No matter your age, joint health matters. Even more so if you train regularly. Joint pain can hinder your progress and even prevent you from working out. There are plenty of great ways to keep your joints strong and healthy, so you can maintain your active lifestyle for many years to come. Here are 5 things you can do to improve your joint health.
1 - Keep Moving
Stay active to keep your joints healthy. Exercise strengthens the muscles, tendons and ligaments that surround your joints. When these are strong and healthy, your joints are more stable and less prone to injury. If you work at a desk job, be sure to get up and move around periodically. Being active also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is another way to reduce wear and tear on your joints. Take the stairs rather than the elevator, and walk or bike instead of driving when you can.
2 - Embrace Strength Training
Resistance training is a great way to maintain strong joints. As well as keeping the muscles around your joints strong, working out with weights helps keep the muscles around your joints strong and supports general bone health. The best weight exercises to keep your joints strong are free weights. So if you enjoy using machines to isolate muscle groups, try to mix things up by incorporating some dumbbells too. This will help improve your joint stability. You're not just building killer muscles by lifting, you're also giving your joints a boost. Even people who already suffer from joint pain can benefit from strength training, though you should consult a medical professional first if this is the case for you.
3 - Avoid Overtraining
While it's important to incorporate strength training into your fitness regimen for optimal joint health, it's equally important not to overdo it. When your workout is more intense than you are able to properly recover from, you could be doing more harm than good. If you still feel very sore 48 hours after your workout, you could be overtraining (and potentially causing injury to your joints).
If you are fatigued from working out too much, you are also more likely to cause injury to your joints from using poor technique. Rest days are just as important as training days, so make sure to use them wisely. If you still want to get active on a rest day, go for a nice walk instead of hitting the gym.
4 - Use Proper Technique
You already know that using good form is a vital part of achieving the muscle definition and growth you want. It's also important for keeping your joints healthy. If you aren't sure whether you're lifting properly, you may want to consult a personal trainer to keep you on track. Aim to lift evenly, without favouring one side or the other. Good posture goes a long way toward keeping your joints in good working order, too. Keep your back straight always, whether you're at the gym or sitting at your desk.
5 - Supplement Your Joints
All the weight loss strategies in the world won't help if your joints are keeping you from getting a good workout. One of the best ways to ensure your joints are healthy is to take supplements that support them. We stock an excellent range of supplements designed specifically to support joint health.
Best supplements for healthy joints
Collagen
Collagen has become popular as a supplement for a multitude of reasons. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and is found throughout joints, bones, skin and hair. Taking a collagen supplement may help support your joints as part of an active lifestyle.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3s are a powerful weapon in the fight against joint damage. They may help support joint comfort and mobility as part of a balanced diet. Fish Oil is a popular supplement among people who want to support their general joint health as part of an active lifestyle.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a popular supplement used to support joint health and comfort. Taking a glucosamine supplement is particularly beneficial to athletes and active people who work their joints harder than most.
Chondroitin
Chondroitin is a vital part of cartilage. Chondroitin is a key component of cartilage and is a popular supplement for people looking to support joint health. This is great news for people who suffer from joint pain. Chondroitin is often combined with Glucosamine for maximum effect.
MSM
MSM is a popular joint health supplement among elite athletes, and is often taken to support general joint and muscle comfort. MSM provides structural support for connective tissues.
Cissus Extract
Cissus extract supports healthy bones, ligaments, and joints. Cissus extract is traditionally used to support healthy bones, ligaments, and joints.
Capzea
Made from natural oils and extracts, Capzea is a topical product made from natural oils and extracts, used externally as part of a joint and muscle care routine.
The Elite Supps range of joint support supplements are formulated to help you stay active and support your general health and wellbeing.
