3 Tips For Relieving Painful Achy Joints

It’s not uncommon for many of us to wake up feeling a little stiff or achy in our joints. Sometimes, we wonder, “Did I sleep on my neck wrong? Did I go up and down the stairs too many times yesterday? Do I need a new mattress or pillow?” It’s only normal that from time to time we feel a little less than perfect upon getting our day started!

However, if you find that you’re consistently waking up in pain, whether it be in your neck, back, hips, or elsewhere, it could be time for a trip to your physical therapist. Aches and pain don’t have to rule your morning or your life! 

The true reason behind your morning aches and pains…

Believe it or not, your mattress isn’t always to blame for your aches and pains. Lifestyle choices, daily activities, genetics, and injuries, both current and past, can create an environment of inflammation, poor body mechanics, and generally increased strain in certain areas of our body. Throughout the day, those tissues become stressed or irritated by the demands of your work or play. By the time you’re tired and ready to go to bed, there’s a good chance you might not even notice the irritation.

For the most part, when you fall asleep, you stay in the same spot, unmoving for long stretches during the night. This prolonged positioning allows the inflammation and excess fluids to settle into the tissues and all the nooks and crannies of the joint.

This results in you waking up in the morning and finding that your joints are stiff and achy, making your first few steps or even just getting out of bed so uncomfortable! After you start moving around, usually the excess fluid in the joints slowly dissipates and the pain will lessen or subside altogether. Even if this is the case, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to cease waking up in pain to begin with.

One easy habit you can practice to reduce the nightly stiffness is to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Drinking enough fluids and staying hydrated allows your body to process and eliminate some of the causes of inflammation more efficiently. In addition to proper hydration, a physical therapist can prescribe a simple range of motion and stretching program to get your body moving better before your feet hit the floor in the morning. 

Do I have a more serious medical condition?

Although staying hydrated is important, water can’t fix everything. Whether you have seen your doctor or physical therapist about your achy joints or not, consistent waking with pain, stiffness, and achy body parts can be a sign of an underlying problem. 

Some of the most common ailments that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:

• Lupus
• Athletic injuries such as tennis and golfer’s elbow
• Tendonitis
• Back pain and sciatica
• Ankle/foot sprains and strains
• Hip and knee Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis

Unfortunately, all of these conditions can cause aching, stiffness, and joint pain. A physical therapist will work with you to help you gain your strength back, achieve a greater range of motion with the affected joints or limbs, and relieve the pain so you can enjoy a better quality of life.

3 Natural Ways To Relieve Stiff, Achy Joints

Everyone’s physical therapy treatment is different because everyone’s pain condition is different. Your physical therapy treatment plan will be tailored to your specific symptoms and the diagnosis you have received.

Several recommendations work hand-in-hand with physical therapy, and your therapist may suggest you try them for yourself. Here are some tips your physical therapist may share on your recovery journey!

• Pay attention to what you’re eating. We are what we eat. According to Healthline, “A plant-based diet provides antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation by eliminating free radicals from the body.” Be sure to consume lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods contain many antioxidants and vitamins, which help to fight the swelling and inflammation that can lead to joint pain. Having a well-rounded diet is one key to relieving joint pain. Adopting a better diet also helps your body reap more benefits from exercise, and helps you to get better sleep!
• Go to sleep on time. Sleeping is natural, and when you’re doing it at the right time, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy!Sleep can help you stay fit, which is pretty cool.When you get enough sleep, it increases your ability to exercise effectively. When you exercise regularly, it helps you to get better sleep. Better sleep habits and physical exercise are a powerful duo for keeping aches and stiffness away.
• Improve your posture — sit up straight! Having good posture during the day also helps your joints to function properly. When we slouch or don’t practice good posture, it causes unnecessary strain on parts of the body that shouldn’t be stressed. It’s important to get up every half hour for stretches if you work at a job that requires you to stay sedentary all day. Moving around keeps your circulations going, and can help reduce joint pain.

Relieve stiff and achy joints today; call our clinic for more information

You don’t have to be recovering from extensive surgery or injuries to benefit from physical therapy! Many of the exercises and stretches a physical therapist will teach and recommend are very easy and simple to perform on your own, and they don’t require special tools or equipment. Not to mention, most of our patients aren’t Olympic athletes — they’re regular people!

We can schedule a comprehensive exam for you to meet with one of our movement experts. They can assess your condition and create a customized treatment plan suited to your exact needs!

If you’re experiencing joint pain, it’s time to end your discomfort once and for all. Contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy today to learn more about how physical therapy can benefit you and relieve your pain. So what are you waiting for? Pain relief is a phone call away.