The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body Health & Fitness
The 4 Easiest Ways to Treat Arthritis Symptoms NATURALLY
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While there are several medications on the market that limit pain, few are targeted at your ability to move your affected joints and many carry nasty potential side effects. Fortunately, there are four easy ways to treat arthritis symptoms naturally, without the use of medication. 4 EasyWays toTreat Arthritis Symptoms 1. Low Impact Exercise Once upon a time, if something in your body hurt, you were told to rest until it no longer hurt anymore. What we did not realize was that people with chronic pain were resting for days, weeks, or sometimes even months or years. Such extended “rest” only resulted in muscle atrophy, or deterioration of muscle tissue. While arthritis generally affects the joints of the body, muscle loss increases stress on the joints, allows them to move in ways that are unhealthy and causes more
pain. Exercise, particularly strength training, also prevents bone loss and enhances bone density in people who are prone to fractures. Low impact exercise also impacts other symptomsofarthritis thatarenotnecessarily associated with joint pain. Feelings of fatigue that are so common in arthritis patients can be greatly reduced by low impact exercise. After just 30 minutes of low impact exercise, thebrain isfloodedbythefeel-goodhormones called endorphins that block pain, minimize any discomfort associated with exercise and even create a feeling of euphoria. Exercise also increases flexibility in stiff joints and makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. 2. Diet & Weight Loss Tired of having a doctor tell you to lose 10 percent of your body weight for better health?
Then perhaps it is time to take that advice to heart. One 2005 study showed that losing justonepoundofweight reducesfourpounds of pressure on the knees. Another showed that losing weight can reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the joints where arthritis is so prevalent. That’s not to say that you should take on a drastic weight loss program in order to save your joints. Diet matters as well. Diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can help protect joints and improve blood flow. As a bonus, these nutrients are generally found in fruits, vegetables and lean sources of protein to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, people that consume monounsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds and avocados experience less inflammation in muscles and joints that can lead to pain.
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Gretna Location (504) 365-1020 Belle Chasse Location (504) 398-2004
3. If further assessment is
1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist.
2. Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home.
warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment.
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