If you are a blogger or a work from home person, this health related artticle is for you. Entering your 40s often feels like entering a new stage in life, and experiencing some new aches and pains just goes with the territory of gaining all that wisdom that comes with age. Joint pain affects 68% of the population that is over the age of 35, and the knees are often one of the first places it shows up. Finding ways to relieve your pain now helps you to look forward to staying active, even as that fiftieth birthday lurks around the corner.
Kick Off a Low-Impact Exercise Routine
The thought of working out with knee pain might cause you to groan, but becoming sedentary is one of the primary reasons joint problems can pop up in your 40s. Regular movement helps to keep your knee joints lubricated, and doing a daily exercise routine helps to keep the supportive muscles and ligaments around the joint to stay limber and strong. Walking is a simple exercise that most people can do, and you can take it at your own pace while you get used to moving more each day. Swimming is another option that allows you to relieve your knees from supporting your weight while still helping to strengthen the joint. Mixing up several forms of exercise can help you to avoid straining specific knee ligaments, and you’ll have more fun.
Add In Knee-Strengthening Exercises
General exercise helps you to practice good weight management to avoid overloading your joints, and moving your knees during cardiovascular activity increases flexibility. You’ll also want to add a few strength-training exercises to your workout plan. If your knee pain isn’t linked to an injury and it’s not too severe, then you can do common body weight exercises that include knee bends and lunges. However, you might want to work with a physical therapist if you have special knee conditions such as a former injury that places you at higher risk for getting hurt. Joint pain specialists can help you find exercises that include resistance band training and other therapies that strengthen the knee pain relief without generating too much strain.
Explore Regenerative Therapies
Now that you’re 40, a discovery of the fountain of youth might be sounding pretty great. While science still hasn’t come up with a way to make people perpetually younger, there are some exciting advances that you can take advantage of today. Regenerative therapy is a non-surgical option for pain relief that involves using stem cells to stimulate new tissue growth in joints that have sustained damage over the years. You might be a candidate for this type of treatment if your knee cartilage is damaged or wearing away. Visiting a spa is also one of the best options for pain relief, and is one of the most popular forms of regenerative therapy. To find one, just search for a “Massage Spa near me” on Google, and you’ll soon find a parlour operating in your area that will work for you.
Start Following an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Many knee pain problems are related to inflammation within the joint. The cartilage in your knee can become more sensitive and prone to inflammation as you age, especially if you aren’t fueling your body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to repair minor injuries. Certain foods are also filled with chemicals that can stimulate inflammatory responses in your body. An anti-inflammatory diet typically involves cutting out processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat. Filling your plate with fresh, natural produce and lean meats is a great way to begin eating for better knee health.
Consider Changing Your Shoes
High heels, flat-soled dress shoes and sandals can all increase stress on your knee joint. Dressing up is always a great way to improve your mood, but you might need to consider switching to a shoe style that gives you more cushion. Look for shoes that have thicker soles along with more arch support to help relieve some of the burden on your knees. You might even benefit from orthopedic inserts that are custom made to fit your foot shape and provide you with even more support as you walk. If you currently wear heels, then you might choose a pair of shoes with a lower and wider heel to help you maintain better posture.
Addressing knee pain often requires taking a multifaceted approach. Be willing to experiment and try new things until you land on therapies that work. Viewing knee pain as a sign that you need to slow down and take a closer look at your health can turn this common mid-life discomfort into an opportunity to infuse the next stage of your life with greater vitality.