There are more than three million cases of arthritis reported in the US each year. For these individuals, pain and stiffness are common occurrences. Moreover, certain forms of this condition can cause joint deformities and even render you unable to live life normally. Sometimes, your habits can make your arthritis worse. Through lifestyle changes, you can improve your condition, though. Moreover, Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, offers care to help.
You Sit Too Much
You need to get active every day. When you sit for prolonged periods, you place excess pressure on your lower back. If you’re sitting hunched over your phone or have poor posture, you’re worsening neck and back pain by stressing these body parts. Ideally, you should aim to sit for less than four hours each day for optimal health.
You Eat a Poor Diet
Your diet plays a role in your overall health in a number of ways, including with arthritis. For instance, certain nutrients are known to combat inflammation in your joints, such as vitamins D and E.
Additionally, research shows that individuals who lack vitamin D in their diet are more likely to develop arthritis. Moreover, other studies reveal osteoarthritis worsens three times faster in those who have vitamin D deficiencies.
Eating a diet high in saturated fats has been linked to chronic inflammation. As a result, people who eat high-fat foods, such as chicken skin and red meats, regularly were more likely to have arthritis. In addition, the inflammation caused by eating an abundance of saturated fat can worsen a current case of arthritis.
You’re Overweight
Being overweight increases your chances of developing arthritis, among other health problems. If you have arthritis already, the pressure from the excess weight puts stress on your lower joints like your knees. As a result, you’ll have more pain in these joints.
You’re Not Exercising Regularly
Even if you’re at a healthy weight, you should get a minimum of 150 minutes each week of moderate aerobic activity. On the other hand, 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic physical activity weekly could fulfill the recommendations. You could do a combination of moderate and high-intensity exercises as well.
Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on your joints. Additionally, routine physical activity helps keep your muscles strong and joints moving.
You’re Not Strength Training
Your muscles and other soft tissue provide stabilization and support for your joints in general. They’re even more important when you have degeneration in your joints. Therefore, you need to strength train to build your muscles and work your soft tissue so they can better support the joints.
You’re Too Active
While it’s important to keep moving, there’s a limit to how much you should exercise or complete strenuous activity.
Listen to your body. If you’re experiencing excruciating pain in your joints at the end of each night, you might be doing too much and need to rethink your routine.
You Don’t Visit a Chiropractor
A chiropractor has specialized training in the musculoskeletal system and understands how body parts work together. Therefore, this practitioner may help you develop an exercise routine to decrease your arthritis-related pain. Additionally, a chiropractic specialist uses treatments that can reduce your risk of having an immobile joint through strength and flexibility training. A chiropractor will also help you prevent injuries and ease your pain.
Arthritis doesn’t have to interfere with every aspect of your life. By making a few lifestyle changes, you can have less pain and stiffness each day. You might even be able to slow progression.
Schedule an appointment with Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the general vicinity, to better manage your arthritis by calling 205-519-4024 or using our contact form.
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