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Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe more than 100 different diseases that cause joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. While the risk factors for each type of arthritis are different, there are certain things you can do to lower your chances at developing most of them.

Here are five ways to reduce your risk of arthritis.

1. Maintain a healthy weight.

Obesity is one of the main risk factors for arthritis because more weight equals more pressure on your bones and joints. Every one pound of bodyweight you gain translates to four pounds of added pressure on your knees and hips, so it is easy to see how this can add up pretty quickly.

2. Exercise Regularly

Getting in your daily physical activity helps you fight arthritis in two ways. Not only does it help regulate your bodyweight (point number one), it also helps strengthen the muscles and joints in your body.

3. Limit high-impact activities.

Exercising is good, but not all forms of it are created equal. Consider trading in your running shoes for a pair of swimming trunks or a bicycle. This is because high-impact exercises such as running and stairclimbing can actually cause the cartilage in your joints to break down faster.

4. Drink plenty of water.

Staying hydrated offers a wealth of benefits: it keeps your skin healthy, aids in digestion, flushes your body of toxins, and helps prevent joint pain. The cartilage in your body is comprised mostly of water, so when we are dehydrated, our joints can become damaged more easily.

5. Practice proper body mechanics.

From sitting up straight, to lifting with your legs and not your back, proper posture and body mechanics can go a long way towards warding off arthritis. People with poor body mechanics are predisposed to develop arthritis because they are constantly putting unnecessary stress on their body’s joints.

Unfortunately, some types of arthritis are hereditary, and there is little-to-nothing you can do to prevent them. If you are suffering from chronic joint pain, the experts at Orthopaedic Specialty Group can help you manage your symptoms and get back to living an enjoyable life. If you live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, call us at (203) 337-2600 to schedule an appointment with one of our certified specialists.