We all live with occasional aches and pains as part of normal daily life. In healthy adults, they can be treated with over the counter pain medicines. But as we age, those ailments can be a symptom of arthritis, and when we start to experience them more frequently it might be time to visit the doctor.
According to the CDC, almost half of adults aged 65 and over have some form of the disease. It’s important to know that arthritis can be debilitating but not always. Self-management and joint-friendly exercise are two ways aging adults can be pro-active and maintain quality of life, and getting treatment early can slow the progression.
Here are four tips to help aging adults avoid the disease:
According to the CDC, almost half of adults aged 65 and over have some form of the disease. It’s important to know that arthritis can be debilitating but not always. Self-management and joint-friendly exercise are two ways aging adults can be pro-active and maintain quality of life, and getting treatment early can slow the progression.
Here are four tips to help aging adults avoid the disease:
- Maintain a healthy weight. Simply put, less weight means less stress on joints.
- Eat a healthy diet. A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D can help to maintain strong bones and muscles.
- Live in active lifestyle. Regular, age appropriate exercise that protects and supports joints is important. Aerobic activities such as walking, bicycling, swimming and water aerobics are ideal for older adults with joint pain or arthritis. Also, shorter more frequent periods of exercising may be helpful. For example, ten minutes intervals throughout the week that accumulate to about 150 minutes is a good idea.
- Avoid injury. Whether you are exercising or doing daily chores, taking precautions such as wearing proper safety gear can help reduce the risk of injury. Consider knee and back protection as a first step.