Approximately 30 million doctor visits a year are due to knee and shoulder injuries alone. Add another 150 million cases a year for back pain. Many of these visits are related to joint injuries.

Moving a joint through its full range of motion is critical because joints are not supplied directly with blood, as are other organs within the body. Most joints in the body are lined with cartilage. Cartilage within a joint is nourished by synovial fluid, which is forced into the joint cartilage only when joint movement happens. Without healthy joint cartilage, bone grinds on bone and leads to degenerative joint disease, tearing up the bones and creating cysts, bone spurs, and excess bone production.

Most of the injuries to joints occur because abnormal stresses are placed on a normal joint. A joint can be injured from one traumatic event like an ankle sprain. More commonly joint injuries are from repetitive stress. These injuries occur when relatively small abnormal stresses are repeatedly placed on normal joints. Poor posture, poor joint position while performing tasks and poor work ergonomics can cause repeated stress making joints more likely to be injured.

Three basic principles should be considered to minimize the impact on the joints:

1. When lifting, be sure that the largest muscles in the area perform the task. This will ensure that you put less stress on the smaller, more vulnerable muscles and the joint.

2. During activity, you should be able to comfortably assume several different postures to avoid staying in one position for extended periods. When muscles fatigue, joints are more likely to be injured.

3. When performing tasks, keep the joints in their neutral posture or about halfway into the range of motion. Avoid working with your joints at the extremes for prolonged periods.

As always, proper nutrition, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle including chiropractic care are also important to long-term joint health.

For more information contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.