4 Relaxing Ways To Relieve Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints, and the resulting pain can make it challenging to get up in the morning and perform daily tasks. Arthritis treatments typically include medication, surgery, steroid injections, or physical therapy. But did you know there are more leisurely ways of relieving the pain? Here are four relaxing ways to relieve arthritis pain that don’t involve medicine or intense workouts.
Use Hot and Cold Therapy
A relaxing way to relieve inflammation from arthritis is by taking a long, warm bath or shower in the morning. This will help loosen your joints and ease stiffness to help you start the day.
During the day, if your joints start to hurt, you can use cold treatments to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Simply wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to your joints for relief.
At night, use a heating pad or electric blanket to reduce discomfort and stiffness. Then, repeat! This will help create a routine and reduce the chance of painful joints.
Try Out Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that is said to return balance to your body while relieving pain, stress, anxiety, and other energies disrupting your daily routine. Acupuncture entails practitioners inserting thin needles into specific points on your body.
While there’s not enough evidence to prove acupuncture is truly effective, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation (AF) highly recommend it to reduce pain.
Get a Gentle Massage
Massage therapy benefits those with autoimmune diseases by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation. When possible, you want to request one or two of the following messages from a professional masseuse:
- Swedish massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Hot stone massage
- Myofascial release
- Trigger point massage
Practice Tai Chi
A well-balanced wellness routine is a relaxing way to relieve arthritis pain. This may include yoga, cardio workouts, meditation, or other mindful exercises. A mindful practice you should consider for your weekly routine is tai chi.
Tai chi is a Chinese practice that combines meditation, flowing motions, and deep breathing. This martial art provides health benefits, reduces joint pain, improves balance, strengthens muscles, and more. Practice once or twice a week to see your health improve and your pain decrease.
