12 Ways to protect your joints

When it comes to our bones and joints, surgery is a last resort. Here are some things you can do to help keep your joints healthy and, hopefully, avoid or delay surgery as long as possible.

• Maintain your ideal body weight. Proper nutrition is a must for healthy joints, bones and muscles
• Exercise. Keep your body moving – “Use it or lose it!” Nothing relieves arthritis pain more effectively than 30 minutes of regular exercise daily. If you're looking for a fitness center, or personal training, consider the AtlantiCare LifeCenter
• Stand up straight. Always monitor your posture
• Use your biggest joints when lifting or carrying anything heavy in order to avoid injury and strain on smaller more delicate joints
• Pace your activity. Alternate periods of heavy activity with time out for a rest
• Listen to your body. It lets you know when you’re over-stressing your joints
• Don’t be a couch potato. Change your position often in order to decrease joint and muscle stiffness. Get up at least once every hour and move around
• Don’t be a weekend warrior! Start new activities slowly and safely until you know what your body will tolerate
• Always wear proper safety equipment for sports. Wrist pads, knee pads and helmets were invented to protect your joints
• Don’t try to do a job that’s too big for you to handle. Get help!
• Get seven or eight hours of sleep every night
• Consult your doctor if you have joint pain for two weeks or more