilities and the severity of your condition, our doctors may recommend that you:

• Take daily walks
• Swim
• Stretch or practice yoga
• Participate in physical therapy

Avoid high-impact activities that can aggravate your joints, such as running, jumping, or sports that involve repetitive motions, like tennis. Of course, your exercise routine depends on your overall condition and which joints are affected by arthritis.

Eat a healthier diet and lose weight

A significant number of Americans are overweight or obese. If you’re carrying extra pounds, you’re putting undue pressure on your joints, and that causes more pain.

For example, osteoarthritis, one of the most common types, causes joint pain. Just 10 extra pounds on your knees can lead to increased arthritis discomfort and joint stiffness. When you eat a healthier diet and lose weight, you increase your ability to move more and reduce joint pressure and pain.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the best foods for fighting inflammation and strengthening bones to reduce arthritis symptoms, include:

• Salmon and other omega-3-rich fish
• Soybeans
• Olive and avocado oils
• Cherries, dark berries, and citrus fruits
• Leafy green vegetables
• Broccoli
• Antioxidant green teas
• Garlic

A healthier diet helps you feel better overall and shed extra pounds, and perhaps even makes you feel more motivated to exercise.

Heat and ice

For immediate relief of joint inflammation, our professionals may suggest alternating between hot and cold therapy. Heating pads and ice packs for no more than 20 minutes at a time can temporarily relieve joint discomfort before and after exercise. Heat can help loosen your muscles before you start moving, and ice helps reduce inflammation after your workout.

Making simple, consistent lifestyle changes may help prevent arthritis from progressing and affecting your quality of life. Ultimately, modifying your lifestyle to become healthier overall is a long-term approach to relieving arthritis pain as naturally as possible. Living a healthier lifestyle also benefits you in countless ways as you get older, so why not start today?

If you need immediate pain relief, our team can prescribe medications and treatments to alleviate chronic joint pain. To learn more about effective arthritis treatments customized to your individual needs, call the location most convenient to you to schedule an appointment today.