Simple Health Tips for Osteoarthritis Sufferers
Debra Murray
As we age, we often start to feel twinges of pain in our joints, most likely in the hips and knees. Most of the time, this pain is caused by osteoarthritis. When the stiffness and pain start to affect your everyday living, it may be time to do something about it. Following are several tips to help ease the pain of osteoarthritis.
Keep Your Weight in Check
If you are overweight, you are putting extra stress and strain on your knees with every step you take. One of the easiest ways to help relieve osteoarthritis pain in your knees is to lose weight. Even a small loss of 10 percent of your weight can make a noticeable difference. For safe healthy weight control and weight loss click here.
Change Your Exercise Routine
If you currently jog for exercise and your knees are hurting, you may want to switch to a walking routine. Walking is much less stressful for your knee joints. In addition to walking, you can also try swimming, cycling or an elliptical machine.
You also may want to add leg exercises to your routine to strengthen the muscles surrounding your knees. Choose exercises that will help to strengthen your quadriceps muscles like regular squats, leg presses and wall squats. Strong muscles surrounding your knees will help take some of the stress off your knee joints.
Choose the Right Shoe
Wearing the right shoe can help to relieve some of the pain of osteoarthritis. Wear high heels sparingly, they can cause pain in arthritic knees. To get a proper fitting shoe for exercising, visit a running shoe store. They can evaluate your gait and your feet and recommend an appropriate shoe for you. You can also visit your podiatrist and have them custom make an orthotic for you.
Wear a Brace
Some people find relief from osteoarthritis pain by wearing a brace. A knee or wrist brace can help support the joint and relieve pain. A knee brace may even allow a person with an arthritic knee to continue to exercise.
Topical Pain Relief
Topical pain relief gels and creams like Super Blue Stuff OTC or Super White Stuff OTC Pain Relief Cream can help to relieve osteoarthritis pain quickly. They provide natural, drug free, safe relief. It is easy to use and there are no side effects with the use of topical pain relief creams or gels.