Have you been feeling extra achy in your joints, or having flare ups in your arthritis? For our #FridayFacts, we wanted to let you know, you are not alone and there is a reason! The humid heat wave we’re currently experiencing in Los Angeles is a big change from our normal, dry, desert type heat. This change in what we’re used to, is also going to affect our bodies! The body’s tendons, ligaments, and muscles expand when humidity rises. Humid days can also cause the body to become dehydrated, which can decrease the concentration of fluid around the joints and create more joint pain. We’re used to one of those random rainy LA days to feel that extra ache and pain, but the humid heat can do it too! Dry heat can actually relieve some of the stress of arthritis, and joint and back pain…. Just a great excuse to take a weekend trip to Palm Springs! At Archer Pilates, we want to give you some tips to relieve some of that pain all summer long!
You have probably heard this several times before, but it bears repeating: drink lots of water! You need to keep your body hydrated, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time outside. Aim to drink 1-2 glasses of water for every hour you are outside. This will help you to restore your fluid levels and reduce water loss. Dehydration can cause stiffened tissues in the back, as the blood isn’t circulating properly. This is why it is so important to drink as much water as possible.
Go Swimming! Swimming is a great form of therapy for joint or back pain. If you have back or spinal pain, biking is also a great low-impact form of exercise that is easy on the back. When not exercising, a heating pad can also help to soothe joint and muscle pain.
Last, but certainly not least, STRETCH! Make sure you are lubricating and stretching through the tightness in your muscles and joints. You can use a chair, bed, sofa, even a towel to assist you with your stretches. Take a few minutes every morning, before you get out of bed, to do some ankle circles, tope taps, leg circles, bridges, whatever feels good to loosen up your body for the humid summer in LA!