As you age, your cartilage — the spongy material that protects the ends of
your bones — begins to dry out and stiffen. Your body also makes less
synovial fluid, the stuff that acts like oil to keep your joints moving
smoothly. The result: Your joints may not move as freely as they used to.
It sounds a little crazy, but the best thing you can do is keep on
trucking. Synovial fluid requires movement to keep your joints loose.
your bones — begins to dry out and stiffen. Your body also makes less
synovial fluid, the stuff that acts like oil to keep your joints moving
smoothly. The result: Your joints may not move as freely as they used to.
It sounds a little crazy, but the best thing you can do is keep on
trucking. Synovial fluid requires movement to keep your joints loose.
your grandma say they knew when a storm was coming because their joints
ached? They were right. Doctors aren’t sure why, but joint pain seems to
get worse when the weather changes. It’s most common when the air pressure
(the weather forecaster will call it barometric pressure) falls. That
typically happens just before a storm, a study noticed.
your joints are extra stiff in the morning, try a hot shower or bath. It’ll
get blood flowing to the area, which loosens things up. You can also buy
moist heat pads from the drugstore or make your own. Toss a washcloth into
a freezer bag and microwave it for 1 minute. Wrap it in a towel and leave
it on the area for 15-20 minutes.
