16 Ways You May Be Hurting Your Joints
Carry Extra Weight
Your joints, which link your bones together, are sensitive to heavy loads. Every pound on your frame puts 4 pounds of stress on your knees. It also strains your back, hips, and feet. That causes wear and tear that can lead to damage, aches, and pain. Being overweight also triggers inflammation. That can make all your joints, including in your hands, stiff, painful, and swollen.
Swipe to advance
Text Too Much
‘Texting thumb’ is a real thing. Your tendons can get irritated and lock your thumb in a curled position. All that looking down at your phone is just as bad for your neck and shoulders, too. Every inch your head drops forward raises the load on your muscles. If you bend your neck so far that your chin touches your chest, it’s as if your neck has to support the weight of 5 heads instead of just one.
Swipe to advance
Steep Price of High Heels
They might look fab, but the higher they rise, the more your weight tips forward. Your thigh muscles have to work harder to keep your knee straight, which can cause pain. When heels go up, so does the twisting force in your knees. If you wear them every day, you boost your odds for osteoarthritis. That’s when the bones and the cushioning between the bones break down.
Swipe to advance
Wear the Wrong Shoes
Worn-out shoes don’t support your feet and ankles enough. That’ll throw your knees, hips, and back out of whack. Also, make sure your sneakers are right for your sport. High tops for basketball, for example, can protect your ankles from sprains. But don’t go overboard. Too much cushion or arch support means your foot can’t move naturally, which could keep you in a cycle of pain.
Swipe to advance
Crack Your Knuckles
That satisfying pop comes from tiny bubbles bursting in the fluid around your joints. Or from ligaments snapping against bone. Despite what annoyed adults might have warned you, it doesn’t cause arthritis. Still, it might be smart to stop. One study showed that this habit may cause your hands to swell and weaken your grip.
Swipe to advance
Lug a Big Bag
Whether it’s a purse, backpack, or messenger bag, packing too much can cause neck and shoulder pain. Heavy weight on one shoulder throws off your balance and your walk. If you tend to carry things only on one side, the constant pull overstretches your muscles and tires out your joints. If you do that every day, your body’s going to let you know loud and clear.
Swipe to advance
Use Wrong Muscles for the Job
When you put too much load on little muscles, your joints pay the price. If you need to open a heavy door, push with your shoulder instead of your fingers. When you lift something off the floor, bend at your knees and push up with your strong leg muscles. When you carry something, hold it close to you in the palms of your hands instead of stressing your fingers.
Swipe to advance
Sleep on Your Stomach
It might help with snoring, but not so much with the rest of your body. Lying on your tummy pushes your head back, which compresses your spine. Your head also will face in one direction for longer stretches than if you sleep on your back. All that puts pressure on other joints and muscles.
Swipe to advance
Skip Stretching
You don’t need to be a yogi, but regular stretching can help strengthen your muscles and tendons. It also can make them more flexible. That allows your joints to move more easily and helps the muscles around them work better. That’s key to healthy and stable joints.
Swipe to advance
Skimp on Strength Training
Once you turn 40, your bones start to get a little thinner and more likely to break. If you build muscle with strength training, it slows bone loss and triggers new growth. So you not only get stronger muscles, but denser bones, too. Together, they stabilize your joints so you’re less likely to get hurt.
Swipe to advance
Smoke and Chew Tobacco
Here’s another reason to quit: Your joints will thank you. Nicotine from cigarettes and chewing tobacco cuts down on blood flow to your bones and to the cushioning discs in your back. It limits how much bone-building calcium your body can take in. It also breaks down estrogen, a hormone you need for bone health. And it slows new growth that thickens bones. All that makes your joints weaker and your hips more likely to break.
Swipe to advance
Don’t Get Quality ZZZs
You may wonder how poor sleep can affect your joints. One study found that people with arthritis felt more pain after restless nights. That made them take a closer look. One theory is that when you don’t sleep well, it triggers inflammation in your body. That might lead to joint problems over time. More research is needed, but in the meantime, it sure won’t hurt to get good shut-eye.
Swipe to advance
Slouch and Slump
Your body’s at its best when you work with it, not against it. That’s why posture matters. When you slump in your chair, it puts more stress on your muscles and joints and tires them out. It’s like always jamming on your car brakes when you could just ease down on the pedal instead. So keep your back straight and those shoulders back and down.
Swipe to advance
Ignore Pain
When you work out, you might think you just need to power through it. After all, no pain, no gain, right? It’s true that some muscle soreness is OK. But not if it lasts for days or if your muscles are swollen or too sore to move or to touch. Joint pain isn’t normal, so pay attention to it. If you think you overdid it, ease up on your exercises. If the pain won’t go away, check with your doctor.
Swipe to advance
Too Much Computer Time
It can literally be a pain in your neck -- and your elbows, wrists, back, and shoulders. The problem isn’t just bad posture, but that you hold it for too long. That overworks your muscles. It also puts pressure on the discs in your back. If you’re in a soft chair, prop up your arms with cushions to take the load off your shoulders and your neck. Be sure to get up and move every hour.
Swipe to advance
Repeat Poor Form
When you run, bike, or play tennis, you use the same motions over and over. But if your form is bad, you’ll stress your body in all the wrong places. If you overload your muscles, it puts more pressure on your joints, and you can end up with an injury like tennis elbow.
Swipe to advance
Sources Medically Reviewed on 12/04/2019 Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on December 04, 2019
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
1) Thinkstock Photos
Arthritis Foundation: “51 Ways to Be Good to Your Joints,” “5 Bad Habits to Drop for Better Arthritis Management,” “Sleep and Pain,” “Why Osteoarthritis Could Disrupt Your Sleep — and Your Partner’s,” “Protect Your Joints,” “What is Osteoarthritis?”
Harvard Medical School: “Why weight matters when it comes to joint pain,” “Does cracking knuckles cause arthritis?” “How stretching keeps your joints moving,” “Strength Training Builds More Than Muscles,” “Do Habits Cause Your Neck Pain?” “Simple Tips to Protect Your Joints.”
University of Washington Medicine: “Frequently Asked Questions about Living with Arthritis.”
Rush University Medical Center: “5 Tips for Preventing Knee Pain,” “When Technology Hurts.”
Piedmont Health Care: “MYTH BUSTER: Is knuckle cracking bad for you?”
Mayo Clinic: “Stretching: Focus on Flexibility,” “Overuse injury: How to prevent training injuries.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “’Good Pain’ vs. ‘Bad Pain’ for Athletes.”
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, A Nation in Motion: “Everyday Habits Can Cause Back, Neck & Shoulders Pain.”
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthInfo: “Smoking and Musculoskeletal Health,” “Backpack Safety.”
Whiplash Prevention Campaign: “How Can I Prevent Whiplash?”
The University of Edinburgh: “Driving posture and head restraint adjustment.”
Sports Medicine Information: “Poor technique - Causes of Sports Injuries.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Text Neck: Is Smartphone Use Causing Your Neck Pain?”
National Sleep Foundation, Sleep.org: “The Best Sleep Position for Your Body.”
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society: “How to Select the Right Athletic Shoes.”
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine: “Basketball Shoes and Injuries.”
McLeod Health: “The Problem with Your Purse: Bad Knees, Elbow, Neck and Spine.”
NYU Langone Health: “Types of Shoulder Sprains, Strains & Tears.”
Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on December 04, 2019
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
