It’s a fact: Whether they’re young or old, many people I know in San Francisco are experiencing increasing musculoskeletal joint stiffness – in their necks, shoulders, elbows, knees and ankles.
In fact, stiff or aching joints are one of my patients’ most common complaints.
Left unattended, your joints typically do get stiffer as you get older. The bad news is that your joints may eventually lose full mobility. But the good news is that there’s plenty you can do about it…if you’re willing to be proactive.
A few things you should know about your aching joints:
- They’re lubricated by synovial fluid, which keeps joints moist, provide oxygen and supply nutrition, while washing away toxic end-products.
- Aging reduces the amount of available synovial fluid in your spine. Also, normal aging processes increase the viscosity of the remaining synovial fluid, so you have less available lubricant and it’s thicker. That results in stiffer joints, from your head to your toes.
What’s the solution to stiffer joints? Sheehan Chiropractic highly recommends exercise for about 30 minutes per day, five days a week. This will pump synovial fluid into joint spaces, helps lubricate your joints and increases your internal core temperature for increased joint flexibility.
Don’t have time to go outside to exercise your aching joints? Try yoga, swimming or bike riding for a total body workout with cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility.
The bottom line is that regular, vigorous exercise, done over months and years, can and will provide a true health benefit to my patients in San Francisco for your joint stiffness, not just for improved joint flexibility, but also for your overall health.