We all get aches and pains in our body which we notice more as we get older. Whether that is back pain, tight joints or something that is a bit sore, it is a common experience particularly in winter, to feel something that does not feel right.
According to Dr Tim Bond and personal trainer, Lucy Gornall, there are several things you can try to help reduce the chance of pain occurring.
Stretching daily
Stretching out our joints and muscles helps to reduce them tightening up and makes it easier for us to move about.
Lucy said: “Stretching is vital, to keep muscles flexible and to help maintain the proper range of motion in the joints. Even 10 minutes in the morning will really make a difference.
“You should also stretch before and after exercise, to prepare the muscles and joints for the movement they’re about to do and stop them from tightening after exercise.”
Stretching before and after exercise is a necessity according to experts
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Add resistance
Adding some resistance training could be very beneficial to easing your chance of pain. Strong muscle support protects joints, helping to avoid injuries.
The personal trainer said: “Resistance training is essentially exercising that forces muscles to contract against an external resistance; this could be your own body weight, or you can add weights such as dumbbells. Aim to include two resistance-based sessions a week into your routine.”
Try thermotherapy
Thermotherapy is a procedure that uses heat to treat damaged tissues, muscles, or joints.
Dr Tim Bond said: “Thermotherapy boosts blood flow and helps to deliver nutrients to a particular area of the body, such as a painful muscle or joint.”
Try cryotherapy
This may seem unappealing to many but cryotherapy is a useful way of using extreme cold to remove abnormal tissues.
Lucy advised: “If you’re suffering from a sprain or strain, then applying cold can help to reduce any swelling, whilst also helping to alleviate pain.”
These four methods can help reduce the chance of pain
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The experts advised trying these four methods to see the impact they could have on reducing your likelihood of pain. Dr Tim Bond said: “Too many people are avoiding exercise and pain is clearly a barrier.
“Ultimately, prioritising our muscle and joint health will ensure we can continue to move comfortably and get the daily exercise we all need.”
Our diet is also a key component of our health and it can help give us the energy and durability to be able to exercise effectively.
It was recently revealed that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet for you to consider.
