We need our joints to move, and we need them to be healthy to move well and pain-free. However, as we age, healthy joints are more difficult to maintain. This unfortunate side effect of aging leads to discomfort and limited ability to move freely. Getting regular exercise is a crucial aspect of protecting your joint health. Below we discuss the importance of joint health, how exercise is key for maintaining smooth, painless movement of your joints, and when it's time to see a doctor.
At the junction of two bones, is a joint. Joints allow movement. If we didn’t have joints, we wouldn’t be walking around or bending our knees, hips, and elbows. There are several types of joints; the ones you are probably most familiar with are ball-and-socket joints at the hip and shoulder or hinge joints at the knee and elbow.
These joints allow for varying degrees of movement. Ball-and-socket joints allow far more motion than a hinge joint, which primarily bends and straightens. Joints connect bone to bone through connective tissue such as ligaments and in most cases, a cartilaginous articular capsule surrounding the joint.
Inside this capsule, your joints are bathed in synovial fluid excreted by the capsule which lubricates the joints and enables smooth movement. Synovial fluid also delivers nutrients to the joint, so it is best to move the joints daily to nourish the entire joint.
The best thing you can do to maintain joint health is to exercise regularly. Exercise, and movement in general, distribute the synovial fluid within the joint, lubricating it. As we age, the synovial fluid decreases and dries up, resulting in more friction on joints when they move. This leaves them susceptible to injury. Engaging in regular exercise helps maintain the integrity of your joints.
Low-impact workouts are a great way to keep your joints healthy. Low-impact exercise has the benefit of moving the joints and distributing synovial fluid keeping them flexible, lubricated, and nourished. And they’re wonderful for individuals starting a new exercise program or existing joint issues. Cycling, walking, and swimming are good, low-impact workouts for joint pain. They promote flexibility and strength without causing additional strain on your joints.
You may do everything “right” to keep your joints happy and healthy, but injuries still occur. And some people will develop chronic joint pain as they age without a known reason. If you can relate, it's best to seek professional care from an orthopedist like Dr. Burke. He specializes in the care of your joints and emphasizes the importance of early detection to prevent joint damage from worsening.
If you have been experiencing joint pain for some time, particularly if it worsens with activity, a thorough evaluation by a professional is in order. While low-impact workouts can often help joint pain, they might not address underlying issues that require medical attention. Dr. Burke can identify the root cause of the problem and recommend treatment accordingly.
For inquiries, please call us at (713) 436-3488, or visit our website at https://drburkeortho.com/contact-us/ to send us an email.
Patients in Pearland, Texas, and the surrounding areas know that stem cells can provide relief from pain in the joints, but what they may not consider is the overall health of their stem cells. Keeping your stem cells at their healthiest can help aide in the process of regenerating new cells, meaning you can get back to a pain-free life as quickly as possible. At Dr. Burke Orthopedics, we understand the importance of healthy stem cells, so we’ve laid out some easy tips to follow:
It’s no secret that sugar is a large part of the American diet, but it’s best to cut back for the sake of your stem cells and your overall health in general. This includes avoiding both the obvious sources of sugar, like cookies and candy, and the sources of sugar that are a bit harder to spot, like white breads. These sugars can lead to weight gain and decrease the health of your stem cells. To keep your stem cells strong, it’s best to switch out sugary foods for low-glycemic foods, which help control blood sugar and insulin release.
To help ensure your stem cells are at their strongest, staying active is important. Both weight lifting and cardio activity help increase the quality and quantity of your stem cells. Take time out of your day to perform at least 30 minutes of exercise, whether it’s cardio or weight-bearing exercise, to help give your stem cells a boost.
Being overweight can have a negative impact on the overall health and strength of your stem cells. Because of this, reducing your caloric intake can help dramatically improve your cells. The best way to avoid consuming too many calories is to stick to nutritionally-dense food rather than processed foods that can be easy to overindulge on. While you should speak to a health professional about your individual dietary needs, a general cutting back of calories can help keep your stem cells healthy.
Though not proven, vitamins C and D have been linked with increased stem cell health. Along with reducing cell aging, these vitamins help stem cells differentiate (turn into other types of cells) and helps promote the cells’ overall health. Additionally, vitamin C has been suggested to help increase the amount of bone marrow stem cells within your body. Try utilizing supplements to ensure you are getting enough of these vitamins to help your cells.
While stem cell therapy can aid in treating a wide assortment of orthopedic conditions, keeping those cells healthy may help further your treatment. To learn more about stem cell therapy and whether it can help you get back to a pain-free life, give Dr. Burke Orthopedics a call at (713) 436-3488.
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