Aging is inevitable, and so are the changes that occur in your body as you add years to your life.
While some physical changes occur naturally with aging, like having fine lines and wrinkles or growing gray hair, some bodily changes like muscle and joint pains are linked to inactivity. This means you can reverse the effects with regular exercises and an active lifestyle introduced at senior living communities in Macomb.
Muscles, bones, and joints somehow lose their size, agility, and strength over time. Bones are cushioned by cartilages and lined up by synovial membranes that help flexibility and ease of movement.
8 Natural Treatments for Joint Pain in Seniors
As you age, the joints can get too stiff, and you will experience difficulty moving around. This is due to the lack of synovial fluid that serves as a joint lubricant. Now, reaching for something under the bed becomes a chore when it used to be accessible when you were younger.
Chronic joint pain can be managed with early treatment and adopting a healthy and active lifestyle. Going for natural pain remedies would always be the best route to take. Below are eight natural ways that can help ease joint pain for seniors.
1. Weight Management
Seniors are slow in movement because of muscle and joint weakness or pain and because of being overweight. If you have gained extra pounds over the years, then it’s time to trim that off. Managing your weight won’t be easy, especially if you have to cut down on some food cravings, but it can be beneficial to relieve joint pain.
With the added weight, you put a lot of strain on your lower extremities or joints, which cause extreme pain and weakness.
Seek the advice of your physician or a nutritionist in your senior living community in Macomb, so they can help you determine your ideal weight and design a nutrition program that fits your diet needs and current body weight.
When you reduce the strain applied to your joints, you will notice the following improvements:
- Reduced pain
- Ease in mobility
- Decreased stiffness
- Shields joints from further damage
2. Regular Exercise Regimen
Stripping off labels on aging can help you live without boundaries. It’s fantastic to see older people who can still maintain an active lifestyle despite their age or wrinkled appearance. But, on the contrary, some seniors feel that it’s now time to take it slow, including regular exercises.
However, if you are suffering from chronic joint pain, becoming more physically active can help you knock these down:
- Achieve flexibility in movement
- Lose weight and keep it off
- Keep your joints and muscles robust
An exercise program designed for seniors would consider their medical or health conditions, lifestyle, and even medications. It is also recommended to exercise with a fitness coach or perhaps choose a workout partner to boost motivation.
Seniors would greatly benefit from low-impact exercises such as the following:
- Walking
- Stretching
- Swimming
- Jogging
- Water activities
3. Healthy and Balanced Diet
Maintaining a diet rich in a mix of your favorite veggies, fruits, whole foods, protein, carbohydrates, and good fats can promote overall health. If you love vegetables, then a plant-based diet is also helpful in giving you that added immunity from sickness and has antioxidants to get rid of harmful free radicals and help keep your joints strong.
Avoid saturated fat, too much sugar, and salt, as well as processed foods that can worsen joint pain and inflammation.
4. Use Hot and Cold Compress
Taking long warm showers or baths is relaxing and can reduce joint and muscle pain and stiffness in seniors. Using it alternatively is said to be helpful, and it would also depend on the weather or the preference of a senior.
A hot and cold compress helps relieve joint pain and inflammation in the affected areas.
Other hot treatments would include using a heating pan or an electric blanket that can help ease the joint pain and discomfort so you can rest and sleep better at night. You can also try using ointments and creams with capsaicin found in chili peppers, which effectively soothe inflammation and joint pain in seniors.
5. Acupuncture
Acupuncture therapy is preferred by some seniors who believe in this Chinese alternative treatment that can restore the balance and energy in the body to help alleviate joint pain in seniors. It may be a bit crazy or scary to look at, but this medical treatment is effective with stress relief and reduces chronic pain at any age.
6. Meditation and Relaxation
Meditation and other relaxation techniques such as yoga and breathing techniques can help you cope with stress effectively and handle pain and inflammation with ease. For example, breathing through the pain is easy when you are relaxed and have the right mindfulness strategy.
You can combine meditation and relaxation techniques with low-impact exercises in senior living communities in Macomb to lower your stress and anxiety levels so you can handle chronic joint pain better.
7. Use Turmeric
Turmeric is rich in curcumin which relieves joint pain and inflammation. It also strengthens the immune system of the elderly because of its high antioxidant level. You can add a bit of turmeric to your cooking to give it a little spice and boost your health. Adding turmeric makes your dishes exciting, and it also keeps you on your toes for a long time.
8. Massage
Getting a therapeutic massage with essential oils can help seniors feel more relaxed, relieve stress, and reduce the joints’ pain and inflammation. Consult your physician before considering massage as an alternative therapy for joint pain because this may be harmful to some patients depending on the underlying medical condition. You can hire a massage therapist to be on the safe side when tending to seniors.
Age Gracefully the Natural Way!
It’s possible to age gracefully when you are pain-free. Going for the natural remedies outlined above can help you battle joint pain with confidence because these treatments are proven safe and effective to be used by seniors.
