We walk, run, and stretch our hips for many decades - what can we do to prevent the rather barbaric surgery of hip or knee replacement?
- Are you misaligned? Many of us are born with our hips and/or knees out of alignment, so we spend decades walking on one particular part of our hip or knee. It wears out. But you can catch it early by getting a coach who watches your gait when you walk or run and perhaps recommends strengthening exercise, or a highly-attuned massage therapist who understands your structural misalignment.
- Watch the weight. Being overweight (body mass index > 25) puts a lot of stress on all joints, but particularly the hips.
- Pay attention to range of motion. When it decreases, get help - sooner rather than later.
- Choose low impact sports: cycling, swimming, light weight training, yoga, pilates.
- If you choose high-impact sports such as running, get a coach. Pay a lot of attention to the right shoes for your gait. Get help. Run on softer surfaces. Let your cartilage serve you longer.
