5 Tips to Avoid ‘Funny Bones’!

Published August 25, 2015

A joint is the connection between two bones. Joints and their surrounding structures allow you to bend your elbows and knees, wiggle your hips, bend your back and turn your head.

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Joints

Smooth tissue called cartilage and synovium and a lubricant called synovial fluid cushion the joints so bones do not rub together. But increasing age, injury — even sitting the wrong way or carrying too much weight — can wear and tear your cartilage. This can lead to a reaction that can damage your joints and lead to arthritis.

1. Watch your Posture

We have previously discussed the fact that gravity is a one directional force which acts down upon us. If you are careful to maintain a good posture in balance with gravitational forces you will avoid excess pressure and load on your joints.

2. Eat Well

A balanced and healthy diet will always be the key to maintaining the trillions of cells that help our body to function and repair. This is also true of our joints, make sure you get your omega-3’s in by adding oily fish to your diet. Glucosamine supplementation has also been shown to help with joint health!

3. Watch Your Weight

Once again, gravity is the force in question …and if you add extra mass to that force then something has to support it and stop it ‘gravitating’ towards to ground! Yes, you got it …your skeletal system. Keep your weight within healthy levels and your joints will be able to cope with the load. If you are above your healthy weight, you are simply overloading your joints.
This if true for body builders too …gravity does not distinguish between types of mass, be it fat or muscle. Of course, you will be stronger if your weight is from muscles but training does not increase the durability of your joints, in fact it probably adds more load!

4. Stttrrreeetttccchhh!

Stretching isn’t just for workouts anymore. Take breaks throughout the day, including at the office, to get re-energised and help keep your muscles and ligaments flexible and strong.

5. Get your feet checked

Foot problems and a history of foot and ankle injury does not make for a stable foundation for the rest of your joints to ‘balance’ upon. Make sure your feet are correctly aligned so that they move well to support your moving frame. Some individuals have structural differences or weakness, in this case it is possible that orthotics are necessary for support.

At Alevia we offer a FREE biomechanics consultation, with a Doctor of Chiropractic, to look at the feet, gait and posture. BOOK A FREE CHECK