As we age there are natural processes that take place which make certain parts of our body more vulnerable to deterioration, which can cause pain. Our joints, which are the places in our body where the bones connect, can be especially vulnerable to diseases and damage which is associated with pain.
It is prudent and wise to take steps before the damage sets in to help prevent the damage in the first place. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Arthritis Foundation presents a few suggestions to protect our joints to help maintain our quality of life for years to come.
- Women, stay away from high-heeled shoes. Yes they are a beautiful fashion statement, but are they worth the pain that can easily develop from all the unnecessary stress placed on the feet by the heels? According to studies, three-inch heels have seven times the stress factor as one-inch heels. The added height also adds pressure to the knees, adding to the risk of women developing osteoarthritis. Have you known someone who has had knee-replacement surgery? It is not a pretty site. Mush less pretty than low heels.
- Add an abundance of green vegetables to your diet. Spinach, broccoli, kale and parsley contribute generous amounts of calcium to your diet, helping to lower age-related bone loss, while at the same time slowing the decay of cartilage.
- Lose weight! Eating those green veggies can help with this, but do more to lose weight, and understand that weight loss can positively affect your joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, every extra pound of flesh carried around on a person adds four times the stress on the knees. Research has shown that just losing 11 pounds can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee by half.
