To celebrate Independence Day perhaps you settled down in Pratt Park or Old Mill Park – your joints crackling and popping along with the Fredericksburg fireworks display. Or maybe you kicked the day off with the Heritage Festival Run – only to have lingering knee pain dampening the festivities for the rest of the day.

What would it be like to celebrate these special days without nagging pain or limiting injuries?

Too often, those who suffer from chronic joint pain have resigned to accept it as a daily part of their life. However, there are simple and natural ways to eliminate or drastically reduce joint pain so you can get back to enjoying life.

Depending on the cause of joint pain, it isn’t always necessary for invasive procedures or habit-forming drugs to get rid of the pain. While it is always recommended to consult with your health-care provider on how to best manage your symptoms, the following list suggests four ways to treat and prevent joint pain naturally.

1. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve secondary pain and return your body to optimal alignment, reducing stress on joints which could worsen pain. For example, if an individual is suffering from knee pain, causing them to walk with an uneven gait and causing secondary lower-back pain, a chiropractor may perform hip, spine, and pelvic adjustments to relieve this pain. In many cases, joint pain is caused or worsened by inefficiencies in our body’s structure or movement. A series of chiropractic treatments could leave you feeling the benefits after just a few sessions. 

While hands-on chiropractic care is well-known for helping to improve joint pain that is not caused by swelling, some practitioners also offer non-invasive wellness services for patients who do experience painful swelling. This might include deep-tissue massage to release tight muscles or Pulse Electro Magnetic Therapy which uses magnetic waves to stimulate the area. 

Hands of Hope Hint: Have you been in pain for so long you’ve forgotten how your body should feel at optimal performance? Schedule a chiropractic consultation to begin your natural journey back to pain-free living.

2. Essentials Oils
It seems nearly every ailment may benefit from the use of essential oils – and joint pain is no different. Although essential oils may not resolve the root issue of joint pain, their benefits may provide immediate relief from the pain to help you get through your day pain-free.

Peppermint oil is well-known for it’s cooling properties, which provides a natural menthol treatment which is often found in over-the-counter pain-relief lotions that are riddled with less-friendly ingredients. 

Other essential oils which have been shown to have high anti-inflammatory properties include eucalyptus oil and myrrh.  

Hands of Hope Hint: To feel the immediate relief, dilute peppermint essential oil into an unscented lotion or carrier oil and massage into your lower-back, knee, or neck.

3. Low Impact Exercise
Often, individuals who suffer from joint pain also limit the amount of exercise they get – either because the pain is too much or from fear of worsening the pain. However, depending on the severity and cause of the joint pain, moderate- to low-impact exercise can actually improve pain through strengthening and reinforcing the joint and surrounding muscles. 

Swimming, biking, water aerobics, walking, and light yoga are examples of low-impact exercise routines which you may want to experiment with. A daily, gentle stretching routine and ensuring movement and activity is sprinkled throughout the day will also contribute to healthier joints. Avoid concentrating activity into one block of time and reverting to a sedentary lifestyle for the rest of the day.  

Hands of Hope Hint: Try setting a timer at work to remind you to stand, walk a lap, and do some gentle stretches to stay moving and limber throughout the day.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Instead of reaching for over-the-counter pain killers or anti-inflammatory drugs, a balanced diet high in anti-inflammatory foods will provide a more natural and holistic solution to joint pain.
Anti-inflammatory foods for joint pain include foods rich in omega-3 fats such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, berries, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and extra-virgin olive oil. Herbs with anti-inflammatory properties include turmeric and ginger.
Hands of Hope Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Fredericksburg, VA also offers Chirothin, which can be combined with an anti-inflammatory diet to aid in weight-loss and reduce stress on run-down joints.

Hands of Hope Hint: Kick your diet for joint pain off right -- try brewing a hot cup of turmeric and ginger tea for breakfast to sip your way to less pain.

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Dr. J.P. Yurgel, D.C. of Hands of Hope Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Fredericksburg, VA invites you to get started on your holistic health journey. Schedule an appointment today!