Morning stiffness in the back, knees or even feet is a very common phenomenon and not only in older people.
Mostly the lifestyle of younger people results in the mornings being difficult until their body “warms up”.
Certainly age is a factor of morning stiffness as over the years, the cartilage of the joints, the tissues, the tendons, the muscles, the ligaments, lose a part of their elasticity.
On the other hand, poor posture and diet are two very basic factors that can affect your body, as a result of which you feel heavier and stiffer.
So what can cause morning stiffness and which part of the body can be most affected?
THE Aspa Rouboulakou, physiotherapist, mentions characteristics:
“The causes of morning stiffness may be disc disease, arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, idiopathic arthritis as well as injuries to tendons, muscles, ligaments, poor posture, but also muscle fatigue that can aggravate them. and the body in general.
Aggravating factor is weather conditions, the temperature changes but also the moisture.
Of course, we could not ignore the stress but also the mental fatigue, two factors that also play their role in the morning stiffness as they can very often lead to muscle contractions.
The parts of the body that are mainly affected by morning stiffness are the joints of the whole spine and especially the lumbar and thoracic spine. (ΟΜΣΣ ΘΜΣΣ). It is also common in the knees and extremities. “
According to the World Health Organization, more than 250 million people have osteoarthritis of the knee (3.6% of the world’s population), while osteoarthritis of the hip accounts for almost 1% of the population.
9.6% of men and 18% of women over 60 have symptomatic osteoarthritis.
The most common factors that affect morning stiffness are:
• lack of daily physical activity,
• obesity,
• poor nutrition,
• poor sleep and
• staying in wet and cold places
Regarding the diet, people who have morning stiffness should aim for a healthy body weight, avoiding sugar, white bread, white cereals and pasta.
However, Ms. Aspa Rouboulakou emphasizes:
“A healthy body weight is important so that the body is not overworked. Diet can help both directly and indirectly. With a satisfactory intake of fluids and water, you help your body to function more properly, while with a balanced diet you ensure that you will receive the necessary nutrients, without burdening your body unnecessarily “
Exercising on a daily basis, even walking, helps in good blood circulation and in the “warming up” of the joints. Swimming and other activities that include water are an ideal exercise as they do not strain the joints.
What are the most helpful and fast exercises to “warm up” the body in the morning?
“The auxiliary exercises that every person can follow in the morning are the stretching, the mobilization exercises with a few repetitions for the spine in the prone and supine position. (Eg McKenzie exercises).
Even exercises for the hips and knees in a sitting and standing position are helpful for lubricating the joints and to mobilize blood and body fluids and make the body’s mechanism work better.
In any case, the advice of an expert is basic, in order to ensure that the exercises will be done correctly in order to avoid any injuries “, underlines Aspa Rouboulakou.
Tip: The hot bath is of course very helpful. The heat increases blood flow to the skin and also helps to warm up.
When should one consult a specialist?
“When pain and stiffness increase, affecting daily life, simple activities and the quality of life of everyone, then the contribution of a specialist is necessary.”
Read more
Do you also feel that your joints need time to ‘warm up’ every morning?
Seasonal Affective Disorder: When your mood changes with the seasons
savoirville.gr
.
