Living with arthritis can literally be a pain. This condition affects millions of people all over the world and unfortunately there is no end all cure. This doesn’t mean however, that you have to live in agony every waking moment in your life. There are actually several things an individual who suffers from arthritis can do to help ease the pain caused by this condition. In the following article, you will learn some tried and true methods to help alleviate the pain and receive the relief that you have been looking for. Read on and learn some great ways you can combat arthritis.
Firstly, you should stop any activities that contribute to your pain. Things such as running and jumping are terrible for arthritis as they cause a lot of pressure on your joints. Rather, try and replace these activities with things that aren’t so hard on your joints. For example, if you are an avid runner, you may want to try swimming instead. Swimming gets you the same cardiovascular benefits that running does, but it is much easier on your joints and it is actually a total body workout.
If your joints ache after a workout, your best bet to alleviate your pain is through hot and/or cold therapy. You might want to consider taking a hot bath to soothe your joints and muscles and ease the pain, or you may want to ice the affected area to reduce inflammation and get that swelling down. Either way, both methods have been shown to have positive effects in pain reduction with regards to arthritis. In fact, following a cold therapy session with a hot one is a great way to get the best of both worlds.
Your diet also plays an important role with how much your arthritis affects you. A diet rich in vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids is essential to anyone with this condition. These nutrients have been shown to greatly reduce inflammation in the body which does a great deal in helping with any stiffness you may feel. If you find that you don’t get enough of either nutrient in your diet, you should strongly consider taking supplements to make up the deficit.
Perhaps the best way to get lasting relief from arthritis is through physical therapy. Strengthening the muscles that surround your affected joints has been shown to greatly reduce arthritic pain. The muscle you build around your joints helps reduce the tension in your joints which makes it much easier to move. A good strength training regimen coupled with adequate stretching is an excellent way to permanently reduce the pain caused by your arthritis.
As mentioned earlier, living with arthritis is no picnic, but it doesn’t mean you have to live in pain for the rest of your life. The article you’ve just read has shown you some of the most popular methods to combat arthritis. If you use the tips mentioned, there is no reason you can’t live a perfectly happy and healthy life.