Do Painful Joints Keep You Down?
By Virginia Laird
Do you love to exercise, but your joints give you trouble when you try? Millions of Americans suffer with the same issue. There are a number of reasons that cause people to suffer with painful joints while attempting to work out, including:
- Arthritis
- Overweight
- Injury
- Incorrect posture
Many of these issues can be difficult to overcome or correct. Still, some may not be able to be cured. No matter the cause, painful workouts can be a thing of the past. There are a few things that can be done to help decrease the pain, including:
- Choose to walk over a jog
- Stretch everywhere is vital
- Get plenty of rest
Choose to Walk Over a Jog
Although a jog may sound tempting, those suffering with painful joints may be aggravating the issue by choosing to do so. Research has long suggested walking three miles a day can be as beneficial to the body as jogging for miles. Walking is a low impact exercise that also works the cardio system. A brisk walk is best when trying to get the heart rate pumping, but just getting up and moving is better than sitting still.
Stretching Everywhere is Vital
Many people take part in a pre-workout stretch of the muscles. This is great and can help prevent stiffness. However, people typically overlook the need to stretch the joints. This is vital to helping keep pain at bay. The fingers, wrists, elbows, hips, and even knees should be warmed up and stretched out prior to exercise. There are a great many stretches recommended by personal trainers to help prevent aching joints.
Get Plenty of Rest
Rest is the body's time to repair itself. It is important to get enough rest to allow the body to recover from the daily grind. Sleep is great, but even more, do not overtax the body. Allowing for a rest day plays an important role in keeping pain away. The body needs a day off here and there from working out. Another idea of getting enough rest includes skipping a day of exercise when injury and extreme exhaustion occur. During these times working out can cause more harm than good.
There is nothing more pleasant than a great workout. Hopefully these tips will help you be able to enjoy your workout again with little (or no) pain. Good luck on your path to a healthier you!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Charles, Mo.