As a leading Henleaze Osteopath, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to share advice on Autumn joint care in Bristol.
The key to healthy joints is finding the fine balance between keeping joints stable while also maintaining good levels of flexibility.
When it comes to joint stability, the following points are worth remembering:
Joints are stabilized by ligaments, muscles and they have a tough capsule around the joint and fascia that envelopes all of these incredible structures.
Exercise to help stabilize joints will stimulate the surrounding muscles. For example; balancing on one leg to increase knee, ankle or hip stability.
Pilates works really well to engage muscles that support joints particularly in the trunk, these are the ‘core’ muscles.
Something that Bristol Osteopaths talk about a lot is Proprioception. This involves balance, co-ordination and awareness of your body (or a joint). By improving Proprioception, a patient can improve the stability and health of their joints.
The other key area around joint care is flexibility. It is important to remember:
Joints like movement within natural ranges. Regular low-impact movements lubricate joints and is healthy for them.
Movement-based exercises such as Yoga or controlled stretching are superb when it comes to helping joint movement and increasing flexibility.
Lack of movement can lead to poor joint health and a potential increase in injuries.
This can be particularly relevant for desk workers with back pain caused by sitting for too long and with poor posture impacting their joints.
Micro breaks are critical in avoiding this - find out more here.
Many patients visiting my Henleaze Osteopathy clinic ask for general advice in September and October on Autumn joint care.
Changing weather conditions, wetter, damp days as well as dropping air temperatures can aggravate joint aches, an issue for many in Bristol.
My advice to avoid Autumn joint pain would be:
Be careful with high-impact exercise
Runners could reduce road runs and go off-road during the Autumn months. Reduce the load on joints with less hard impact exercise.
Hydration
Just like the rest of the body, joints need hydration to improve lubrication and aid better movement. Hydrating joints keeps them healthy and more robust.
Good nutrition
A healthy and balanced diet should give your joints all the nutrients they need to stay in good condition throughout Autumn. It is also advisable to seek professional advice regarding nutrition and diet if you're concerned about this.
Supplements
Although there is little scientifically-based evidence on this, some reports suggest that supplements might help certain individuals with their joint health.
Popular joint-related supplements include glucosamine (often with chondroitin), collagen, evening primrose, and fish (cod liver) oils.
Wear & tear
Arthritic changes happen naturally over time, but we can all slow the process and maintain better joint health in Bristol by following the above simple advice.
I have also written more about avoiding joint pain in Bristol here which provides additional tips.
If you are suffering from joint pain, please book a treatment rapidly and easily with me online here.
My Bristol osteopath clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for Covid-safe treatments, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic for all patients.
To find out more about the full range of Covid-secure osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.