Tips to keep your hips healthy
- Posted on: Mar 15 2022
Aging is inevitable, but how well you age can be up to you. About 50 percent of older adults say they have hip pain, but there are things you can do now to keep your hips feeling good and to minimize pain.
- One of the best things you can do to prevent hip pain is keep your weight in a healthy range. Extra weight puts extra pressure on your joints.
- Go for low-impact exercise whenever you can. Walking, bicycling, swimming and Pilates are great exercises for your hips. High-impact sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and running can put pressure on your joints.
- Wear proper-fitting shoes and stretch every day to keep your hips flexible. And always warm up and cool down before and after a workout. Don’t workout if you are in a lot of pain as exercise could worsen the pain.
- If you think you need a walker or cane, use it. It’s important that you use whatever aids you need to prevent injury. Also clear all walking areas in your home and outside your home to prevent falls.
- If you do have hip pain that isn’t too serious, try taking a warm shower or bath followed by stretching exercises. Ice can also help, as a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth and placed on your hip can provide relief as well. Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed when needed. It’s important that you don’t put too much direct pressure on the hip joint or sit for long periods of time as this can make the hip pain worse.
- If your hip pain gets in the way of your everyday life, this is when you need to see a doctor. If the pain doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication or you are unable to bear weight on your hip, schedule an appointment. If you aren’t able to move your hip or leg or are in serious pain or notice sudden swelling, seek immediate care.
To learn more about joint health and treatment for orthopedic conditions, call us at 707.544.3400 to make an appointment.
Posted in: Hip Replacement Surgery
