If you have arthritis, then you know how debilitating the pain can be on your knees. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer in silence. While moving around may be the last thing you want to do when you are dealing with stiff knees, keeping an active lifestyle will actually help protect your knees from the debilitating effects of arthritis.
As we age, we may find it increasingly difficult to continue to do the things we love, but with these tips, you’ll be able to continue to do your favorite activities and possibly even avoid surgery.
Your knee joint is located just below your hips and core. Therefore if you have poor control of your upper leg muscles, you are putting more stress on your knee joints. This can be combated by strengthening your core, which will help prevent and minimize the symptoms of arthritis.
Don’t limit yourself. You should never fall victim to the belief that your knees are stiff and there is nothing you can do about it. The truth is by being mobile, you can maintain the mobility you have and maybe even improve what you are lacking.
So what can you do?
If your knees are stiff, simply start by moving them. Even a 10% improvement in your knee mobility will result in huge improvements in your knee function.
If you’re not looking to undergo surgery, this type of movement can be the solution you need to manage your knee pain.
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If you can’t tell by now, the point of this article (aside from helping you manage joint pain) is to show you that you don’t have to stop doing the things you love.
When living with arthritis (or another condition), it’s natural to think slowing down on the things you love will protect you. However, when it comes to arthritis, that isn’t the truth.
In fact, several studies, including one from the Center for Disease Control, show that severe joint pain among adults with arthritis is worse with inactivity.
This lies in the fact that when we are active, we keep our blood flowing, our knee joints mobile, and our muscles strong. All of these are important determining factors for how well we manage our arthritis.
Check out these 6 exercises that can reduce your knee pain from the Arthritis Foundation:
Stand straight, holding the back of a chair, with your feet shoulder-width.
Stand straight, holding the back of a chair.
Stand straight, holding the back of a chair.
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Sit in a sturdy chair with a resistance band looped around both legs just above the ankles.
Plant one foot firmly on the floor. Bend the other leg back under the chair and hold for 6 seconds.
Sit on the edge of a chair.
If you’re just beginning, start with one set of 3 to 4 repetitions and work up to 8 to 10 as you get stronger. As the exercises get easier, add sets until you’re up to three.
Remember our knees have to carry us through the rest of our lives, so if you want to optimize your knee health as you age, get moving!
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