The Causes of Stiff Joints
By Sara Butler
Stiff joints can be experienced anywhere, any time. Joint stiffness is often associated with pain and swelling of the joints. So, if you have arthritis, an injury, or any type of disease that impacts the joints, then joint stiffness may be a reality for you. At The Joint Chiropractic, the chiropractors see patients every day that complain of joint stiffness. Here are some of the most common causes of joint stiffness and how your chiropractor can help.
Aging
There’s no way around it -- aging is a process everybody goes through if we’re lucky! But it also comes with a lot of complication, stiff joints is just one of them. The reason stiff joints can get worse with age is that the cartilage that cushions your joints gets worn down so the joint can’t move as smoothly as it once did. Your body also produces less of the fluid that helps to lubricate joints as you get older.
So, what can you do? Aside from chiropractic care one of the best things you can do to combat joint stiffness is to keep moving. The chiropractors at The Joint recommend low impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or water aerobics to combat joint stiffness and pain.
Changes in Weather
It’s not just your Aunt Gertrude who has stiff, achy knees right before a thunderstorm moves through. Atmospheric pressure changes can really wreak havoc on your joints, causing swelling and stiffness. There’s no much you can do about it unless you want to work on a machine that can change the weather!
Arthritis
Arthritis is another leading cause of joint stiffness. And just like the effects of aging on your joints, the wearing down of cartilage where two bones meet can cause a lot of problems. Eventually, the joint may just have bone-on-bone, which results in stiff, painful joints with a reduced range of motion.
The chiropractors at The Joint can help you learn how to deal with the effects of arthritis on your joints by teaching you exercises, stretches, and at-home remedies to help reduce pain and increase the range of motion in your joints.
Sleeping
Have you ever gotten out of bed in the morning and felt like the tin man from Wizard of Oz? You’re not alone! When you sleep at night the fluid that lubricates your joints begins to dry up. That’s why, when you start moving again in the morning, you may need to give it some time before you feel like you can move around well. The more you move around during the day, the better you’ll feel when you get up in the morning!
Discuss the problems that stiff joints might be causing you with your chiropractor today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.