Joint Pain Sufferers Can Still be Active

Joint pain sufferers believe that exercise can create more pain and problems so they refrain from doing them.  Whether your pain is caused by damage to your cartilage or if it’s from an autoimmune condition, you can still remain active if you choose to.  Research has shown that exercise done properly and regularly can improve your range of motion, reduce your pain, and help you stay active.

Some sufferers may need to do some physical therapy before indulging in a regular exercise routine.  There have been studies in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee stating a good range of improvement in their mobility.  They also stated they experienced a reduction in pain from following a self-help program involving exercise.  Another study stated that patients over 60 with osteoarthritis in the hip and knee reported improvement in their movement from doing exercises in water.  Exercising in water has reduced their joint pain significantly, as well.

Strength training can be beneficial for joint pain sufferers.  However, most individuals think strength training is weight lifting.  And weight lifting does improve one’s strength but, when it comes to joint pain sufferers the strength training consists of balance, endurance, as well as, strength exercises.  These exercises are meant to improve range of motion by reducing inflammation in the joint.  Swimming, yoga, and stationary bikes are good strength training exercises.   If you are just needing to reduce knee pain, then leg lifts and bicycling are the best strength training for the muscles crossing the knee.

Physical therapy can also benefit joint pain sufferers.  Massaging the soft tissues of the affected area can reduce pain, inflammation, and help increase range of motion.  Some cases may require movement done by the physical therapist to acquire best results to get the joint’s motion back to normal.  Physical therapy can also consist of icing the area, ultrasound therapy, and electrical stimulation to reduce the joint pain.  You may need only one of these treatments or some combinations of treatments for your joint pain for best results.

Some joint pain sufferers may need to lose some weight.  Being over weight can cause stress on the weight bearing joints, causing pain.  It is important to maintain a healthy body weight to keep the joints healthy.  Studies have shown that by losing eleven pounds can reduce your chance of having joint pain in the lower joints, the hips, knees, and ankles, in half.  A proper diet can be beneficial in losing weight.  You should speak with a dietician if you are over weight.

Joint pain can be very frustrating to deal with, and can cause one’s life style to change.  It can even debilitate its sufferers, but it doesn’t have to if you don’t let it.  Talk with your doctor about what self-managing treatments you can do.  The health care provider can guide you as to what exercises, physical therapies, and/or dietary measures will best reduce your joint pain.  You can stay active by reducing your joint pain and improving the health of your body and joints.