Take Good Care Of Your Knees And Be Active All Your Life By Sharon Bell At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

If you are one of the many people who cannot imagine themselves sitting on a chair knitting or just reading newspapers and books for long period of hours during the retirement years, then you need to take care of your knees now. If you are active, athletic and you love the outdoors, you may already be hurting your knees without knowing it. Majority of the four million people in the US who are suffering from knee problems did not actually get their injuries from sports accidents or one-time events. Usually, knee woes develop overtime and people only discover their problems when it is already too late to cure.

If you love dancing, running, skipping, jumping, and doing strenuous exercises, you probably need to read the tips below so that you can continue having an active life when you reach your 70s or 80s:

Watch Your Weight

Individuals who are overweight and obese have higher risks of developing serious knee problems in the future. Thus, it is really advisable to maintain your ideal weight. Just being a few pounds overweight for decades can still have an impact on the health of your knees.

However, if you are already overweight or obese, you should lose weight safely. You cannot just jog for three hours everyday without consulting your doctor. Such extremely strenuous activity is proven to damage your knees.

Pay Attention To Your Form

If you are into sports or any other physical activities, you need to know how to move your feet and balance your body. From playing badminton to striking with your knees in Taekwondo, you need to know the proper stance. Doing things incorrectly can hurt not only your knees, but your back as well.

Warm Up And Cool Down

If you want to wake up in the morning hurting all over, all you need to do is to perform vigorous exercises without warming up and cooling down. Warming up is important to prevent injuries. Thus, even if you just plan to walk around with your dog, you need to warm your cold muscles by walking slowly at first before speeding up.

The best way to cool down is by stretching your muscles, particularly those located in your thighs and lower legs. You need to stretch after working out so that your tight muscles will be relaxed.

Use Good Athletic Shoes

Have you ever wondered why there are so many types of shoes for different sports and activities? The main reason behind this is not really because shoemakers just want to earn a lot of money. Actually, wearing the right pair of shoes can help reduce tension and strain on your knees and back. The spikes in soccer shoes and cushions in basketball shoes are not just for aesthetic purposes. You need them to lessen the impact on your joints and knees, and to keep you safe from injuries.

Be sure to buy shoes that fit well too – not too tight and not too loose. If you are very active, you also need to replace your shoes regularly.

Supplement With Chondroitin Sulfate And Glucosamine Sulfate

Both glucosamine and chondroitin are important in preserving and protecting your cartilage. Our bodies produce glucosamine naturally; however, as we grow older, the production of this stuff decreases.

Many people have already attested to the effectiveness of these two substances in helping prevent future joint problems. In fact, a number of athletes in the US and Europe are already taking supplements that contain these two ingredients.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=210098&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.