Many people think that joint pain and cartilage wear-down, like getting older, is inevitable. Not everybody ends up with arthritis when they hit their golden years. There are some changes you can make to your lifestyle right now however, that can help fend off that arthritis shadow for as long as possible.

First and foremost – lose weight. In 2005-2006 more than one-third of Americans were obese. These figures are staggering and there is so much good that can come from shedding a few pounds. Extra weight that you carry around on your body adds immense pressure on your joints, especially your knees. Even losing ten pounds can help relieve some of the strain and pain.

Another thing you can do to help fend off joint pain is to make some changes in your exercise routine. Make sure that you always stretch and warm up before exercising. Doing this literally “warms up” your muscles and can help to prevent injury and strain during exercise. Also, make sure you change it up a bit. If you are an avid runner or love the elliptical machine, change it up once or twice a week to something like yoga or water aerobics. Running is a high impact exercise and can wreak havoc on your joints. Give them a break once in a while and your joints will thank you down the road. (more…)