Your hips are a major weight-bearing part of your body. As such, these important joints play an essential role in every aspect of your life, whether you’re sitting, standing, walking, or running. In fact, even bending over requires strong and healthy hips!
Unfortunately, that also means hip pain can leave you sitting on the sidelines, unable to engage in the smallest tasks without discomfort. But, that doesn’t mean you have to sit back and wait for it to start. Instead, there are proactive ways you can protect your hip health.
At Utah Orthopedics in Ogden, Utah, Thomas Calton, MD, specializes in hip replacements, including innovative outpatient procedures where you go home the same day. But, if you take the following steps, you can reduce your chances that you’ll need his services.
Watch your weight
One of the main reasons for hip replacements is cartilage deterioration of the hip joint from osteoarthritis. And, carrying excess weight may not only increase arthritis pain, but it may also cause your joints to break down at a faster rate.
Keep in mind that every extra 10 pounds of weight you carry above your waistline puts an additional 75-100 pounds of pressure on your joints. So, even losing a few extra pounds can help protect your hips in the long run.
Stay active
If you need more motivation to exercise regularly, think about your hips. Even small amounts of activity can help keep your hips strong and healthy by:
- Slowing bone loss
- Maintaining muscle strength and flexibility
- Improving balance and alignment
For maximum results, try a variety of exercises, such as walking, swimming, yoga, and biking. Varying your exercise routine will not only help you use different muscle groups, but it will also keep you from overtaxing joints and muscles in a single area. Dr. Calton can also discuss specific exercises — such as hip squeezes and leg raises — that target the hip area.
Eat a healthy diet
Believe it or not, one of the most important things you can do to protect your hips involves nutrition, especially getting enough Vitamin C. Vitamin C supports collagen formation. This connective tissue helps to improve bone health, prevent fractures, and keep your hip bones cushioned and lubricated.
Dr. Calton also recommends consuming plenty of:
- Dark, leafy greens
- Fatty fish, such as salmon
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Berries
- Nuts and seeds
These types of foods contain plenty of antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Listen to your body
Even when you watch your weight, stay active, and eat a healthy diet, it’s crucial to listen to your body. That means paying attention to signs of discomfort, especially sharp, shooting, or persistent pain.
When it comes to health problems, especially hip issues, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the better. In many cases, there are simple, noninvasive steps you can take to avoid worsening problems that could require a hip replacement in the future.
To learn more about preventing hip problems or finding pain relief, book an appointment over the phone with Utah Orthopedics today.