Joints

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Joints
15
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 2:02pm

I've noticed lately that my joints are popping and cracking a little more. Now my normal weekly workout regimine includes spinning, running, some weights, some yoga and recently "aerobics" from my new video "game" (if you haven't heard of Yourself Fitness, see http://yourselffitness.com, it rocks). I like my routine; it seems well rounded to me. I eat rather decently (lunch today is leftover sweet potatoes & brussell sprouts and a smoothie, with trail mix for later). Am I just getting old (at 27)? Is there something I can do to ensure my joints don't go out before I do?

Thanks!

benvolio

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
In reply to: benvolio
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 2:57pm

Welcome! I so know how you feel. I am 27 and am falling apart, so I don't know that I can help much but say that you are not alone. Could it be your shoes? Or, when you play your video game, what type of floors are you exercising on? If you are on concrete covered by carpet that could really cause joints to ache. Hmmm, what else? I know that swimming helps my joints loosen up when they are really bad.

I hope you start to feel better soon, maybe others on the board can help out too.

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 4:03pm

hi and welcome to gym rats!!


i have heard many fitness experts say that popping is not a good thing and you want to avoid it. maybe you are doing different exercises than you had been doing before and that's why you are getting popping more? in any event, see if you can avoid it by decreasing your range of motion or adjusting your alignment. if that doesn't help, i'd see a doctor.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
In reply to: benvolio
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 4:30pm
I've got good shoes (I will splurge for good running shoes, I've been through shin splints before) and excercise on the carpet with the XBox game. Thing is, nothing is hurting or broken, just noisy and I want to make sure that I don't end up hurting myself in the long run. Plus my mom was telling me to take glucosamine(?) for my joints. When she mentioned that I was like, 'hmmm, you know things have been popping and cracking more lately, knees, shoulders, whatever'.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 9:53am

Do you stretch every day? I have bad knees but it really helps to do a light warm-up, then stretch before my main workout, then afterwards.

My cat takes glucosomene (sp?) for his bum knees (all 4 of them). It really helps - he runs around like a wild man now. But that's something your dr. or orthopedic specialist would decide.

Warmup and stretch!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 9:54am

>My cat takes glucosomene (sp?) for his bum knees (all 4 of them).

I know you didn't mean that to be funny, but geez.....HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!





Lilypie First Birthday tickers
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 10:57am

;) I meant it to be funny. If you only knew... LOL.

I adopted my Himalayan (w/the bum knees) from a shady breeder who wasn't taking care of him - he was very sick and I was afraid she would kill him. You wouldn't believe the medical problems this cat has had. At one point, I had to take him to a CAT OPHTHAMOLOGIST. No lie. He has herpes. I have to brush his teeth because he has bad gums and would lose his teeth in a few years otherwise. Because I don't have dental insurance for myself, there was a point when my cats got more dental cleanings from the vet in a year than I did. He has bum knees and his kneecaps used to pop out of joint whenever he jumped or ran. One of our vets suggested surgery on all 4 of his knees. Are you kidding me? The glucosomene was the less invasive option. He is the SWEETEST little animal, but as a result of adopting him, I've become a strong advocate of getting your pets from the local animal shelter! There are some really inhumane breeders out there, and purebreds have so many problems... I figure my penance for wanting a beautiful animal is to make his life as comfortable as possible now, even if he's only a cat.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 11:51am
that's sweet that you try to make his life as comfortable as possible. i agree about adopting from a shelter, there are many reasons why but one is the suffering that selective breeding causes the animals.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 1:33pm
Oh yes, I do stretch. Drives me crazy to see people go in and can benchpress oodles of weight and can't touch their toes! Flexibilty is great in other aspects of one's life; my husband always appreciates my stretching habit! ;)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 2:27pm

Hi...make sure your shoes are sports specific. If you are running alot, make sure you have running shoes not cross trainers. Cross trainers are ok for the other cardio machines and weight work. Also, if you run alot, you have to replace your shoes every 3 months.

Cross trainers are not really good for aerobic or step type classes. You will need a "studio shoe" for that. It really makes a difference. Try not to do cardio and hold weights at the same time. Doing things like kickboxing with hand held weights or even walking with them is really bad for joints.

Not knowing exactly what you are doing makes hard to pin down the problem. You may just be overworking.

Hope you can figure it out and feel better.

From one creaking exerciser to the other...

Grace

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
In reply to: benvolio
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 2:44pm

Your cat and I have something in common... I take glucosamine too. :) It does seem to help with joint lubrication and such.

Btw, kudos to you for being such a doting cat-mom. I think it's wonderful and I'd do the same thing in your shoes. We have two cats and they are very much our children.

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