New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer is sharing his top 10 tips to keep your joints healthy.
Practice Safety First: When you engage in activities such as in-line skating contact sports, be sure to wear protective padding. Also, if tennis or golf is more your style and you have achy joints going into the game, consider wearing braces.
- Don’t Stretch Before You Exercise: Contrary to what you’ve probably been told, you shouldn’t stretch your cold muscles. While you should strive to stretch daily, do it after a light warm-up exercise like walking to loosen you up.
- Stay In Motion: Move more for less stiffness. If you sit for long periods of time, try to take breaks throughout the day and get moving!
- Work on Your Range of Motion: If your joints feel stiff and inflexible, your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon can recommend exercises to improve your range of motion.
- Power Up Your Core: When your abs and back muscles are strong, you’ll experience better balance, making you less likely to fall. Try strengthening your abdominal, back and hips areas with Pilates or yoga.
- Try Low-Impact Exercises: Low impact activities such as walking, biking, swimming, etc. don’t put excess wear and tear on your joints.
- Strengthen Your Bones: Dairy products and green leafy vegetables are great choices for building stronger bones by providing the body with calcium and vitamin D. Your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon can also recommend supplements.
Freeze Out the Pain: Ice can ease pain and swelling. For sore joints, apply a cold pack wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes at a time. Don’t ever apply ice directly to your skin.
- Abide by Your Limits: While having muscle aches after exercising is normal, if you experience pain for more than 48 hours, you may have put too much stress on your joints. Don’t push yourself so hard to the point of injury.
- Don’t Ignore Joint Injuries: Joint injuries can breakdown your cartilage. If you experience pain in your joints, visit your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon to discuss how to avoid injuries in the future or the possible use of a brace to correct the problem.
If you are experiencing pain in your joints – or have questions about how to keep your joints healthy – don’t hesitate, call the office of New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer today to schedule a consultation.
Orthopaedic Specialists of New Orleans
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