Having good mobility is essential to building and maintaining physical health. Bending and stretching, as well raising your heartbeat through exercise, allows you to stay fit and flexible enough to do everyday tasks. In turn, this will allow you to keep your independence and not rely solely on others.
However, for those with long-term joint conditions, it can feel like an uphill task to maintain your mobility. Swollen joints are painful, and you may struggle to find the motivation or energy to go out and exercise. However, it is important that you do so. In this post, we explore exactly how you can maintain your mobility and enjoy the benefits of movement, without harming your joints.
Stay active with low-intensity exercise
While everyone will feel the universal benefits of regular physical activity, individuals with joint conditions may achieve the added benefit of some relief from their symptoms through exercising consistently.
While it’s important to prioritise safety and listen to your body, some low-impact exercise can make living with joint pain or other conditions a bit more manageable. Whether it’s walking, light stretching or swimming, these activities can be beneficial for both mind and body when done regularly in consultation with a medical professional.
Eat a balanced diet
Your diet might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about mobility, but it can have an impact, especially for health conditions that flare up with certain foods, such as gout. Try and make sure that you’re eating a balanced diet, with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and protein – not only will this fuel your body, but understanding how the food you eat impacts you can help you keep control of weight, which can be challenging when you have limited mobility.
Some foods are also known for being beneficial for the joints. Seeds, nuts, fish, whole grains, beans and lentils can all help reduce inflammation and strengthen connective tissue in the joints. This can hopefully reduce the risk of your symptoms flaring up, and aid you in becoming more mobile.
Use assistive devices when necessary
Being mobile doesn’t mean that you have to be able to run 5km unaided, or swim 50 lengths. There are a range of assistive devices that are widely available to help you get up and moving, and using one doesn’t mean that you’re not exercising properly. Crutches, walkers, knee braces, air splints for ankles, shoe inserts and orthopaedic shoes can all help keep you mobile.
If you think an assistive device might help, then make sure to speak to your doctor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. They can talk through the different options with you, and advise which are right for your long-term health condition.
Managing your joint condition
Gentle exercise, eating well and using assistive devices when needed can all help you keep your mobility, and by extension, your independence. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reach out for help when you need it – your family, friends and healthcare professionals can all make a difference to your life with a long-term joint condition.
Written by: Sophie Hislop
Sophie has trained as a physical therapist, and aims to give her patients independence and confidence in their lives. She writes posts that aim to do the same.