Bone & Joint Health Doesn’t Have to Weigh You Down
The human body is a remarkable machine comprised of 270 bones at birth which later decreases to 206 due to fusion of some of our bones as we age. The joints connect bone to bone, and there are hundreds of joints in our bodies. Bone mass reaches maximum density in our late 20’s and early 30’s. As we age, our bones may weaken causing them to be more prone to fractures, so taking care of our bone and joint health is vital.
Body Basics
The first thing you want to do is calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) which is a measurement of body fat based on a person’s height and weight. Calculate your BMI. A healthy BMI score is between 20-25. Scores below 20, a person may be underweight and vice versa a score of 25 or more may be overweight.
This calculation is imperative as for every pound of excess weight, that will put an additional four pounds of extra pressure on your joints. If someone is 15 pounds overweight, he/she will have an added 60 pounds of pressure to their knees. Keeping a healthy weight is imperative for our bones and joints as we age.
Bone and Joint Tips
Weight-bearing on bones and joints in areas such as the knees, hips, and back are most affected as we age, being overweight brings additional stress upon them. There are a few things we can do to help prevent further damage.
Aerobic exercise – This will help increase circulation as well as raise the heart rate, which can help reduce joint swelling.
Staying active – Staying seated for long periods of time will increase joint stiffness and pain. Continue to move about your day.
Build muscles – Having strong muscles takes pressure off your joints and strengthens your muscle.
Contact your physician for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of any bone and joint disorders as soon as you notice symptoms like pain, inflammation, swelling, or redness. If you’ve already been diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder, you should adhere to your medication to manage the condition.
