For individuals who suffer from pain due to osteoarthritis, there are four ways to adjust your lifestyle that can make a difference.
- Reduce stress and get plenty of sleep
- One study found that “people ages 50 and older who got 6 or fewer hours of sleep each night were 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with OA than those who got between 7-8 hours of sleep. They were also ~30% more likely to experience significant joint pain.”
- Be mindful of your weight
- Even being just 5-10 pounds lighter can help with your pain and mobility. One study found that patients who lost more than 7.5% of their body weight were less likely to require a total knee replacement compared to people who didn’t lose weight or gained weight.
- Try more plant-based foods
- A study in the Journal Complimentary Therapies in Medicine found that people who ate plant-based for eight weeks “reported significant improvements in MSK pain—even if they didn’t lose weight.”
- Focus on getting the proper exercise
- One orthopedic surgeon’s opinion is that “exercise—including physical therapy—is the most important nonsurgical treatment out there to treat osteoarthritis.” This includes aerobics, strength training, and flexibility exercises.
Published on July 10, 2022
