Although the primary goal of joint pain care is to relieve pain, it also aims to restore flexibility and mobility to the joint. That means doing the things you love — whether a sport, art, or job — without constant aches and pains. Chiropractors and sports rehabilitation providers will develop a treatment plan targeting the joints causing you pain. However, a few tips can help you get started.
Engaging the joints through regular exercise helps to keep them strong and healthy. Thus, getting active and staying active as much as possible is important. Patients do not necessarily have to run a marathon or even get 10,000 steps daily. Being active can be as simple as going for a brisk walk, switching positions while working on the computer or watching television, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator when feasible. Opting to walk around while talking on the phone can also help.
Since being overweight can put stress on the joints, patients can use exercise to help maintain a healthy weight and keep the joints moving. While small amounts of activity are unlikely to lead to major weight loss, they can prevent additional joint strain and reduce the risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease.
Healthcare providers in regenerative medicine, a field that uses the body’s healing ability to treat conditions, often recommend low-impact exercises for joint pain care. According to Cigna, this type of exercise is gentle on the joints and slowly increases heart rate. The most common example is walking. Other low-impact exercises include:
Some of these exercises are easier than others to incorporate into one’s daily routine (e.g., dancing over golfing). Further, none of them are gentle on the same joints. For instance, gardening can be hard on the knees but easy on the wrists. Meanwhile, swimming, yoga, and pilates can be easily adjusted to accommodate various painful joints and improve them over time.
Cardio, or aerobic exercises, are often incorporated into joint pain care. As per the Mayo Clinic, this is because cardio strengthens the muscles that protect and support the joints. Although running is a common form of cardio, not all types of cardio are as high-impact and strenuous. In fact, some low-impact exercises double as cardio, such as swimming, dancing, and cycling.
With such a variety to choose from, it can be hard to pick a form of cardio that does not cause further damage to the joints. A sports rehabilitation or regenerative medicine provider can customize a cardio workout plan for patients experiencing joint pain.
Stretching is just as important as exercise when it comes to joint pain care. Proper stretching restores mobility and range of motion to the joints. For best results, stretch before exercising (during the warm-up) and afterward (during the cool-down). It is recommended to stretch daily, even when one is not exercising.
Exercise and stretching provide the greatest benefit when patients remember to rest. Overdoing it can bring further pain to the joint and may even lead to sprains and strains. Therefore, ease into a workout and stretching routine — and make sure to take rest days.
A chiropractic adjustment realigns the spinal cord to relieve pressure on the joints, particularly in patients with arthritis, overuse injuries, or traumatic injuries. Depending on the severity of the pain and which joint it is affecting, joint pain care may involve one or several chiropractic adjustments spread out over a few weeks or months. Generally, these adjustments are most effective in relieving joint pain impacting the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
The tips above can be more effective with the help of innovative regenerative medicine treatments. Stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be injected around the painful joint, promoting healing and alleviating discomfort. Keep in mind that these treatments are still developing.
Joint pain does not have to be a lasting issue, nor does it have to stop you from living your life. Chiropractors and sports rehabilitation professionals can provide joint pain care to help you get back to what matters most. If you are interested in learning more, contact our Ooltewah team at Spine & Joint Regenerative Medicine today.
Request an appointment here: https://sjrm-tn.com or call Spine & Joint Regenerative Medicine at (423) 424-1529 for an appointment in our Ooltewah office.
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