Fitness without Joint PainKnee, ankle and hip pain might be a stereotypical symptom of age, but we don’t always see it coming. The reality is that many men and women start experiencing joint pain soon after the onset of menopause or andropause, and this could mean as early as their mid-forties.

What Causes Joint Pain?

While joint pain often comes with age, it can’t be blamed on age directly. Joint pain might develop as a result of an old injury, due to excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle, or because of osteoarthritis. However, joint pain isn’t something that you just have to accept and live with. Anti-aging therapies are available to treat joint pain and help you become more active again.

Joint pain is a bit of a Catch-22. Exercising regularly can keep joint pain at bay by improving the strength of the muscles around joints and reducing excess weight. However, it is hard to exercise if you are experiencing joint pain. Anti-aging therapy can break the pain cycle by alleviating joint pain to help you get more active, which will naturally alleviate pain in the future.

Of course, it helps to work with your body when you are trying to overcome joint pain—and that means trying exercises that aren’t likely to worsen your pain.

What Activities Should I Try?

Low-impact activities are your best friend when you are trying to overcome joint pain. This means avoiding things like running on pavement or jumping. Activities that require a lot of pivoting can also worsen joint pain, which makes sports like tennis especially trying. Many forms of aerobic dance require a lot of twisting and jumping, so are often not great for joint pain.

Don’t worry! There are plenty of low-impact exercises you can try, such as:

  • Swimming
  • Biking
  • Roller blading
  • Skiing (in the winter, of course)
  • Water aerobics

If you prefer running but joint pain is holding you back, then give the elliptical machine a try. Elliptical machines mimic the motion of running but allow you to keep your feet in one place, taking a lot of the pressure off your lower joints.

*Disclaimer: Medical weight loss programs are individualized to meet the specific needs of each patient. Individual results vary.