5 Healthy Joint Tips from Doctors Specializing in Inflammatory Arthritis Near Newark
Physicians at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute specialize in inflammatory arthritis near Newark and are single minded in their desire to help you keep living the life you love. In order to keep your joints moving and feeling great, we’ve compiled this list of five tips for joint wellness.
Five Tips for Joint Health
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Eat Healthy!
It’s important for your body to get the balanced nutrition it needs to repair and maintain all of your tissues and organs. In terms of joint health, some of the most important vitamins and minerals are calcium and vitamin C. As you’ve probably heard, calcium is important to grow and maintain bones and teeth, keeping them strong. Vitamin C, which is often recommended for fortifying your immune system, is also an important component in the development of collagen. Collagen is one of your body’s most abundant proteins, and contributes significantly to the structure and strength of the tendons that support your joints.
If you’re living with inflammatory arthritis near Newark, you may have already spoken to your doctor about dietary changes. Always make sure to consult a physician before making any drastic changes to your eating habits, to ensure that you are making healthy choices.
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Exercise Regularly.
Your body requires regular exercise to maintain health and strength throughout all its systems. Exercise strengthens bones, muscles, and even organs like your heart and lungs. Keeping your body active helps it to maintain itself, and keeping your joints moving can prevent stiffness. Even if you’ve never done a workout before, it’s easy to get started with a regular exercise program. Your doctor can advise you about what sort of exercise program would be best to start with, and how to plan the most beneficial routine for you.
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Don’t Stay Still.
Staying in one position too long can take a toll on your joints. Joints were meant to move, and they function best when they do just that. Even if you live a sedentary lifestyle, try to change position regularly to keep your joints active. Doctors recommend switching positions between sitting and standing at least once every 30 minutes throughout the day to keep joints healthy.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight.
Extra weight puts extra strain on your joints, and extra strain can cause more wearing and erosion than is typical for someone of your age and level of activity. While joints definitely benefits from maintaining a healthy weight, if you’re suffering from inflammatory arthritis near Newark, you may want to talk with a doctor about whether weight loss would reduce its symptoms. Because inflammatory arthritis is the result of a systemic problem rather than simply wear and tear, your doctor’s recommendations in this case might be different.
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Listen to What Your Body Is Telling You!
Even if you’re NOT living with pain, it’s crucial to listen to your body. During any activity, if something you’re doing hurts, or puts excessive strain on your joints, stop. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong, and while it’s popular to “push through the pain,” that advice is not sound when it comes to maintaining healthy joints, muscles, bones, and tendons.
If you are experiencing pain or stiffness in any of your joints that doesn’t go away with a day or two of rest, it’s important to contact a physician to make sure you’re not suffering from a more serious condition than simple fatigue. Injuries, as well as arthritis, may need attention from a doctor.
More Help for Inflammatory Arthritis Near Newark
Inflammatory arthritis is a complex problem, with many possible causes. If you have been diagnosed with an inflammatory form of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are treatment options available that can help improve your quality of life. While good joint health is a key part of any wellness plan, you may need more specific options to treat these conditions.
To find a physician who specializes in inflammatory arthritis near Newark, get in touch with Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Our nearest office is just over the Pennsylvania state line, in Media (Concordville location is coming soon), and we are here to help patients like you manage their arthritis symptoms. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call at 1-800-321-9999.
