Preventing osteoarthritis: how to keep joints flexible into old age

Opening and closing drawers for 50 years leaves its mark. Some no longer slide well. A similar thing happens to our joints, with the threat of osteoarthritis. If we don't take good care of our joints, the cartilage wears out and our mobility increasingly deteriorates. Once the osteoarthritis has progressed, we are tormented by terrible pain as bone rubs against bone. But we shouldn't let it get that far! On the contrary: we should do everything we can to prevent osteoarthritis. So that we can remain mobile into old age.

via Anna-Lisa

11/24/2017, 10:31

You can prevent osteoarthritis with regular exercise

Avoid overexerting the joints

One important measure is to be physically active on a regular basis. Only through exercise does the cartilage receive all the nutrients it needs. Sports in which the knees are moved a lot without exertion are particularly advisable. But without straining them. These include: Walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics, water aerobics, cross-country skiing and strength training in the gym. However, orthopaedists advise against sports that involve abrupt changes of direction or high impact loads, such as squash. Do you already have osteoarthritis? Then a combination of endurance training and stretching and strengthening exercises is advisable, ideally 30 to 40 minutes a day, at least twice a week.

The cartilage recovers

What else helps the joints? If you are overweight, it is essential to lose weight. This has a relieving effect. Osteoarthritis can be prevented in this way. In addition, joint cartilage can regenerate with the help of so-called collagen peptides. This has been confirmed by a US study. Collagen is an important component of cartilage. The daily intake of drinking ampoules with collagen peptides can even stop cartilage degradation. Cartilage density increases again and osteoarthritis symptoms improve.