Around 9 million people in the UK suffer with arthritis and this means that these many people are suffering every day with painful, stiff joints. Osteoarthritis is one of the more common forms of this condition and is caused by the general wear and tear of the joints. The other form is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease and means that the body begins mistakenly attacking itself – sufferers often suffer with flare-ups in smaller joints, such as the wrists or fingers, and the joints become hot and swollen. Anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are used to treat these symptoms, and do so effectively for most people, but there are other natural ways of treating the condition and limiting the effect it has on your lifestyle by reducing the painful symptoms.
Lose weight
Being overweight means there is more stress being put on your joints, which can make the symptoms of arthritis worse. Even losing just a few extra pounds can make all the difference. Experts have proven that your knees and hips have to carry ten times your body weight every time you take a step, so losing half a stone in weight could be the equivalent of five stones off your knees with every footstep. If you have arthritis, this could be a massive strain removed from your everyday routine.
Visit an osteopath
Osteopaths are trained to use physical manipulation to stretch and massage the joints, to increase mobility and relieve tension. By improving your flexibility, you can make the joints less stiff, which is one of the most common signs of arthritis. It;s not right for everyone, but if your joints become more painful after having a bath or swimming, it may be because they are compressed and tight. Visiting an osteopath could help to take the stiffness away from your joints and you may find that you benefit enormously from manipulation.
Remove stress from your life
Studies show that stress can actually increase the inflammation in the body, which can aggravate existing joint pain and make arthritis worse. You should aim to set aside at least one evening a week where you devote your time to relaxing and staying calm – go out with friends, have a nice meal or watch a film. Whatever gets you calm and stress-free, be sure to make time for it.
Eat pineapple
Pineapple is a surprising addition to this list, but it is a fruit which is rich in bromelain – this group of enzymes works as an anti-inflammatory and can help with painful joints. But don’t forget to eat the tougher core of the fruit too, as this is the art which has the highest concentration of bromelain. If you find it too tough to eat, you could try to juice it with celery and a small knob of ginger for a healthy, nutrient-rich drink that could help with arthritic pain.
Have a bath
Everyone likes a relaxing bath, but for sufferers of arthritis it could be the best medicine. Take a warm bath with a few drops of essential oil or epsom salt, which is high in magnesium and relieves joint pain. Follow it up with a gentle massage with some body oil or lotion. This time relaxing not only soothes the pain in your joints, but it also means you can take the weight off your joints for an hour, giving them time to relax and recuperate. You could even tie this into your relaxation time each week and tick two tasks off your list in one!
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