03 Oct Tips to take care of your joints while exercising

Unfortunately, the older we get the more prone we become to having tight joints and ligaments.
That doesn’t mean we have to stop being active and exercising, but it does mean we need to get smarter about the way we do it.
Of course, everyone knows that stretching is the No. 1 way to improve flexibility, but many people don’t know as much about stretching as they should.
Perform a real light stretch before an activity, such as warming up by walking, jogging or riding a bicycle.
After about an easy 5-10 minutes of that warmup you should then have the blood flowing enough to stretch out fully. Stretching and flexibility are the key to everything you do in a workout.
If your joints and ligaments are still tight after stretching, choose exercises that are low impact. If you have sore knees, ankles and/or bad hips, then you might want to consider avoid running altogether or cut back.
Instead, do exercises in which one foot is on the ground at all times, like walking. Or try an elliptical machine – it’s not nearly as demanding on the joints as running.
I’ve also found that Vibration Training Machines, such as 3G Cardio Vibration Machines, are an excellent way for people with tight joints and ligaments to get a good, low-impact workout and even improve flexibility.
If you have troublesome joints, avoid activities with lots of twists, turns and sudden starts and stops, like basketball and tennis.
Resting a day between strenuous workouts is a good way to help preserve your joints.
Also, make sure your shoes aren’t too worn out. If joint problems are a concern, it would be a good idea to speak with a doctor or trainer about looking into insoles. Specialty athletic footwear stores have pretty knowledgeable people if you want to save some money and avoid a doctor for shoe/insole advice.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com