Easing the Ache: Practical Tips for Managing Joint Pain

Ageing brings in its fore a number of health related complications, and joint pain is one such issue that people often have to grapple with. Joint pains may significantly alter quality of one’s life, making daily mundane tasks challenging and painful.

Joint Pain can also be related to an injury, though it is more often than not, related to the general wear and tear; it’s effective and efficient management, thus becomes imperative, so as to ensure the overall well-being of an individual.

In our endeavour to make a positive impact on the lives of our readers, we have initiated a health and wellbeing related segment in association with Manipal Hospitals (pls. give full name etc.) that addresses various medical and health related issues.

Dr. Ishmit Tyagi [Consultant, Physiotherapy Dept.] at Manipal Hospitals, shares some simple, must do practical tips to ease joint pain and enhance bone and joint health.

1. Stay Active
   While on the onset, it may appear counterintuitive, regular exercise can actually help alleviate joint pain. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming or Yoga can strengthen muscles around the joints, improve flexibility and reduce pain.

But remember, warm-up exercises before any exercise and cooling-down post exercising is imperative to joint health at any and all ages.

2. Maintain a Healthy Weight
   People with joint pains may often pack extra kilos due to an inert lifestyle, but remember that extra weight puts extra pressure on the weight bearing joints like knees and hips, further exacerbating the pain. This then becomes a vicious cycle, which must be nipped in the bud.

Loosing even a small amount of weight can relive pressure and decrease pain levels. This is easily achieved by following a healthy diet and an active exercise regime that is suitable for you.

3. Hot and Cold Therapy
   Hot and Cold treatments can make a significant difference in joint pain relief. Warm baths or heating pads soothe stiff joints by improving circulation in the area, where as cold packs are known to help in reduction of swelling. They also help in numbing the pain.

Both therapies can be used as per need and requirement but remember to avoid extreme temperatures. Scalding oneself is never a good idea.

4. Physical Therapy
   What a physio-therapist can do for you, very few others can. They can recommend and teach you exercises and therapies based on your prognosis, that are suitable and tailormade for you.

Physio-therapy helps increase your range of motion and strengthen muscles near and about the joints. It also helps in identifying posture related issues and helps improve body mechanics to alleviate stress on your joints.

Remember, joint pains can be effectively managed and further damage to the joints can be checked with the help of lifestyle modifications, home remedies and medical interventions as per need and requirement.

By incorporating these tips in your daily routine, you can significantly improve the quality of your life, but consult a health care professional before making any major lifestyle related changes.

So, if you or members of your family are coping with join pain and wish to make positive changes in your lifestyle, we strongly recommend you watch this video where Dr. Ishmit Tyagi, Manipal Hospitals, gives some important join related advise.