- Maintaining a healthy weight is key to so many aspects of your health. If you are overweight, shedding even just a few extra pounds can provide a great amount of relief to your hips and other joints. This is especially important if you have arthritis.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Consume foods that are rich in vitamin C to help improve bone health and prevent fractures. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods such as dark, leafy greens, fatty fish, extra virgin olive oil, berries and nuts are all good foods to help keep your hips healthy.
- Keep moving. It’s important to exercise regularly but aim for low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming or even climbing stairs. High-impact exercise such as running can put extra strain on your hips, especially if they’re already hurting.
- If you do have hip pain that isn’t serious, try heat and ice measures to see if that relieves the pain. A warm bath or shower can help you as you stretch your hips to relieve the pain. Alternatively, placing a bag of frozen vegetables inside a cloth and on top of your hip can help as well. You may also try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If you find that you’re taking pain relievers too often or the medication isn’t cutting through the pain, see your doctor.
- If you have hip pain, do not put direct pressure on the hip joint. Also avoid sleeping for long periods of time or sleeping on the side that hurts.
To learn more, call (219) 795-3360 and schedule an appointment.
