| Arthritis is the single most common chronic condition | | | | nourishing it and keeping it moist. This continual rushing |
| among older Americans. About half the people over | | | | in and out of fluid is crucial to the health of the cartilage. |
| age sixty have some form of the disease. It is also the | | | | Without this, the cartilage becomes dry, thin, and more |
| single leading cause of disability among all ages. It is | | | | susceptible to damage. Proper exercise also |
| mostly characterized by significant pain and loss of | | | | strengthen the structures around a joint, thereby |
| function. While it may not be possible to prevent | | | | helping to reduce the pressure the joint is subjected to. |
| arthritis, the aging effects on its sufferers, as well as | | | | The right exercises often reduce arthritic pain and |
| the pain being inflicted on them, can be significantly | | | | increase mobility. |
| reduced. Listed below are things you can do to rid | | | | 4 Use Good Postures |
| yourself of arthritic pain. | | | | This will place less stress on the joints. It is also |
| 1 Maintain Your Ideal Body Weight | | | | advised that you do not stay in one position for long |
| Being overweight, studies have shown, is a major risk | | | | periods of time. Get up and move around. Also, when |
| factor for arthritis of the knees and hip. The more | | | | standing for long periods, place one foot on a box or |
| overweight you are, the more stress and pressure | | | | stool to take stress off your back. |
| you place on your joints. This will increase the stress | | | | 5 Learn to reduce stress |
| on the cartilage, interfering with the bone and | | | | Research has shown that people who have things in |
| increasing the incidence of inflammation, swelling, and | | | | their lives under control will be better pain managers |
| pain. Excess weight stresses all the weight-bearing | | | | than people who do not. |
| joints. | | | | 6 P.M. Prevention for A.M. Stiffers |
| 2 Evaluate how you use Your Joints (Improve your | | | | According to research, almost ninety percent of |
| biomechanics) | | | | arthritis patients suffer from some type of morning |
| For most arthritis sufferers, moving hurts, but does not | | | | stiffness. It is advised that you apply muscle ointment |
| destroy. Incorrect moving harms the body but intelligent | | | | at night before going to bed. This will relax you and |
| moving can heal. Evaluate how you use your joints, the | | | | give you a psychological boost- you will feel much |
| type of stress they are subjected to, and whether | | | | better all day if you are not stiff when you wake up in |
| anything you are doing might contribute to the | | | | the morning. |
| development of arthritis. | | | | 7 Eat a Healthy Diet |
| Yoga is an activity that teaches movement with | | | | Food has been proved to play a crucial role in the |
| proper joint alignment. This helps to bring deformed | | | | severity of arthritis. Research has shown that patients |
| joints back to normal position as appropriate muscles | | | | with rheumatoid arthritis saw dramatic improvements in |
| are lengthened and straightened. | | | | their conditions within one month of beginning |
| You may consult with an experienced teacher or | | | | vegetarian diets. |
| relevant books and materials that teach Yoga. | | | | Diets that are low in saturated fats are often helpful |
| Yoga exercise is a key to restoring health to arthritic | | | | although they do not cure arthritis. |
| joints. | | | | 8 Avoid Overexertion |
| 3 Exercise regularly | | | | Learn to recognize your limits. Pain means stop what |
| Regular and proper exercise is an excellent means of | | | | you are doing, especially if you have arthritis. When a |
| helping to keep joints healthy- a strong protection | | | | joint is inflamed and swollen, arthritis sufferers often |
| against arthritis. During exercise, the nutrient-rich fluid in | | | | continue to use it.This does not help as overexertion |
| cartilage is squeezed out. Then when you release the | | | | tends to flare up arthritis periodically. |
| pressure, this fluid rushes back into the cartilage, both | | | | |