That familiar crunching sound when you bend over is just part of old age right? Wrong!
We expect the aches and pains to start kicking in as we get into our late 40's and 50's, so we often just accept them. Some people may resort to medical drugs or physiotherapy sessions. But what are the causes and are there simple solutions?
Life-long wear and tear on joints are bound to result in some degree of deterioration. We're not much different from a machine, with moving parts that wear out. Joints are cushioned with a protective cartilage 'pad' that prevents bone ends from rubbing against each other, but there are some common factors that cause the cartilage to deteriorate:
- Improper use of joints (such as wrong lifting techniques or sports activities that are particularly hard on the joints).
- Being overweight strains your joints.
- Immobility. Cartilage needs to be stimulated by motion in order to maintain its integrity.
- Age-related enzymatic deterioration.
- Poor diet. Foods lacking in omega 3 for good circulation, low levels of vitamin D for bone health plus a total absence of glucosamine for cartilage health.
Everyone develops signs of joint wear at some point, but with a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and a healthy body weight, you can delay the process and look after your bones and joints.
