What are the Best Things to do for Joint Health in Vancouver?
There are multiple things you can do to keep your joints young at a cellular level. Many of these things are basic, but just not incorporated into our daily lives consistently enough.
Stretching is a great example of this. Stretching is simply controlled tension applied to the movement of the soft tissues that assist in joint motions. Full range of motion is an important part of keeping joints working properly, but for the full range of motion to remain intact, we must use this full range of motion daily and consistently. It’s the whole “use it or lose it” adage.
Not sure where to start? Begin by just gently stretching for 1 minute at a time 10 times a day. Do this consistently for a couple of weeks and you will be shocked at how different you can feel!
Some other daily habits that promote healthy joints include:
- Drinking plenty of good quality hot water
- Eating alkaline foods
- Low impact movement
- Heat
Now, we have heard of using cold and ice packs for pain, but what about heat?
Does Heat Help Joint Pain in Vancouver?
Absolutely! Usually when people think of joints the first thing that comes to mind is a meeting point for two bones and maybe some muscle or tissue. What we don’t often think about is the synovial fluid or joint fluid that allows for the proper lubrication of the joints. Heat also encourages expansion of the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and nutrients needed for healing to reach the affected area. Using heat to encourage increased oxygenation around the joints is a safe, gentle and effective way to address joint pain in Vancouver.
How Do I Permanently Get Rid Of Joint Pain?
Incorporate daily habits that promote healthy joints, such as: stretching, low impact movement, clean water, alkaline foods, and heat therapy.
Heat therapy options that can permanently address joint pain:
- Infrared Saunas
- Infrared Light Therapy Pads
- Home Medical Device for Joint Pain
Infrared Saunas: Traditional wet saunas are very taxing on the cardiovascular system and are not usually recommended for individuals over the age of 60. Infrared saunas, however, use infrared light to warm the body rather than steam heat. This is much gentler on the body and can also penetrate much deeper into the tissues and muscles to give much more effective relief.
Infrared Light Therapy Pads: These pads use infrared light diodes to deliver specific light wavelengths through the skin and into the body. They are often flexible and can be applied to wherever you have discomfort or pain. The heat penetrates several inches below the skin to help encourage proper functionality of the tissues, muscles, fluids and cartilage. Here is an example of one such pad – Body Light Pad.
Home Medical Device for Joint Pain: There are now medical devices available such as the AVACEN which combine the benefits of an oxygen chamber and a sauna, except the device goes on your hand only. This means you get all the benefits of oxygenating the blood and healing the joints while just sitting on your own couch at home. You can find out more about it [here].
Joint pain does not have to be your future. There are things you can do today to begin improving your pain. Start with clean water and simple stretching exercises throughout each day. After you get that down, try adding another healthy joint habit such as more alkaline leafy greens to your food. After that, add some low impact movement like Tai Chi or Yoga. Finally, if you want a solution that is more of a “heavy hitter” then consider one of the heat-based therapy options mentioned above. If you have tried all the over the counter drugs and creams without success, or even if you have tried steroid injections or surgical interventions, these are simple solutions with big results. Just give them a try!
