Joint pain is no laughing matter and, with 1 in 5 adults over the age of 45 having osteoarthritis of some kind, it’s extremely prevalent. There are many different causes of joint pain, with arthritis being one of the most common, and it’s natural to want to find joint pain relief without reaching for medication. Remember that you should always contact your doctor if you are concerned about any pain, and you shouldn’t stop or change any medication without first seeking your doctor’s advice.
Lifestyle Changes For Joint Pain Relief
There are some simple lifestyle changes that you can make to achieve joint pain relief. You can:
- Eat A Healthy, Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet will help to make sure that you have the nutrients and vitamins you need, and will help you to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing weight can ease your pain. This is because extra weight puts more pressure on your joints, leading to additional pain and mobility issues.
- Exercise
Exercise can really help to reduce joint pain – even though you might not feel like it. Gentle exercise will build the muscles around your joints, protecting them. It will also increase your range of movement and reduce stiffness. If you’re not sure what activity will be best for you, check with your doctor or physical therapist.
- Practice Meditation
When used alongside other strategies, meditation can help to reduce stress, relaxing the muscles and enabling you to cope with your pain better.
Osteopathy And Musculoskeletal Therapy For Joint Pain Relief
When you are experiencing joint pain, a therapy such as osteopathy or musculoskeletal therapy can really help. Musculoskeletal therapy is often used after an injury to provide rehabilitation and help you return to fitness, so this is a useful treatment to try if your joint pain was caused by an injury. Osteopathy, on the other hand, helps to alleviate chronic pain.
Both osteopaths and musculoskeletal therapists utilise manual therapy to manipulate your joints. This increases blood flow to affected areas, relieves tension in your muscles and improves your mobility.
Regular sessions, which will include advice from your therapist about exercises and other strategies to try in between treatments, can lead to a significant decrease in your joint pain and an increase in your quality of life.
Where To Go For Advice
At Northwich Foot Clinic, we have a dedicated team skilled in both osteopathy and musculoskeletal therapy. Our professionals are highly trained in both the diagnosis and treatment of joint pain, and will develop an individual treatment plan for you. They are also trained to identify symptoms which need to be referred to other healthcare professionals, so you can be confident that you are receiving the best quality care.To book your appointment, you can head to our online booking form. We look forward to welcoming you to our clinic in Northwich, and helping you on the path to joint pain relief.
