Phoenix is the destination of choice for many individuals who have reached retirement age. The city offers relatively moderate temperatures all year round. It is a great city to walk around in and enjoy playing golf and other outdoor activities. However, if a person is dealing with joint pain, their ability to get the most out of living in this beautiful city can be inhibited. This is one of the reasons why many people are interested in joint pain relief.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Most people understand that the lifestyle decisions that they make will have an impact on their health, including the flexibility and usability of their joints. Proper diet and exercise and stretching techniques can go a long way in helping a person reduce the level of pain that they feel in their joints. Some have seen that by avoiding excess alcohol and smoking, they can also reduce the pain they experience.
A major factor in joint pain is obesity. Your body is designed to healthfully carry a specific amount of weight. When that amount of weight is exceeded, your body starts to react negatively. When you are obese, you put a lot of extra stress and pressure on your joints. This is especially true when talking about your knees, your feet, and your hips. If you minimize the amount of stress you have in your joints by getting your weight down to a healthy level, you will not only see an improvement in mobility, but you will also see a decrease in pain. If you lose weight now, you can prevent some future damage to your joints.
A lifestyle change that could be beneficial is getting more exercise. When you move around, you help maintain the flexibility of your joints. If your joints are already causing you pain, you may want to stay away from weight bearing exercises, like running or jogging. These can be damaging. Instead, you may want to switch to low impact exercises, including swimming and water aerobics. These allow you to stretch your joints without adding undue stress on them.
At-Home Therapies
One of the time-tested routes to joint pain relief is to use cold and hot treatments. These can make a big difference, especially if your pain is caused by arthritis. If you wake up in the morning and feel stiff, take a long hot shower. If you live in a cold environment, sleep with an electric blanket over you or a heating pad to keep your joints loose and flexible.
If your joints are swollen and inflamed, you may want to use a cold treatment as a way of relieving the pain. You can use an ice pack, frozen vegetables, or even ice in a towel. Apply it to the painful joints to get quick relief.
When Something More May Be Required
Losing weight, exercising, and trying at home therapies can only do so much to address joint pain. There are times where more aggressive treatments are required. If you want joint pain relief, we warmly invite you to reach out and make an appointment with Phoenix Regenerative Medicine. At our convenient location in Phoenix, AZ, our caring and dedicated team of professionals are happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!