<p>Our joints, like all parts of our bodies, deteriorate with age. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to protect your joints.</p>
<p>Many people don’t realize how their daily habits and activities are damaging their joints or putting unnecessary stress on them.</p>
<p>Just making small but consistent changes may save you from joint damage and arthritic conditions later on.</p>
<h2><strong>Overexertion</strong></h2>
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<p>Overexertion puts stress on joints and can cause joint injuries. What constitutes overexertion will depend on how fit you are and your age.</p>
<p>For example, those with low fitness may overexert themselves by bending to pick up heavy items. Athletes might overexert themselves during strenuous training.</p>
<p>The starting point for avoiding overexertion is knowing your own physical limitations.</p>
<p>Also, always warm up and stretch before exerting yourself, to help keep your ligaments strong enough to support and stabilize your joints.</p>
<h2><strong>Posture</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="aligncenter" title="Posture" alt="Posture" src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/5/2_22.jpg" width="530" height="144" /></strong></p>
<p>Poor posture is a more serious problem than you may think. You can’t necessarily undo the damage it causes over the long term.</p>
<p>Poor posture can shorten and tighten some muscles, while lengthening and weakening others. In the process, it puts extra strain on your joints.</p>
<p>Maintain good posture whenever you can, and you’ll notice an improvement not only in your comfort, but in your breathing too.</p>
<p>In the long run, good posture will also protect the health of your spine.</p>
<p><strong>Prolonged typing</strong></p>
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<p>Whether in the office or at home, prolonged periods of computer or laptop use can put extra strain on the joints in your wrists and hands.</p>
<p>Repetitive strain injury, or RSI, is common because of the repetitive nature of the actions involved in typing,</p>
<p>and because of the artificial angles at which people rest or hold their wrists when using a keyboard and mouse.</p>
<p>If you do spend a lot of time in front of a computer, a wrist guard may be worth considering.</p>
<p>At the very least, investigate purchasing a mouse-pad and keyboard with a wrist-supporting surface.</p>
<h2><strong>Prolonged Standing</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="aligncenter" title="Prolonged standing" alt="Prolonged standing" src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/5/4_14.jpg" width="530" height="375" /></strong></p>
<p>Spending hours at a time on your feet can stress your joints and cause pain in the lower back, legs and feet.</p>
<p>An easy way to help prevent this is to wear athletic shoes and to avoid lacing them up too tightly.</p>
<p>As a rule of thumb, your shoes should be loose enough to slip off without your having to untie the laces.</p>
<p>Another remedy is to wear insoles in your shoes. Insoles specially crafted for your unique foot shape are preferable – they tend to be better than generic store-bought insoles.</p>
<p>If you have to stay on your feet for long hours as part of your profession, take any opportunity you get during a shift to put your feet up.</p>
<p>As soon as you get home, take off your work shoes and soak your feet in some warm water with Epsom salts.</p>
<h2><strong>General Stillness </strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="aligncenter" title="stretching" alt="stretching" src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/5/5_8.jpg" width="530" height="333" /></strong></p>
<p>Without at least some basic regular physical activity, your muscles become weak and offer less support to your joints.</p>
<p>Any form of regular exercise, such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming, can do wonders for your longevity and the health of your joints.</p>
<h2><strong>Smoking</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="aligncenter" title="smoking" alt="smoking" src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/5/6_4.jpg" width="530" height="332" /></strong></p>
<p>Everyone knows that smoking can damage the lungs. However, a lesser known fact is that smoking can greatly increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis.</p>
<p>A Swedish study found that the risk increased by 100% in people who smoke as little as one to seven cigarettes a day.</p>
<p>If you stop smoking, your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis will drop off significantly.</p>
<p>However, you’ll still have a higher risk of developing the disease than a non-smoker for a period of up to fifteen years after stopping.</p>
<p>Rather than quitting in time, if you can, don’t start at all!</p>
<h5>Featured images:</h5>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span></p>
<p><span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p><span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source">image source</span></p>
<p>This post was contributed by natural health blogger Jeff on behalf of BuchuLife.</p>
<p>The herbal health brand offers a joint health product that supports healthy joints and which is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.</p>

Bad Practices That Damage Your Joints
