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Top Tips To Relieve Aching Joints

Aching, painful and stiff joints are something just about all of us suffer from at some stage during our lives. It doesn’t even matter what age we are. Everyone can be afflicted with aching joints, and in this post we’ll cover some handy tips on relieving the pain and stiffness.

Ice Is Nice

Applying ice therapy is the most common method to relieve both the pain in the joint as well as reducing the swelling. Swelling is an overload of synovial fluid in the joint, and this occurs to help protect the joint. However, until the swelling goes down the joint will be stiff and painful to move, and in order for the joint to heal properly, it needs gentle, low-impact movement to speed up the healing process.

Support Bandages and Braces

While these are extremely beneficial in offering support for an injured joint, they should only be used as a temporary measure, as prolonged use will actually weaken the muscle tissue surrounding the joint, rendering it more vulnerable to injury when the support bandage or brace is removed. Neoprene braces with Velcro straps are the most convenient to use and also very comfortable.

Massage Therapy

Massage to an area of injury not only feels soothing and pleasant, the action also warms up the injurious zone and promotes more flow of nutrient-rich blood. Without increased blood flow to the hot zone, the longer it will take for the joint to heal. Massage can be performed by yourself if the injury is in an area you can reach, or done by a professional.

Joint Nourishment

Eating the right foods can also help to relieve the discomfort of aching joints. Foods rich in healthy oils are best, such as:

• Fish (Salmon, Tuna)
• Nuts
• Olive oil
• Green, leafy vegetables
• Milk and dairy products
• Berries
• Beans
• Green tea
• Garlic and ginger

Regular Exercise

Just as regular exercise is great for the muscles and cardiovascular system, it is also highly beneficial for the joints: So long as most of the exercises are low-impact. Joints need regular movement through their full range of motion to stay supple, flexible, healthy and pain-free. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce the onset of arthritis. Perform regular stretching, swimming, cycling and light weight training in the gym for optimum joint health.

Care For Your Spine

When you go to the gym you may enlist the help of a personal trainer to help you get muscle fit. Possibly the most important joints in the human body are found in the spine, as an injured spine will affect every single thing you do. Therefore it’s wise to seek the help and advice of a trained chiropractor to ensure good spinal health. Regular spinal adjustments at a professional chiropractic care clinic will guarantee you have more flexibility, more energy, higher performance and way less pain and discomfort.

Call the friendly staff at Helensvale Chiropractic Centre on the Gold Coast and book an appointment today with a qualified chiropractor.