Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of millions of people of all ages, including children.
Symptoms range from joint pain, tenderness and stiffness to restricted movement of the joints.
A common area of the body arthritis can manifest itself is in the shoulder. The pain can be debilitating and painkillers are often prescribed for patients to treat and slow down the condition.
But for those looking for a more natural way to relieve pain the shoulders there particular shoulder exercises you can try.
Most cases of shoulder pain aren’t caused by anything serious and will ease within two weeks, explains Arthritis Research UK, who also recommends five shoulder exercises.
Door lean
The research charity explains: “Stand in a doorway with both arms on the wall slightly above your head. Slowly lean forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders.
“Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat three times. This exercise isn’t suitable if you have a shoulder impingement.”
Door press (a)
This exercise begins by standing in a doorway with your elbow bent at a right angle and the back of your wrist against the door frame.
Next it says: “Try to push your arm outwards against the door frame. Hold for five seconds. Do three sets of 10 repetitions on each side.”
Door press (b)
“Use your other arm and, still with your elbow at a right angle, push your palm towards the door frame,” it explains.
Then: “Hold for five seconds. Do three sets of 10 repetitions on each side.”
Pendulum exercise
Begin by standing with your good hand resting on a chair. It then says: “Let your other arm hang down and try to swing it gently backwards and forwards and in a circular motion.
“Repeat about five times. Try this two to three times a day.”
Shoulder stretch
It explains: “Stand and raise your shoulders. Hold for five seconds. Squeeze your shoulder blades back and together and hold for five seconds.
“Pull your shoulder blades downward and hold for five seconds. Relax and repeat ten times.”
Taking supplements could also help the condition. Clinical nutritionist and Healthspan’s head of Nutrition Rob Hobson and medical nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer recommend taking turmeric.
Turmeric is currently being added to a range of foods, drinks and supplement, and for good reason, said Dr Brewer.
She explained: “The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant which helps damp down pain and swelling in inflamed joints.”
Rob added: “Most of the studies on turmeric have been carried out using very strong extracts and you’d have to eat an awful lot of curries to get that much curcumin. The other problem is curcumin isn’t naturally water-soluble, so the body struggles to absorb it. To truly gain the benefits you need to take a supplement.”
Healthspan offers Opti-Turmeric, a liquid capsule containing high potency cur curcumin. Alternatively, Rob and Dr Brewer recommend Organic Turmeric Gold Latte.
Other supplements they recommend include CBD oil ad St Paul’s Wort.
