02
August
2021
|
08:26 AM
America/New_York

9 Things That Could Be Making Your Osteoarthritis Worse

CreakyJoints explains how to tweak everyday habits that can affect osteoarthritis symptoms, and includes guidance from HSS sports medicine physician Ryan J. Lingor, MD, and sports medicine surgeon Karen M. Sutton, MD.

Dr. Lingor recommended regular exercise, stating “Low impact activity allows for better joint lubrication. It also strengthens muscles to help take unnecessary stress off the joints, decreases inflammation responsible for the progression of arthritis, and helps you maintain a healthy weight.”

However, Dr. Lingor advised not to start a workout regimen that is too intense. “Pushing yourself too hard, too fast can also be a detriment to your joints,” he added.

He explained that when arthritis is in one joint, nearby muscles and joints have to work a little harder to pick up the slack. “This compensation can contribute to pain or injury from extra stress in that new area,” he noted.

According to Dr. Lingor, working on flexibility can also help with compensation. “You may not be aware of your own imbalances in strength and flexibility. This asymmetry may put extra stress on one side of the body resulting in injury. Doing exercise like yoga, Pilates, or tai chi can help make you more aware of and correct these imbalances.”

Dr. Sutton said to think of joints like a plant sapling (a young tree). She explained, “Saplings need strings around them to help them grow straight and strong — just as joints need muscles and ligaments around them for support and stability.”

Read the full article at CreakyJoints.org.