Without the hips, your upper body loses support, stability, and the ability to move. Your hips and knees are the largest joints in the body, essential for movement. Hip disorders can make daily living difficult, limiting your tasks or leaving you with chronic pain.
Total hip replacement has a track record of restoring mobility and pain-free living for many with degenerative conditions. The team at Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine regularly performs hip arthroplasty, and while this life-changing procedure has a high success rate, a better solution would be to avoid the procedure altogether. This requires years of preventive care building good habits that support strong, healthy hips.
Being proactive about hip health takes discipline and focus. You can improve your chances of delaying or sidestepping the need for hip replacement with attention to a few areas that benefit the health of your hips and your entire body. Consider building these five habits to maintain the integrity of your hips.
The foods you eat provide the raw materials for maintenance and healing. For instance, vitamin C is vital in bone health and collagen formation. The most abundant protein in your body, collagen is essential for cushioning and lubricating the hip joints. Foods high in antioxidants, like fish rich with omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil, leafy greens, berries, and nuts, can also boost your body’s healing abilities.
Every pound of body weight adds several pounds of force onto the bones and joints of your body. You’ve already made a head start by improving your diet. Controlling portions can help you bring your body weight to an optimal level. This weight loss takes the pressure off your hips, reducing the wear and tear that typically drives osteoarthritis, an enemy of healthy hips.
Movement is crucial for every part of your body. It encourages blood flow, flexibility, bone mass, and muscle strength. Adding moderate, low-impact activities to your schedule aids the efficiency of your body’s repair mechanisms, keeping all joints, including the hips.
One of the biggest threats to hip health is falling. Breaking a hip invites slow recovery and, potentially, future joint deterioration. When moving in unfamiliar locations, we’re usually looking for trip hazards. At home, it’s easy to let your guard down. Most falls happen on level ground, and in your home, falls occur most often in living rooms and bedrooms. Knowing the trouble spots may help you spot trip hazards.
Mild aches from a good workout are sometimes welcome, a sign of accomplishment. You may even push yourself during exercise or sports participation. Recognizing the difference between good and bad aches is essential, and you must heed the signs that it’s time to rest. Persistent or sharp pain generally means something is wrong. Playing through the pain is not a wise idea for your hips.
When dealing with hip pain that resists home care, contact Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic in either of our Jacksonville locations. Call the nearest office directly or use our online appointment booking link to schedule a consultation with our hip pain professionals today.
