How the Pandemic May Be Hurting Your Joints

With the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to find effective ways to keep active. The lockdown has not just adversely impacted our emotional well-being, but it has also considerably affected our physical health.

It is no secret that rest is important for your body; however, if you are living an inactive lifestyle - which because of the pandemic, many now are - it can seriously affect the overall health of your joints. This can affect you regardless of the age bracket that you fall into. Most people are not traveling to work, exercising, and going out to meet their family and friends. Our physical routines are changing. Lack of activity and movement are some of the biggest worries amid the pandemic.

Now more than ever it is important to find ways to keep your joints moving as it is likely you will feel more pain and risk developing other health-related issues. Some can include osteoporosis, arthritis, and even diabetes. Lack of activity can also lead to weakened joints and muscles, as well as weight gain. When your body gets weaker, you are at a higher risk for developing medical problems.

1.Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients in the US live a sedentary life. An important component of RA pain management is regular physical activity and exercise. Staying at home during the pandemic and minimizing activity can increase the risk of RA. Furthermore, if left untreated or undertreated, RA joint pain and swelling could worsen over time.

What is especially tricky for RA patients is their weakened immune system. This predisposes them to a host of infections, including COVID-19. This provides an extremely difficult situation of trying to stay active yet staying home to avoid unnecessary exposure. It is important to find an active routine that can safely ensure you are not exposed to COVID-19.

2.Osteoporosis

We can define Osteoporosis as a medical condition that causes your bones and joints to become fragile. As a result, they tend to break more easily. Spine, hip, and wrist fractures are some of the most common breaks linked to Osteoporosis. Without several weight-bearing activities, your bones and joints are not stimulated enough to grow stronger. Older or middle-aged people who have already started losing bone density might find this process speeding up considerably due to their sedentary and inactive lifestyle during the pandemic.

You may have seen the elderly in your family or neighborhood suffering from various types of debilitating joint and bone fractures due to a lack of activity. What we are now seeing reported in correlation to the COVID-19 pandemic are cases of joint and osteoporotic fractures in relatively younger individuals. In the past, osteoporosis was associated only with age. Now that the condition is impacting younger individuals, it is an alarming trend.

Keep in mind that doctors are saying this trend is because of a lack of exercise and physical activity that has considerably lowered the age of osteoporosis, on average. There is no doubt that without proper exercise and physical activity, your bones and joints become weak. Frequent physical activity and exercise help strengthen the joints and bones, preventing osteoporosis as well as many other joint diseases and ailments.

3.Bone Cancer

While physical inactivity and lethargy have been linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, they can also increase the risk of bone cancer.

The major symptoms of bone cancer are as follows:

• Persistent bone pain which gets worse with time and may continue into the night.
• Redness and swelling over a bone. This can make movement quite difficult, especially if your affected bone is close to a joint.

Checking in with your body daily is an effective way to stay on top of what you are feeling. Reducing your risk of bone cancer starts with staying active, getting your daily dose of vitamins, and if you are currently smoking it is important to plan to quit.

4.Bursitis

We can define Bursitis as the inflammation or swelling of a bursa, a tiny fluid-filled pouch that sits between your tendons, muscles, and bones. The key function of the bursa is to help reduce friction between your joints. Symptoms of Bursitis include swelling and tenderness. You may feel an ache on the outside of your hip. Note that this usually increases when you rise from a sitting position. Prolonged sitting can lead to both stress and inflammation. This can increase your risk of bursitis.

5.Arthritis

Did you know that there are over 100 different types of Arthritis and related conditions? Arthritis can be defined as painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Anyone can have arthritis, but it is most common among women and occurs on a more frequent basis as you get older. If you have swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion, you may be suffering from some form of arthritis. Pain associated with this disease can worsen over the years, so it is important to stay on top of your symptoms.

There are a variety of things that you can do to preserve joint function and have a good quality of life while living with arthritis. Talking with your doctor and learning more about the disease and all the options made available to you for treatment is essential, as well as making time for physical activity. This will in turn help in maintaining a healthy weight.

Keep Your Joints Moving

Although we are all familiar with the risks of COVID-19, you must also recognize the pandemic’s long-lasting effect on your body's physical health. It is important to understand how your lifestyle and daily habits have changed. If you are experiencing joint pain and stiffness, consider it an important warning sign that it is time to change your habits and routine to ensure that your joints can support your active life — both during the pandemic and in your future. 

As with any medical advice, it is always best to check with your personal physician who knows your medical history best since they are more qualified in giving you the best recommendation. Our advice or recommendation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. These Statements Have Not Been Evaluated By The Food & Drug Administration. InvigoFlex is Not Intended To Diagnose, Treat, Cure or Prevent Any Disease.