Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the joints. Knee arthritis, in particular, is a condition experienced by many individuals that can cause chronic pain, restricted movement, and compromised flexibility. Not only can it affect your daily efficiency, but it may also reduce your quality of life if left unmanaged. In today’s post, Terrapin Care Center shares some do’s and don’ts when it comes to coping with arthritis.

DO: Keep Moving

Inactivity weakens your muscles, which can aggravate joint pain. Constant joint movements help ease arthritis pain, improving your range of motion. We may include gentle stretching activities in your physical therapy program to gradually enhance your joint flexibility. Strengthening exercises can also help build up the muscles around your knees and reduce your pain. Swimming, walking, and stationary cycling are great options as well.

DON’T: Engage in Strenuous or Impact-Bearing Activities

While many activities that require you to move your joints are effective at treating arthritis pain, some can cause more harm than good. Impact-bearing exercises, like jumping, can be detrimental. Activities that involve repetitive motions may also put unnecessary stress on your knees and other affected areas.

DO: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight may put additional pressure on your joints, increasing your arthritis pain. Preparing nutritious and well-balanced meals is a good way to gradually lose weight.

DON’T: Smoke

Cigarette smoke contains harmful substances that can irritate the connective tissues around your joints. It also releases toxins, which may lead to other joint problems.

DO: Keep Your Back Straight

Having a good posture reduces undue stress on your joints, which helps slow or prevent arthritis progression. We may also recommend putting cushioned insoles in your shoes to improve your posture and minimize the pressure on your knees.

DO: Stay Positive

Most importantly, try to stay positive. Although arthritis may cause long-term pain, there are many things you can do to manage it. You can also count on our pain management experts to help you. We may recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications to reduce joint swelling. In addition to physical therapy, massage therapy is also an effective method of pain relief for arthritis.

For more arthritis do’s and don’ts, call us at (301) 220-1930 or complete our form. We serve Greenbelt and College Park, MD.