Here are Some of the Best Low-Impact Exercises for Joint Health

Every basic movement in the body is a combined effort of your skeletal system, the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that attach to them, and the joints created by the intersection of bones and skeletal tissue. Also called articulations, you have around 350 joints in a variety of types, including synovial, hinge, ball and socket, planar, pivot, saddle, and condyloid joints.

Things like walking, running, writing, speaking, bending, and sitting are all made possible by joints, and many injuries and medical conditions can make using them harder over time. However, getting in some low-impact exercises can make a big difference in reducing the symptoms of and improving the health of damaged joints.

Dr. Joseph Daniels and the Southwest Orthopedic Associates team help Fort Worth, Texas, residents with a wide variety of joint problems, including rehabilitation and recovery from joint damage and the pain it can cause.

Reasons for joint problems

The chances of dealing with joint pain and other symptoms increase with several issues, including a history of joint injuries, obesity, joint overuse, and stress. Pain and other symptoms from joint problems can also come from several different conditions:

Arthritis

Many forms of joint inflammation fall under the overall term arthritis, with over 100 types able to lead to stiffness, pain, and other issues. Most people struggle with osteoarthritis as joints wear down over the years, but other common types include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis.

Fibromyalgia

A condition that stems from issues with hypersensitive nerves and nervous system dysfunction, the signs of this illness frequently move around the body and cause shooting, zinging, or tingling pain. It also leads to fatigue and cognitive issues known as “fibro fog”.

Depression

A lesser-known link between primary joint pain being a symptom of depression is still not well understood, but it not only exists, but it also comes with signs like loss of interest in activities you enjoy, appetite changes, sleeping problems, and feeling guilty or hopeless.

Hemarthrosis

Caused by traumatic joint injuries, bleeding disorders, complications from surgery, or tumor growth in your joints, hemarthrosis can lead to blood damaging the cartilage and comes with symptoms like redness, warmth, swelling, bruising, and joint pain.

Lyme disease

A condition named for the Lyme bacteria develops in your joints from tick bites and inflames joint tissue (for this reason, it’s also known as Lyme arthritis). Swelling and joint pain are the most common symptoms of this illness.

Exercises to keep them fit

The exercises to protect joints vary depending on which part of the body is affected, including regimens like:

Shoulder exercises

Standing arm raises can improve shoulder strength, while wall climbs can improve range of motion and flexibility.

Knee exercises

Seated knee extensions help keep knees strong, and hamstring stretches make it easier to keep your legs straight without pain.

Hip exercises

The side-lying clam regimen helps strengthen your hips, and the butterfly pose improves flexibility.

Other general exercises that can help improve joint health include swimming, walking, cycling, rowing, and skating. These help maintain and improve cardiovascular health, joint strength, and blood pressure, and support stress and mood. 

There are several methods to preserve and improve joints that can help you stay in shape, so if you’re having problems, make an appointment with Dr. Daniels and the Southwest Orthopedic Associates team today to find the solutions that work best for you.