Osteoarthritis is a prevalent medical condition that tends to plague individuals who are getting on in age and is a degenerative disease that causes cartilaginous tissue and underlying bone to break down. This is a serious condition that can lead to stiffness and pain in the joints, which can lead to problems with mobility, which can result in an entirely different host of other issues.
As with many problems, it is best to nip the issue in the bud before the issue is allowed to fester and grow out of control. As such, preventative measures must be taken to prevent the development of osteoarthritis. We at Rittenhouse Village At Michigan City would love to provide some tips on the prevention of osteoarthritis in mature adults.
Take Control of Your Weight
If your weight is currently at a healthy level, the best thing that you can do to prevent the development of osteoarthritis is to maintain this weight. On the other hand, if you lean more towards the side of being overweight, then taking action to reduce this weight is what you need to do to prevent the condition from taking root. Excessive body weight puts a massive amount of strain and pressure on the joints of the body. In particular, the parts that serve to bear the weight of the body, like the hips, knees, or joints of the feet, are particularly vulnerable to having their cartilaginous structures worn away. Therefore, taking control of your weight is one of the most effective preventative measures against osteoarthritis.
Engage in Physical Exercise
Keeping an active lifestyle is highly effective in the prevention of osteoarthritis as it prevents your joints from becoming stiff due to underuse. Make an effort to get a minimum of half an hour of physical activity and exercise daily to keep yourself active and your joints limber.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
There is not a particular diet plan that has been proven to prevent osteoarthritis, but there are nutrients that are relevant to a reduction in the risk of developing osteoarthritis. One example of such a nutrient would be omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy kinds of fat that help in the reduction of the inflammation of the joints. The unhealthy versions of fat do the opposite, so do ensure that you are consuming the correct kind. You may get omega-3 fatty acids from products like nut or plant oils, such as canola oil, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and olive oil.
Take Injury Prevention Measures or Treat Existing Ones
If one sustains an injury to a joint in one’s younger days, one is predisposed to osteoarthritis in that same joint later on in life. Therefore, a joint injury must be avoided as much as possible. In addition, if there are any existing injuries to the joints, medical attention should be sought right away so that the best preventative measures against osteoarthritis can be taken.
Rittenhouse Village At Michigan City
At Rittenhouse Village At Michigan City, we provide a host of health and fitness programs to take care of the wellbeing of our residents, as well as delicious and well-balanced meals prepared by our chefs. Contact us to find out more.
