Common aches and pains
Aches and pains can strike at any age, but there are some common gripes that seem to affect us as we get older and years of wear and tear on our bodies being to show.
Here’s a few of the most common and how to help when aches and pains spring up.
Back pain
Back and neck pain tends to be most prevalent as we move into our fifties and sixties, and can have a number of causes. Occasionally, rigorous or even everyday activities will cause stress and strain on our backs compounded by years of bad posture.
How to help: You can prevent additional strain on your back by doing strengthening exercises and paying attention to how you lift things; make sure you always bend at the knees. Notice when your back is hurting – it could be time to replace your mattress with something firmer or adjust your armchair or computer chair to provide better support.
Arthritis
According to findings from Arthritis Research UK, a third of people over the age of 45 will suffer from arthritis, a condition that affects the joints making movement painful. It’s most common in the knee, hip, foot and hand joints.
How to help: Regular movement and exercise is key to helping fight of stiffness. Strength exercises can also help ease the burden on joints, as can maintaining a healthy weight. For persistent pain, physiotherapy and hot and cold packs can also help improve arthritis pain.
Headaches
Headaches are among the most common types of common pains and can have a number of causes from dehydration to muscle tension, stress, pressure changes and even reactions to certain foods.
How to help: Take note of when your headache strikes – if you’re hungry, tired or thirsty your remedy will be simple and straightforward. It could also be a result of eye strain, so if you’ve been watching television or on the computer for a long stretch of time be sure to take a break. Massaging your forehead and temple can help relieve tension headaches, while aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol can also ease headache pain temporarily.
Muscle strain
Muscle strain happens at any age, but is even more common as we get older and the muscle becomes less dense and thus more prone to injury. This might be why even simple activities like gardening or walking that you once did with no difficulty can now be more challenging.
How to help: Again, regular exercise and maintaining strength as you age through activities like yoga and Pilates will help avoid injury in the first place and keep you flexible and limber. If you are facing muscle soreness, ibuprofen and a combination of ice, rest, compression and elevation can help relieve pain and swelling from muscle injuries.
How do you deal with common aches and pains?
Disclaimer
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Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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