There’s nothing FUNNY about these BONE and joint stats!

There are so many important things that we need to concentrate on when discussing health – everything from digestive health, heart health, to even eye health. Unfortunately many of us don’t concentrate on bone and joint health until you find yourself suffering from some sort of bone or joint related pain.

Although you might not be directly affected by bone and joint related discomfort, there are millions of Americans who are affected, and unfortunately you are not excluded from developing something in the future.  

Still not concerned? Check out these facts that will make you think twice about ignoring bone and joint health.

• It takes an average of 12 weeks for a broken bone to heal.
• The average annual cost per person for treatment of a musculoskeletal condition is $7,800.
• 1 out of 2 American women will have a fracture after the age of 50.
• Only 35 percent of American adults consume the recommended daily allowance of calcium.
• 52 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis and low bone density.
• By the end of 2018 the American Cancer Society’s estimates for cancer of the bones and joints about 3,450 new cases will be diagnosed.
• Bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide affecting hundreds of millions of people.
• Arthritis is the most common cause of disability, with 51.8 million U.S. adults, age 65 and older, suffering from this disease.
• Back and neck pain affects nearly one in three, or 75.7 million adults.

Many of these stats can be frightening but fortunately enough we have some recommendations on how you can preserve your bone and joint health. Just implementing these simple tips into your daily life can make a huge difference!

Warm up before working out. Just like a car, your body needs to warm up before moving. Before hitting the gym or any sort of training make sure to warm up by moving around slowly for at least 5 minutes before intensifying your workout. This will help everything run smoother.

Eat your way to heathy bones and joints. Cook up some fish for your Omega-3’s, add some broccoli for some calcium and you’ve got yourself a bone and joint health nutrient packed dinner.

Incorporate some supplements. Although we highly recommend you eat bone and joint health foods, you might not be getting sufficient nutrients to help prevent future health issues. Supplements are a great way to get the sufficient nutrients you need without having to overeat. (Be sure to check out what QOL has for bone and joint health!)

Pick comfort over style. Ditch the heels for some comfortable flats. Experts say a three-inch heel stresses your foot seven times more than a one-inch heel. In addition, heels put extra stress on your knees and may increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Visit your doctor yearly. Make sure to take a trip to the doctor’s office at least once a year and request a joint examination from head to toe. Make sure to ask your physician about any tips or tricks on how you can improve your bone and joint health.

Unfortunately, there’s no way of avoiding accidental injuries but by promoting bone and joint strength it could help prevent other bone and joint related pain and discomfort in the future. If there’s a way to avoid future bone and joint health issues from developing then why not take action, after all, it is your health!