Healthy Living
11 Joint Pain Do's and Don'ts
Joint pain is a common condition in adults over 40 years old. Some of its causes include arthritis, gout, lupus, injuries, cancer, osteoporosis, infection and other chronic diseases. If you have joint pain, whether it’s in your hip, knee, shoulders, elbows, neck, wrists or hands, here are some do’s and don’ts that can help you manage and/or treat your condition.
Do's |
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 Maintain a healthy weight to limit the strain on your joints. (Each one pound you lose takes four pounds of pressure off knees.) |
 Eat foods that help reduce inflammation, such as those in the Mediterranean diet. |
 Exercise safely with joint-friendly activities such as walking, swimming, cycling or water aerobics. |
 Practice stretching to gently warm up muscles around joints. |
 Reduce stress to help manage inflammation and muscle tension. |
 Ask your doctor about braces or compression that can reduce pain and support alignment. |
Don'ts |
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 Give up on physical activity due to pain. Talk with your doctor and/or modify for less stress. |
 Dismiss pain or swelling that does not get better with home treatment, such as rest. |
 Eat inflammation-causing food ingredients such as processed sugar, saturated fats, aspartame and MSG. |
 Wear shoes with higher than two-inch heels. |
 Ignore your pain. Talk with a doctor about treatment options. |
We hope this list has given you more insights on how to manage joint pain in general. But please don’t try to handle it on your own. Consult an orthopedic specialist as soon as you experience pain to avoid complications and know the best treatment options for your condition.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Arthritis Foundation