Everyone wants to have fun over the holiday season, whether it’s going to see family and have a blast, or getting company over to enjoy laughs, food, and gifts. But the holidays can come with health risks if we’re not careful, including various cold and flu infections, cardiovascular disease, and digestive problems due to excess and stress.
All the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and travel can also take its toll on your joints, which can make this time of year a bit more miserable. Let’s work to avoid joint problems by reviewing common issues the holidays can bring, learning what signs to look for, and examining ways to prevent them.
David Dickerson, MD, and the dedicated staff at Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine can help residents of Shrewsbury, Toms River, and Wall Township, New Jersey, prevent and manage joint problems that can come with the rigors of holiday activities.
With an estimated 250 to 350 joints in our bodies, many areas can be affected over the holidays. These factors lead to joint pain:
Several conditions can lead to joint pain, including many forms of arthritis, bone fractures, joint inflammation (tendonitis, bursitis), and stretching or tearing of ligaments or tendons (sprains or strains).
Signs of joint issues can vary depending on the cause, but problems such as swelling, stiffness, redness, tenderness, warmth to the touch, and reduced mobility are common across many causes. In some cases, the pain may be severe, and problems like joint deformity, massive pain, sudden swelling, and complete joint immobility should get immediate medical attention.
To reduce the chances of joint pain and related problems, these methods can be a great help:
To keep joints active without constantly wearing them down, regimens that include bicycling, swimming, and walking can be beneficial.
Conditions that limit joint movement can also be painful, and we can help you maintain as much of your full range of motion as possible.
Calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids help the bones and soft tissue in joints a lot, so drink more milk, eat more green, leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale), and enjoy more fish in your diet.
Exercise is excellent for joints, but avoid overdoing it. If joints hurt after a workout, give your body time to heal before going back to the gym.
We should all work to take better care of our joints year-round, but these basic steps can help keep them healthy during the holidays. For more recommendations and treatment options dealing with joint issues, call 732-691-4898 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dickerson and the Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team today.
