Depending on your lifestyle and family history, arthritis may affect you at some point in your life – just one of the benefits of getting older! Because arthritis symptoms can limit your ability to participate in some of your favorite physical activities, it’s important to learn and practice preventive measures now, even when you’re still relatively young. Scientists are still figuring out the causes behind arthritis pain, but we do know that environmental factors can be a trigger as well as genetic ones.
Dr. David Wu, a pain management specialist at CurePain with clinics in Torrance and Segundo, California, can evaluate you and help you learn more about how to avoid suffering from arthritis pain later in life.
Perhaps the most important preventive measure you can take to avoid arthritis pain is to be physically active. There is no shortage of activities from which to choose from to create an active lifestyle: walking, jogging, riding a bike, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, and hiking are just a few of them.
You can avoid sports injuries that may lead to an increased risk of arthritis down the road by using proper equipment, understanding your body’s natural limits, and incorporating periods of rest into your routine – also known as “active recovery.”
For patients already experiencing joint pain, you can better manage your symptoms with anti-inflammatory medications. Steroid injections and cortisone shots may be recommended for joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis and other joint pains can be managed with physical therapy to reduce inflammation. Physical therapy also helps to improve strength, range of motion, as well as overall joint stability and function.
You can improve your body’s overall protection mechanisms by avoiding known unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking as well as by maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet that is low in sugar. Certain types of fish, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are known to reduce body inflammation, have been shown to prevent arthritis. Women, in particular, who regularly eat salmon, trout, and sardines may reduce their risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
If you are experiencing arthritis symptoms or want to learn more about preventing arthritis later in life, we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Wu. You can book an appointment online or by calling one of our two locations. For the Torrance location, call 424-235-6565. For the Segundo location, call 310-846-0181.
