Icy winds, frosty fields, and plummeting temperatures can only mean one thing: winter is here. For some, this stirs up fantasies of cosy fireplaces and Christmas turkey; for others, piercing cold and aching joints.
The winter season can be particularly hard on already sensitive joints, often making them stiff and painful. Typically, men and women suffer from joint stiffness after they reach the age of 50, often losing flexible mobility and range in their joint functioning, making daily actions such as walking or picking up objects rather painful. To prepare yourself for winters cold, some of the leading osteopaths share a few of their tips on how to maintain flexible joints in the upcoming months:
ADVICE FOR MEN
- Avoid lifting heavy objects as much as possible
- Avoid carrying heavy loads on your back or shoulders " this affects your knees as much as your back and pelvis.
TIPS FOR WOMEN
- Do not wear heels that exceed 4cm in length " this way you minimize the risk of causing further injury to your ankles, knees, and back.
- Carry lighter handbags; heavy handbags can be damaging to your joints in the long run.
ADVICE FOR BOTH GENDERS
- Be sure to cover up when going outside. Wearing high socks or stockings over the knees, and thick gloves and jumpers keeps your joints warm and mobile.
- Loosen up your joints underwater " take a nice warm bath or shower after spending a while outside.
- Follow a regular exercise program that test the ranger and mobility of your joints, but do not exceed your limit. Always stop when it becomes too painful.
- Regulate your weight by getting the right nutrients. This way you keep your joints healthy, and prevent your weight from hindering your joint movement.
- Sleeping on a firm mattress is strongly advised for everyone " not just people with back or shoulder problems. While there is no universal ideal mattress, choosing the right mattress for you is not only important to getting enough sleep every night, but essential to preventing morning joint-stiffness.
- If you are suffering from arthritis (or symptoms of arthritis), it is advisable to wear an assistive device (such as knees, wrist, or ankle straps) around the joint that need the most support.
HOW OSTEOPATHS CAN HELP
Osteopaths can help you identify and deal with anything from severe back problems to joint stiffness. Joint pains can often be symptoms of either Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis, so it is essential to be aware of this early on to prevent the symptoms from getting worse in the future. Through a combination of massages, exercises and therapeutic techniques, osteopaths are able to use their expert knowledge of the skeletal-muscular system to your advantage, and can help set up a treatment plan that suits your specific circumstances.
Much of the above advise can be applied all your round, but it is important to take extra care during the winter season to protect painful and stiff joints. As long as you keep your joints active and warm, there is no reason for you not to enjoy the winter season. - 14130
The winter season can be particularly hard on already sensitive joints, often making them stiff and painful. Typically, men and women suffer from joint stiffness after they reach the age of 50, often losing flexible mobility and range in their joint functioning, making daily actions such as walking or picking up objects rather painful. To prepare yourself for winters cold, some of the leading osteopaths share a few of their tips on how to maintain flexible joints in the upcoming months:
ADVICE FOR MEN
- Avoid lifting heavy objects as much as possible
- Avoid carrying heavy loads on your back or shoulders " this affects your knees as much as your back and pelvis.
TIPS FOR WOMEN
- Do not wear heels that exceed 4cm in length " this way you minimize the risk of causing further injury to your ankles, knees, and back.
- Carry lighter handbags; heavy handbags can be damaging to your joints in the long run.
ADVICE FOR BOTH GENDERS
- Be sure to cover up when going outside. Wearing high socks or stockings over the knees, and thick gloves and jumpers keeps your joints warm and mobile.
- Loosen up your joints underwater " take a nice warm bath or shower after spending a while outside.
- Follow a regular exercise program that test the ranger and mobility of your joints, but do not exceed your limit. Always stop when it becomes too painful.
- Regulate your weight by getting the right nutrients. This way you keep your joints healthy, and prevent your weight from hindering your joint movement.
- Sleeping on a firm mattress is strongly advised for everyone " not just people with back or shoulder problems. While there is no universal ideal mattress, choosing the right mattress for you is not only important to getting enough sleep every night, but essential to preventing morning joint-stiffness.
- If you are suffering from arthritis (or symptoms of arthritis), it is advisable to wear an assistive device (such as knees, wrist, or ankle straps) around the joint that need the most support.
HOW OSTEOPATHS CAN HELP
Osteopaths can help you identify and deal with anything from severe back problems to joint stiffness. Joint pains can often be symptoms of either Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis, so it is essential to be aware of this early on to prevent the symptoms from getting worse in the future. Through a combination of massages, exercises and therapeutic techniques, osteopaths are able to use their expert knowledge of the skeletal-muscular system to your advantage, and can help set up a treatment plan that suits your specific circumstances.
Much of the above advise can be applied all your round, but it is important to take extra care during the winter season to protect painful and stiff joints. As long as you keep your joints active and warm, there is no reason for you not to enjoy the winter season. - 14130
About the Author:
Andrew Mitchell, editor of the Osteopath Network, writes articles about cranial osteopaths, osteopaths, Chiswick osteopaths, back pain, neck pain, injury management. Andrew is interested in many aspects of alternative medicine.
No comments:
Post a Comment