The best sports that are easy on the joints

The most important points in brief

• Pain in the joints accompanies us in all everyday activities.
• When walking we notice the stiff hips, when climbing stairs the knee joints and when jogging the ankles hurt. So exercise is often completely avoided.
• However, this is a fatal error, because standing still is actually going backwards in this case.
• There are also sports that are beneficial for the joints. We would like to introduce some of them to you in this post.

Joints are there to be moved. If you rest, you rust - in this case, that's pretty close to the truth. Because only movement and sport ensure that the joint cartilage can be supplied with the synovial fluid. If this does not happen, the cartilage tends to become inelastic and in the long run also brittle. This causes bones to rub against each other, causing even more pain. Fortunately, there are some great products out there for sore joints (and muscles).

That is why sport is also good for ailing joints

What if joints already show damaged cartilage? Even then, it is better to continue to strain them, of course with due caution. The cartilage in the joints can only be supplied with the aforementioned grease through targeted stress. In addition, exercise strengthens the muscles, which in turn stabilize the joints and reduce pain.

Before you blindly start any sport: stop! Because first a doctor should diagnose exactly where the joint pain is coming from. Is it just an overload response? Is there an inflammation? Or is it already an osteoarthritis that has irreversibly damaged the joint? Only when a correct diagnosis has been made is it clear which sports are suitable for you and to what extent. When choosing the right sport, you should also seek advice from a sports orthopedic surgeon or a doctor you trust.

The most suitable sports to protect the joints

Actually all ball sports are - exactly - NOT suitable for protecting the joints and at the same time ensuring that they are lubricated with synovia. When water is involved, things look better. Whether swimming, aqua aerobics or aqua jogging: water makes us easy and we still have a resistance that we have to fight against. And in a way that is gentle on the joints. But there is also a good alternative on the water: rowing. The muscles are stressed and strengthened, which in turn is easy on the joints.

The cross trainer or the ergometer (or moderate cycling) are also good for the joints; These sports are primarily aimed at relieving the strain on the knee joints. Cycling also benefits the hip joints. You jog on the cross trainer almost like on the sidewalk - but without putting too much strain on your knees. The sequence of movements is rather gentle and elliptical, the knees are slightly bent, which also has a relieving effect.

On your own two feet

Cross-country skiing, in which many muscle groups are trained, is suitable here, and Nordic walking is also healthy in this regard. In addition, the sticks relieve the joints. Hiking on the plains is also very good for lubricating the joints, if you have a little luggage. If you move forward evenly, you are easy on your knees. You should avoid steep descents - regardless of whether you have problems with your hips, knees or ankle.