|
Healthy joints and strong bones lie at the heart of every
physical act, from arranging a bouquet of flowers to bending down to pick up a
child. And if you think joint pain and brittle bones are an inevitable result
of aging, think again. It’s never too early to start thinking about your bone
and joint health.
Simple ways to
improve your bone and joint health:
Good posture. Stand
and sit up straight, this helps to avoid stress on your bones and joints.
Exercise.
Exercising, especially stretching keep your joints healthy because the more you
move the less stiffness will occur. Strengthening your core muscles and moving
your joints in their full range of motion can also be beneficial. It is important not to over-stress your joints
during exercise.
Weight management and
healthy diet. Extra weight can put strain on your bones and joints. Losing even a few pounds can help, every
pound lost takes four pounds of pressure off your knees.
Eating food rich in
calcium. Calcium is necessary for bone formation, like milk, sardines, and dark
leafy greens, soybeans. Supplements can also provide calcium if needed.
Vitamin D. Vitamin
D is also essential as it provides amino acids for ligaments and joints and
supports the development, maintenance, and function of the musculoskeletal
system. Getting enough sunshine provides
vitamin D, otherwise a supplement is needed.
Eat fish. Omega-3 fatty acids can help support joint
health and may reduce joint inflammation as well. Not a fan of fish? Try fish oil capsules.
Protect your bones. Protect your joints with protective gear is
also important while taking part in sports such as skating. Be careful when lifting and carrying.
TCM Approach
Bone and joint issues, according to TCM, states that blood
stasis and the stagnancy of Qi is at the core of most issues. Bone health is connected to the kidneys which
store Qi. When Qi is strong, it can
stimulate the growth of marrow and nourish the skeleton.
Acupuncture can also be beneficial to bone and joint
health.
Here are some of the
products we use in the Clinic to help our patients stay active.
|
