Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis caused by wear and tear on cartilage, which is the cushion at the ends of your bones. Cartilage helps buffer the bones so your joints can move freely without pain. When you have osteoarthritis, this cartilage breaks down and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints.
Living with osteoarthritis can be challenging, but small changes to your daily routine can help reduce pain and prevent further joint damage. If you’re living with osteoarthritis, here are five everyday activities you should avoid.
1.High-Impact Exercise
High-impact activities, like running and jumping, put a lot of stress on your joints. Instead of engaging in these exercises, opt for low-impact ones like:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Cycling
You can still get an effective workout from low-impact exercises but without the additional wear and tear on your body.
2. Repetitive Motions
Repetitive motions can also irritate your joints. Some common repetitive motions include:
- Typing
- Working on an assembly line
- Grasping or squeezing objects
You should take regular breaks to stretch your wrists or vary the positions of your hands. You might also consider wearing splints or padded gloves to support your joints during repetitive tasks.
3. Lifting Heavy Objects
Lifting heavy items requires exerting large forces across your joints. When lifting heavy objects, it’s essential that you use proper lifting form — keeping objects close to your body and lifting them with the strength of your legs. Don’t attempt to lift items that are too heavy or bulky for you to handle safely.
Consider supportive braces or aids if you regularly need to lift heavy objects and avoid overexerting your knees, back, and other joints.
4. Wearing High Heels
Wearing high heels for long periods of time shifts weight unnaturally into the balls of your feet, which can strain your knees. Choose low heels or flats whenever possible to minimize joint pressure.
You can also try adding cushioned insoles to heels for extra padding. In general, though, you should give your knees and ankles a break by skipping high heels and opting for comfortable, supportive footwear.
5. Walking on Uneven Surfaces
Uneven surfaces, like trails or grass, can cause your joints to twist into an uncomfortable position. Try to stick to smooth, flat surfaces when you can, like pavement or treadmills.
Use walking poles or shoes with good traction when you need to walk on uneven ground.
Managing Osteoarthritis
Although there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, you can manage this condition by making lifestyle adjustments, like avoiding daily activities that are tough on your joints. You can also try treatments like stem cell therapy to repair cartilage damage and reduce pain.
With the right strategy and treatments, you can stay active without further stressing your joints.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine also known as Stem Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
