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Conventional Relief Measures For Osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that affects the joints in the human body – hips, knees, elbows, fingers, and the back. As an individual age, the chances of him or her developing osteoarthritis increases. Osteoarthritis is more prevalent in males below 45 years of age, and in females over 55 years of age. Unfortunately, we do not have a cure yet for this crippling disease. The only thing that osteoarthritis suffers can look to is relief from unbearable pain.

Listed below are some conventional remedies that can help you deal with osteoarthritis. However, these remedies may not be effective in all cases. If you are suffering from severe osteoarthritis, you might need to go for advanced treatments. The remedies listed below are useful for sufferers of moderate to mild osteoarthritis.

Physical Exercise

There are exercises that can help the body deal with osteoarthritis. Depending on the situation, the concerned medical professional may prescribe certain exercises that are beneficial to the patient. The exercises help to:

  • Ensure the flexibility of joints
  • Nourish the cartilage and strengthen the tissues surrounding the joint
  • Protect the joint from further wear and tear

Through exercising, you can lessen the pain and improve the functioning of the joint. Exercise religiously and you will observe an improvement in the quality of your life.

While exercising, you should remember to protect your joints. Your purpose in exercising is to strengthen your joints, and not to break them. Do not engage in any exercises that apply tremendous pressure to your affected joint, such as weight lifting.

Alteration to one’s lifestyle

This is probably the single hardest thing to do for any individual – to change the way one lives in order to lead a healthier life. However, osteoarthritis sufferers have no other alternative. Patients are advised to discontinue doing taxing activities. You should take the utmost care to minimize the pressure to your affected joint when you bend it. If you are unable to avoid engaging in strenuous activities, remember to rest often between the activities.

Extreme temperature treatment

You can achieve significant relief from osteoarthritis by adopting the hot and cold treatment. Using heat pads and ice packs alternatively can soothe the pain in your joint and alleviate the stiffness. Take a hot bath before exercising, as it may improve muscle flexibility. If you experience any numbness or pain in the affected joint, an ice pack should provide you with instantaneous relief.