You can’t prevent arthritis, but you can reduce your risk

Swelling, loss of independence and pain in your knees, hips and hands — that’s what many people think of when the word “arthritis” is used. According to the Michigan Arthritis Collaborative Partnership (MACP), about 2.4 million adults in Michigan suffer from arthritis, and this was the eighth highest number in the country in 2007. With more and more people developing osteoarthritis, many have begun to ask, “Can you prevent arthritis?” Unfortunately, arthritis cannot be completely prevented, but here are two tips that can help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis. These tips can also help slow the progression of osteoarthritis if you already have it. 

1.   Keep your weight under control

Being overweight is one of the biggest factors in developing osteoarthritis earlier in life. This is because being overweight puts extra pressure on all of your joints. An article from the Harvard Medical School (HMS) reports that walking on a level surface puts pressure on your knees that’s equal to 1.5 times your body weight. This means that a 210-pound person is putting 315 pounds of pressure on their knees just by walking to the kitchen for some water. 

When people are overweight, these numbers can increase to an alarming degree. The increased pressure can cause you to develop knee arthritis much sooner. However, taking action to lose some weight can have the opposite effect. The reduced pressure on the knees can help you prevent the early onset of knee arthritis. 

2.   Exercise

Increasing the amount of exercise you do can have many health benefits, including reducing your risk for developing arthritis. Increased physical activity can help you lose weight, which is beneficial to your  joints by reducing the pressure. While exercising can help to reduce the risk of early onset arthritis, it has other benefits as well that indirectly help prevent arthritis or slow its progression. 

For example, exercise can help strengthen the muscles that support your joints. This helps make joints more stable, and greater joint stability helps decrease the risk of sports injuries and work injuries that can bring on arthritis sooner. An effective exercise routine includes alternating cardio exercises with strength training. You should also make sure your exercise program has plenty of stretches to promote flexibility and range of motion. 

Preventing increased risk of arthritis is easier with help from Advent Physical Therapy

While there is no foolproof way you can prevent arthritis, you can reduce your risk of it with help from Advent Physical Therapy. With 14 clinics across Michigan, our team has helped many arthritis patients treat the symptoms and get a higher quality of life. Our treatment plans are personalized to better fit each person’s needs, and these plans can include therapy techniques such as: 

• Manual therapy
• McKenzie method
• Pelvic floor rehabilitation
• Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)

Are you ready to take the next step to reduce your arthritis pain? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.