Keeping your joints healthy

Joint and muscle problems can be caused by several factors. One main reason for joint problems and pain is arthritis. Arthritis is a term describing general pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints of the body. Arthritis can lead to painful, swollen joints and can make it difficult for people to move and live their lives well. It can have different causes, but the main ones are called osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Find out about the different types of arthritis and the symptoms they may give provided by the Versus Arthritis group.

There are lots of things you can do to help manage your painful joints including exercise and medication. Not all people who have arthritis choose to have surgery and learn to manage their condition.

You can also help to take the pressure off your joints by maintaining a healthy weight. This can be done through making positive food choices and doing regular exercise such as walking.

Activity can be anything such as walking, gardening, dancing or sport.

See information provided by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy about keeping active and healthy.

Further information about weight loss and healthy food choices.