Simple Tips for Overcoming Morning Joint Stiffness to Wake Up Easier
6 minute read
Arthritis is a collection of joint diseases characterized by inflammation, hence the “-itis” at the end of the name. Arthritic joints can be so painful at times that you are unable to perform basic daily activities.
Anti-inflammatory medications are typically prescribed for arthritic conditions, but these can have unpleasant side effects when taken for an extended time. Thankfully, there are more natural ways to relieve your joint pain, so you can get up with ease each morning.
Morning Routine to Help Arthritis
Whether you have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, getting up in the morning can be a challenge. The inflammation that causes pain and immobility in your joints gets worse in the morning. This is often because your joints have been resting, which allows the stiffness to settle in.
When it comes time to get up, the pain makes it impossible to rise or shine—this is not a good start to any day.
The best way to deal with morning stiffness is to plan ahead. This is easy to do because you can count on this problem each morning. The stiffness can involve both sides of your body, making movement even more difficult.
| Related: The Arthritis Diet: Eating Your Way to Inflammation Relief |
The good news is that moving around loosens joints and actually helps promote mobility in the morning. Developing a morning routine can help you to overcome this challenge and get you moving right.
Start incorporating any of these tips in your morning routine to help you overcome any arthritis stiffness.
♦ Start gentle and slow: Upon first waking up, get up slowly and start with slow and gentle movements. Make gentle, circular motions with your joints without pulling or stretching. Be sure to rotate your neck, shoulders, elbows, wrist, and knees.
♦ Targeted stretches: You can perform targeted stretches while you are still in bed. This is useful for those with severely stiff joints. Stretch each effected joint, holding each stretch for 20 or 30 seconds. Be sure to repeat this twice for each joint.
With time you will find it easier to get out of bed, and you can eventually perform the stretches standing up. It is important to remember that stretching should never be painful. If it is, you are overdoing it and could cause more damage.
♦ Heat therapy: While still in bed in the morning, try using heat therapy. A heated blanket or a heating pad can help. If you are able to get up, then try a hot bath first thing in the morning to relieve stiffness and allow your joints to warm up and gently get moving.
♦ Joint creams: These creams can help to relieve inflammation in the morning to help you get going. It is best to keep these creams by your bed so you can apply them first thing without having to get up. With regular use, you can give your stiff joints the boost they need to get you up and out of bed.
♦ Eat right: Once you are up, make sure you eat a breakfast that supports your condition. This means eating anti-inflammatory foods to help relieve the inflammation causing your joint pain. Eat a light meal full of nutrition to make sure you get energy for the morning and avoid too many calories. The last thing you want to do is overeat and risk gaining weight, as this will only add to the pressure and stress on your joints.
Supplemental support is an additional way to support and heal arthritic joints. Your morning routine will help reduce the stiffness you feel each morning, but supplements can help heal your joints from within.
Anti-inflammatory compounds, such as boswellia serrata and astaxanthin, help to reduce inflammation, which relieves swelling and allows for more flexibility and movement. In addition to this, you want ingredients that promote joint health and healing.
Joint health supplements have been proven to reduce inflammation and swelling in joints while providing beneficial fatty acids that promote joint suppleness and mobility. There are specific reasons that krill oil works so well to heal your aching joints.
♦ Astaxanthin: This is a powerful antioxidant compound that provides protection from free radicals as well as inflammatory chemicals. Studies have found that astaxanthin works to relieve pain and swelling as efficiently as leading pain medications.
♦ Bioavailability: Ensuring that the supplement you take is easily absorbed by the body is essential. Quality joint health supplements will contain collagen, but it is important to make sure the collagen used is bioenhanced to make it more efficiently used by your body.
♦ Hyaluronic acid: HLA occurs naturally within the synovial fluid surrounding your joints. Extensive clinical evidence suggests that when taken orally, it can soothe joint discomfort due to its ability to directly target joints.
The Bottom Line
Arthritis of any kind can be a challenge because it interferes with your daily activities and livelihood. Without treatment, your quality of life can be seriously impaired.
Don’t let arthritis keep you down each day. Start your own morning routine to get rid of those stiff joints, so you can enjoy your day. Be sure to promote optimal joint health and healing with a quality supplement too, so you get the best that mornings have to offer you.
