subject: The Importance Of Taking Care Of Your Joint Health [print this page] For a normal daily life we need to continue to have the freedom of movement, we have to ensure that we look after the joints in the body, there are two different types, the fingers, knees and elbows are examples of hinge joints whereas the shoulders and hips are ball and socket joints. It is important to maintain good joint health, as they are essential for everyday activities such as walking, lifting things and all the other actions that we tend to take for granted.
These parts of the body are held together by ligaments that keep them stable. The ends of bones are covered with hard cartilage, which prevent the bones from being damaged as it acts as a shock absorber, it also allows the bones to move freely. Fluid lubricates the joints and keeps the cartilage nourished. When our body suffers a knock then the area will become painful and swelling may occur. Normal daily activities may become difficult or impossible depending on how much damage has been done.
As we get older the bones will start to rub together causing pain and swelling, this is caused as the cartilage wears away as we get older, when this begins to happen, it is said that we have Osteoarthritis. The joints that are usually affected by osteoarthritis are the ones that work the hardest, for example, the knees, fingers and hips, because they work harder, they also wear away more quickly.
Although it is quite rare, it has been known for children and teenagers to develop arthritis, but usually it is older people who suffer from the disease as their bodies have been subject to wear and tear over the years.
People employed in jobs where the work is continuously repetitive, can suffer from repetitive strain, this is where certain parts of the body are being overused and wasting away, athletes are also always putting their bodies under great strain, both of these situations can be causes of arthritis.
The pain and swelling can possibly be kept under control, by introducing regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet. By eating less and burning up more calories this will in turn help to reduce body weight, therefore put less strain on the knees.
By providing your body with a healthy balanced diet, you will be giving it all the necessary vitamins and minerals that it requires to help the bones remain strong such as calcium from milk and other dairy products and vitamins and minerals, this will reduce the chances of osteoarthritis. Food supplements can also provide all the vitamins and minerals required for maintaining good health.
Pain killers and complementary treatments may help to relieve the symptoms of arthritis and reduce the pain and swelling. Glucosamine is a natural substance which is available over the counter, the substance is used by the body for producing cartilage and repairing tissues when the body has had a knock.
