4 Ways to Help Prevent Arthritis

Many of us view arthritis as something you only get when you’re old, which is why many people are surprised to learn that they have arthritis at a much younger age. However, the good news is that there are ways to help lower your chances of staying arthritis free for more years to come.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight – By maintaining a healthy weight, you can help prevent yourself from developing arthritis in your knees, hips, and feet. Being overweight can create a significant amount of strain on your joints and result in permanent damage.

2. Eat Healthy – By eating a healthy, balanced diet you not only maintain a healthy weight, but you give your body the needed nutrients to stay healthy. Vitamins and minerals are important for preventing arthritis.

3. Exercise Often – You need to participate in regular physical activity to stay healthy. By exercising you will help keep healthy muscles and gain many other benefits. However, try to stay away from high impact activities, such as football, basketball, and martial arts. Walking and swimming will be better forms of exercise for those worried about arthritis.

4. Prevent Injuries – Injury prevention is very important to prevent arthritis. Spend extra time making sure you are doing something properly, instead of getting it wrong and hurting yourself. Also, if you do suffer an injury, take time to let it heal fully.

5. Things to Remember – Always, always warm up before exercising. If you go to play a sport, do a quick jog and stretch to warm your muscles up. Wear safety gear, such as a brace or splint on a body part that has recently been injured or may be prone to injury. Make sure you get some rest after strenuous activity. Recovery days are as important as exercising regularly.