When most people think of ways to prevent premature aging, they probably imagine an expensive face cream that claims to remove fine lines and wrinkles. While the external condition of the skin is a common gauge for guessing someone’s age, it is certainly not the most important age indicator when it comes to practical, daily living. In fact, the parts that matter most are the ones that no one sees. You may not have given thought recently to the importance of keeping your musculoskeletal system young, but here at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, we believe this should be a high priority for everyone who wants to live a long, healthy life.
As you age, your bones become less dense, your muscles become weaker and your joints often experience the pain and stiffness of arthritis or simply a general lack of use. In order to prevent premature aging in these body parts, proper care is essential throughout the duration of your lifetime. If you want to avoid common complications, such as a knee sprain or ligament tear, ankle sprains, torn Achilles tendon, arthritis and various cartilage injuries, then follow our tips for taking care of those important parts - ones you’ll need for decades to come!
How to Prevent Premature Aging
If you want to age gracefully, enjoy a lifetime of pain-free movement and avoid injury, we recommend following these few simple tips:
Exercise Regularly – A regular exercise routine, no matter how mild, can help to keep your blood flowing, your bones and muscles strong and your body flexible. Exercise will help to prevent injury to ankles, knees and hips due to inactivity. Do not over prioritize the intensity of your workouts. If you can only handle a brisk walk 3 times per week, than start with that. The most important thing is to commit to staying active on some level and to be wise and not push your body beyond its capabilities.
Eat Healthy – A healthy diet is vital to the well being of your entire body, including your ligaments! Fill each plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables and make sure to eat plenty of protein and calcium in order to protect yourself from bone deterioration. Think of the food you consume as the fuel that keeps you moving. Fill your body with good, clean fuel and you’ll reap the benefits. On the other hand, junk food will leave you without energy to exercise (see point #1 above) and could contribute to weight gain, which can put unnecessary pressure on your joints, causing injury.
Wear Comfortable Shoes – Did you know that the shoes you wear play a vital role in your health? You’ll want to take the time and make the investment to purchase shoes that have soft cushions, provide good support, and fit well. This decreases the risk of chronic foot, hip, knee and lower back pain.
If you’ve benefited from these tips on how to prevent premature aging by taking care of your body’s most functional parts, then you’ll love the continued focus on patient education that we maintain here at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Call and schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists!
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