These sports are good for your joints

Even the ancient Greeks knew that exercise is healthy. However, when we have joint problems, we instinctively tend to adopt a protective posture and avoid exercise. This is counterproductive: a joint needs to be moved in order to stay healthy, because movement promotes the supply of nutrients and ensures that the tissue remains intact and elastic.

The challenge now is to find a form of exercise that is not only fun, but also good for the body. If you suffer from joint problems, you should be particularly careful when choosing your sport, as not every exercise is suitable for damaged joints. It is important that you choose a sport that lubricates your joints instead of putting additional stress and strain on them. Fortunately, there is a wide range of forms of exercise that are suitable for this.

Be like Michael Phelps, not like Cristiano Ronaldo

First things first: be sure to warm up before any sporting activity, for example with dynamic stretching and mobility exercises. This gets your circulation going and promotes blood flow to your muscles.

Smooth, rhythmic movements are best for your joints, whereas sports with intensive impact loads should be avoided. In other words, it's better to copy Michael Phelps than Cristiano Ronaldo. Swimming, rowing, cycling, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing or a SUP session are an excellent full-body workout. But don't forget: moderation is key. There is nothing wrong with an occasional tennis match as long as the pain goes away on its own within a few days.

Yoga and Pilates are also excellent. However, make sure you have a good instructor for these sports. The risk of injury is particularly high for very flexible people, as they sometimes “fight” their way into certain positions and hold them with flexibility and too little muscle strength and tension.

Seek advice

Truth be told: most of us only seek professional help when the pain is already unbearable. Particularly after an injury or when you get older, you often ignore physical complaints for far too long and think to yourself: “Oh, it used to be fine before.”

We advise you to contact an expert at an early stage if you have any problems. Our specialists in orthopaedics, sports medicine, physiotherapy and rehabilitation are here for you. Nowadays, pain in the musculoskeletal system can be treated very well with conservative therapies. Surgery is not always necessary or can be postponed with gentle training and targeted treatments.

We can help you with physical pain and find a way for you to continue doing the sports you love. Or we can help you find a new favorite sport that you are sure to enjoy just as much.

Exercise is the best rejuvenation cure that life has to offer. Make it an integral part of your everyday life and listen to your body.