The unfavorable signs of arthritis are numerous, and stiff joints are just one of them. This particular issue usually manifests itself, especially in the morning, after the affected joints have been immobilized for a number of hours while the person is asleep.
One should start the day off right, as they say. However, it can be extremely difficult to do this if you wake up stiff, as this can exacerbate arthritis pain.
Do you struggle with morning stiffness all the time? Continue reading this article to learn some surprisingly easy ways to deal with the issue so that you can get out of bed and go about your morning routine without too much difficulty.
Apply Heat
Nothing can make that morning stiffness go away so much faster than the application of heat. That’s because it helps to loosen tight muscles and soft tissues, too, and also drive away associated pain in the process. It’s a wonderful idea for you to invest in an electric heating bag which you may conveniently use in bed without having to use the microwave or electric kettle in your kitchen.
Take a Warm Shower or Bath
Other than applying heat, you may also simply head to the bathroom and take a warm shower or bath. Exposing your stiffened joints to heat for several minutes can help to deal with this very common symptom of arthritis that usually strikes in the morning upon waking up.
Epsom Salt
Do you prefer taking a warm bath than a warm shower? Then consider adding a cup of epsom salt to your warm bathwater — epsom salt is actually a form of magnesium, which is a mineral that can help to reduce muscle tightness and thus promote relief from morning stiffness of joints affected by arthritis.
Massage Essential Oil
A lot of arthritis sufferers swear by the effectiveness of essential oils in dealing with the many unfavorable symptoms of the joint disease, including most especially morning stiffness. Some of the best essential oils that you may dilute with your choice of carrier oil and massage on affected areas include lavender, eucalyptus, basil and frankincense.
Drink Ginger Tea
Instead of starting your day with a piping hot cup of coffee, it’s a much better idea for you to have a cup of ginger tea instead. It’s for the fact that it possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce stiffness and also swelling — other than joint immobilization for several hours, swelling is another arthritis symptom that can be blamed for stiffness. Aside from ginger tea, experts say that you may also opt for turmeric tea.
Consume Anti-Inflammatory Foods
You may also start your day by having some anti-inflammatory foods for breakfast. Feel free to sprinkle generous amounts of nuts or seeds on your oatmeal or yogurt as they are packed with inflammation-fighting healthy fats. You can also obtain loads of those inflammation- and stiffness-fighting fats from avocados and numerous oily types of fish such as mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna.
Take a Walk
Last but not least, you may consider taking a quick walk around the block in order to fight off joint stiffness in the morning time. According to experts, getting your regular dose of exercise is actually good for keeping at bay the many nasty symptoms of arthritis. Needless to say, leading a sedentary lifestyle is bad for anyone who has the joint disease.
Do you have family members and friends who are constantly complaining about morning stiffness due to arthritis? Then don’t forget to repost this article so that they, too, may be able to give the above simple tips a try every morning time!
