If you have knee, hip, or shoulder pain, or painful arthritis in your hands, it’s a good idea to consider what you may be doing on a daily basis that is making your condition worse. Let’s talk about a few of the most common reasons behind joint pain, and where you can go here in Watertown for a professional evaluation and treatment to get you back to living pain-free.
#1 – Sedentary Lifestyle
Whether you have a desk job or simply don’t move much at home, being sedentary wreaks havoc on the joints. A lack of exercise can lead to weak muscles, which don’t support the joints well. Healthy joints require strong muscles to keep them moving properly and frequently.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Try to stand up and walk around periodically throughout your day.
#2 – Overeating (Causing Obesity and Being Overweight)
Being overweight impacts your cardiovascular health, increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and puts excess pressure on your joints. For every extra pound you gain beyond your ideal weight, your knee joints carry and absorb an additional four pounds of pressure whenever you take a step. Over time, the protective cartilage wears down, resulting in pain and arthritis.
Take one month and, at the end of each day, write down everything you’ve eaten that day. You will easily see ways in which you can cut back a little here and a little there, which over time will deliver surprisingly wonderful benefits in your joint health and overall health.
#3 – Smoking
Smoking is notorious for contributing to lung cancer, heart disease, poor circulation, and even bone conditions such as osteoporosis. Approximately 50% of people who suffer from chronic pain are smokers, so talk to your physician about a smoking-cessation program.
#4 – Poor Posture and Repetitive Motions
Your posture and balance changes with continual slouching over a desk or workstation. Also, repetitive motions wear down joint cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. To combat these issues, be sure to take breaks to stretch, wear proper shoes, and utilize protective equipment or ergonomic tools to support your joints.
#5 – Working Through and Ignoring Injury and Pain
If doing something hurts, stop doing it – or do it in a different way, so as to not put awkward pressure on your body and joints. If you keep feeling the same types of pain, then rework your physical routines. If the pain does not improve within a few days, see your orthopedic doctor for an evaluation and recommendations.
Orthopedic Doctors in Watertown, New York
If you are concerned about your joint health, or if you’re having aches and pains in one or more joints and you’d like to have a medical evaluation and possible treatment, schedule a consultation with one of our outstanding orthopedic doctors here at North Country Orthopaedic Group. We will uncover the source of your joint pain and get you on the road to being pain-free once again.
For more information or to arrange an appointment at either of our locations in Watertown or Lowville, contact our friendly staff at North Country Orthopaedic Group today by calling us at (315) 782-1650 or by filling out our convenient online appointment request form now. We look forward to being your healthcare partner!
