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When it comes to staying healthy, few things are as important as our mobility. But for many of us, keeping the spring in our step isn’t always easy.

Whether it’s age, lifestyles, or the numbers we see on our scales, plenty of factors play a significant role in our bill of joint health. That’s why it’s so important to take proactive and preventative steps to keep those nagging pains at a minimum.

How to Protect Your Joints from Overuse, Inactivity &‌ Aging

To help you protect your joints from aches, pains, and strains in your day-to-day life, we’re going to reveal what you can do to stay limber when overuse, underuse, or age factors are keeping you from moving with ease.

Joint Overuse

Contrary to what some people think, joint overuse isn’t exclusive to gym-rats or people involved in athletics.

You’re just as likely to strain your joints as an on-the-go business professional that hauls heavy luggage from city to city, or as a busy parent that bends and kneels all day to pick up after your kids!

Point being, even the most unsuspecting of day-to-day routines can be taxing on our joints, so check out these three tips to help your joints handle the load.

Top tips for joint pain

1. Keep Yourself Hydrated

We know, we know. This is the same boring “drink more water” tip you see in every health-hack article. But, given that 80% of the cartilage that cushions your joints is made up of water, it’s easy to see why a few glasses of good old H₂O can do you good. So, drink up!

2. Start Taking a Joint Supplement

Don’t wait for aches and pains to surface before you search for a solution. Instead, get the jump on your joint health with a powerful mobility-boosting supplement. Just make sure your choice contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM to prime your hips and joints for your busy life.

3. Well-Cushioned Shoes are a Must

This is for the power-walkers out there. If you need to stay quick on your feet for your job or daily errands, wearing fancy dress shoes, high heels, or old sneakers with flattened soles won’t cut it. To avoid foot pain that travels up and affects your knees and hips, treat your feet to nicely cushioned shoes or sneakers.

Joint Underuse

For those of us with jobs or lifestyles that have less physical activity, it’s easy for us to assume we’re in the clear when it comes to joint problems. But, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Our joint health isn’t being preserved, which is why you have to use it before you lose it.

Along with the cardiovascular, muscular, and weight issues that may occur due to physical inactivity, joint problems can emerge as a byproduct of those issues. That includes everything from aches and stiffness to full-on arthritis.

So, whether you have a desk job or have a slower-paced lifestyle, be sure to follow these three tips to to keep your joint underuse from going under the radar.

1. Stretch, Stretch, and Stretch

The benefits of stretching can’t be overstated. The boost that it gives to energy levels, workouts, and relaxation alone are worthwhile. But, the way stretching increases our flexibility, range-of-motion, and circulation makes it an absolute must. A few easy leg, arm, shoulder, and back stretches will go a long way!

2. Walk it Out

Stretching can only get you so far if you’re not putting your joints to use. So, whether you’re at work or at home, be sure to take time out of your day to walk around and get your oxygen flowing. For a few ideas on how to get more active, check out our six ways to move more to get you started.

3. Mind Your Diet

As we mentioned before, physical inactivity can be a precursor to weight gain, energy loss, and poor joint and cartilage health. That said, we suggest steering clear of the not-so healthy food and drinks, and to take a digestive supplement to get the most nutrients and energy out of every meal to feel more active.

Age Factors

The older we get, the louder those “snaps, crackles, and pops” become, right?

There’s no question that, as we age, we put a lot of mileage on our joints along the way. But, even though we might not be the spring chickens we used to be, we don’t have to wave the white flag just because Father Time is undefeated!

Instead, we just have to be a little more careful and methodical with how we take care of our bodies. To do that, here are three tips to remain nimble no matter how many 21st birthdays you’ve had. ;)

1. Take Joint &‌ Omega-3 Supplements

As we get older, our joints need a little extra TLC‌ to function at their best. So, we suggest incorporating both a powerful joint supplement and a vegan-based omega-3 supplement into your health regimen to keep your joints and cartilage cushioned, lubricated, and free from pesky inflammation troubles.

2. Start Doing Low-Impact Exercises

Even if the days of weightlifting and 5-mile runs are a thing of the past, it’s still important to keep yourself physically active. So, we suggest introducing a few low-impact exercises such as yoga, water aerobics, walking, or cycling into your daily routine. Check out the Arthritis Foundation’s list of recommended exercises to create a workout plan based on your current joint health.

3. Don’t Try to Be a Superhero

We know you’re a tough cookie. But, somewhere in-between all of your household handiwork, errand running, hard labor at your job, and yes… even your new exercise regimen, your body is going to ask for more breaks to stretch and rest. That’s why it’s incredibly important to listen to those needs, and to never overdo it. Pace yourself, and your joints will thank you for it!

If you have any questions or comments for us about joint health, feel free to tell us below. Or, you can reach out to us directly at (800) 940-1972 or via email at Support@ZenwiseHealth.com.