Our bones and joints do a lot of hard work for us, supporting our heavy lifting and keeping us standing and walking tall. All that strenuous activity can take a toll, an estimated 7 million Australians suffer from chronic musculoskeletal conditions like hip dysplasia, knee arthritis, osteoporosis and many more debilitating conditions on a daily basis!
Fortunately, there is help available, modern medicine has made a lot of advances in the prevention and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal conditions, so if you are experiencing a problem be sure to make an appointment with the bone & joint specialists near you so they can help you feel and live better!
A number of factors like diet and exercise can affect the health of your bones and joints, so if you take good care of yourself you can prevent those conditions from happening to you! The following are a few simple steps you can take:
- Calcium – There are a lot of good reasons why your Mom made you drink that milk when you were a kid, and you shouldn’t stop now! The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium in your diet for adults aged 19 to 50 is 1,000 milligrams (mg) a day. Milk isn’t the only way to get it, other dairy products like cheese also contain it, as do broccoli, kale, almonds, salmon, sardines, and tofu. It’s also important to get plenty of Vitamin D, which your body requires to properly absorb calcium. Eat mushrooms, fish, eggs, fresh fruit, and get some sun to keep your Vitamin D levels up, but don’t overdo it or the harm of overexposure to UV rays could outweigh the good!
- Physical Activity – The best way to maintain strong bones and joints is to make exercise a part of your daily routine. Performing simple, weight-bearing exercises like running, jogging, walking, and stair climbing are simple ways you can build strong bones and joints. Swimming, weight lifting, and bicycling are also great ways to stay in shape, as is practising yoga, it all adds up to your better health!
- Avoid Harmful Substances – Number One- Don’t smoke tobacco! Number Two- Don’t consume too much alcohol! Women should ideally drink no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Men should drink no more than two alcoholic beverages a day. We know no one really likes to listen to this advice, but if you are suffering from bone and joint problems now, you had best take heed!
Your bones and joints hold you together and let you move through your life, so take good care of them!
