Hip-Friendly Habits You Should Embrace Today

Your hip joints connect your legs to your torso, offering you access to support and mobility. What can you do to make your lifestyle more friendly for your hips?

Hip joints often degenerate as you age. That’s why surgical hip replacement is a relatively common procedure. 

At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael L. Blackwell and his team provide comprehensive hip joint care from locations in Tomball, Kingwood, and Shenandoah, Texas.

Dr. Blackwell advises his patients, including athletes, on keeping hip joints healthy and pain-free for as long as possible. Making lifestyle changes now may be easier than dealing with pain or dysfunction as you get older. Could any of these hip-friendly habits benefit you?

Take pressure off your hips with weight loss

The joints in your lower body bear significant amounts of pressure. The pressure increases daily stress, heightening your risk of hip joint damage or deterioration. The cartilage that cushions the joint can wear away over time, and conditions like osteoarthritis can accelerate hip joint damage.

One way to protect your hip joints is to work on taking some pressure off. There are a few ways you can do this. 

A big one is to maintain a healthy body weight. Each pound of extra body weight you carry heaps extra stress on your lower body joints. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise help with maintaining a healthy weight.

Keep hip joints moving smoothly with regular activity

You might think that, if hip damage comes from using this joint throughout your life, that moving less could be better for your hips. Instead, the opposite is true!

Gentle, regular motion helps to keep your joints in good shape. It’s also beneficial for the muscles surrounding the hips to be strong and limber.

High-intensity activity, like athletic running or jumping, can overstress your hips. Stretching before and after intense activity helps your joints avoid overstress.

Talk to Dr. Blackwell about your usual activity levels and future athletic plans, and he can recommend the right balance between activity and rest. Your goal is to keep your hips healthy and functional for the long term.

Reduce inflammation in your body by changing your diet

The levels of inflammation in your body make a difference for your joint health. You can support your hips by eating a diet that’s scientifically designed to reduce inflammation throughout your body.

What does, and doesn’t, belong in your anti-inflammatory diet? Include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and legumes, lentils, and animal proteins like chicken, tuna, or salmon. Avoid processed meats, red meat, foods made with bleached flour, commercial baked goods, and fried foods.

For more personalized tips on living a hip-friendly lifestyle, get in touch with Dr. Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Schedule your initial consultation and learn more about how you can keep your hips working smoothly, without pain, well into your golden years.

Make your appointment by calling us today or using our online booking tool.