| Recently an overweight, middle-aged man came into | | | | subside more quickly. Use crutches if needed. For |
| my office suffering with aching knees. It seems that | | | | immediate relief, try an ice or gel pack, especially |
| his favorite exercise of running was playing havoc on | | | | right after physical activity, to help control swelling. |
| his body and he was considering giving up this sport | | | | Try alternating the ice with a heating pad. You might |
| for good. I explained the possible causes for his pain | | | | also try heat just before athletic activity to loosen |
| could be any of these conditions: tendinitis (inflamed | | | | the joint. Don't leave either ice or heat on the joint |
| tendons), bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs | | | | for more than 20 minutes at a time. A hot bath may |
| around the joint) or perhaps even cartilage damage. | | | | be comforting, as well, and a hot shower upon arising |
| The fact he was over fifty led me to believe that is | | | | in the morning can soothe stiffness. |
| was most likely osteoarthritis. | | | | Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often |
| If you sense that your joints or bones are hurting | | | | recommended for arthritis pain, but keep in mind |
| from a strenuous activity it too might be | | | | that, if taken too frequently, these drugs can cause |
| osteoarthritis. This medical condition could develop in | | | | stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding-even kidney |
| any of your joints, but the knee's complex design | | | | or liver damage. For natural pain relief, try a soothing |
| and its position in the body as a weight-bearing joint, | | | | ginger tea. Brew 3 - 4 slices of fresh ginger in 1 cup |
| make it more susceptible. | | | | of boiling water. In a Danish study, ginger relieved |
| As you get older, gravity and the everyday wear | | | | pain for 55% of osteoarthritis sufferers. |
| and tear on your joints gradually wear away | | | | Start Early With Supplements and Diet |
| theprotective cartilage that cushions the knee. The | | | | Don't ignore pain. If you take action right away with |
| bone in the joint gets exposed, and you begin to | | | | appropriate supplements and diet, you can often |
| have pain, stiffness, maybe even buckling or swelling | | | | reverse the effects of arthritis. |
| of the knee. Arthritis can also develop as a result of | | | | -Glucosamine, a natural chemical, helps to rebuild |
| trauma, such as ligament damage or bone fracture. | | | | cartilage and fluid around the joints. Always get the |
| So what can you do to help those aching knees? | | | | sulfate form, an additional cartilage builder. |
| Make A Few Easy Changes In Your Lifestyle | | | | -Chondroitin, found naturally in cartilage, may reduce |
| Your first step is to lose excess body weight. Taking | | | | pain and slow breakdown of cartilage. |
| the extra stress off your joints may relieve a great | | | | -Bromelain is an enzyme which helps reduce |
| deal of pain and discomfort. | | | | inflammation. Take a supplement, or get it from |
| Middle aged people often try to stay in shape with | | | | eating lots of fresh pineapple. |
| running, tennis or other high impact exercise, never | | | | -Omega-3 fatty acids, especially those from fish oils, |
| realizing that these activities tend to hasten the wear | | | | lubricate the joints and control pain. |
| and tear process. But don't let aging knees become | | | | -MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a sulfur compound |
| an excuse for lack of exercise. You can benefit just | | | | essential for joint and tissue repair. |
| as much from low-impact activities such as Pilates, | | | | -Boswellia, an Ayurvedic herb, reduces inflammation |
| water aerobics, walking, cycling or swimming. | | | | and restores blood vessels around tissues. |
| I highly recommend you stretch before any | | | | -Borage seed oil contains a fatty acid (GLA) which |
| exercising. It is also beneficial to warm up the | | | | eases pain. |
| muscles slightly with light walking before you do | | | | Eat plenty of foods high in vitamin C (such as |
| stretching exercises. Always stretch slowly. It's also | | | | oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, and peppers), or |
| wise to continue stretching after you are done with | | | | take a supplement. Boston University School of |
| your workout! | | | | Medicine researchers studied people with |
| Many arthritis patients can find benefit from physical | | | | osteoarthritis of the knee. Those who took over 200 |
| therapy. A professional therapist will teach you the | | | | mg a day of vitamin C were three times less likely to |
| proper methods of exercise in order to improve | | | | experience unfavorable symptoms than those who |
| flexibility, range of motion, and strength. If you'd had | | | | took less than 120 mg a day. Try eating more garlic, |
| an injury to the knee, therapy can speed recovery | | | | onions and eggs. These foods contain sulfur, which |
| and may reduce the chances of developing arthritis | | | | aids in repair of bone, cartilage and connective tissue. |
| later on. | | | | If your knees hurt either from arthritis that comes |
| When you've got troublesome knees, it's not always | | | | from aging or from a previous trauma to the knee, |
| convenient to stay off of them. You may find that a | | | | don't think you have to live with it the rest of your |
| brace, splint, cane or elastic bandage can help you | | | | life. There's plenty you can do-without living on pain |
| stay active. | | | | relievers! And if you start soon enough, you'll most |
| Treat Immediate Pain | | | | likely be able to avoid knee replacement surgery, as |
| When pain flares, stay off the knee. Keeping weight | | | | well. |
| and pressure off the joint allows inflammation to | | | | |