We all have heard that regular exercise and sport should play an important part of our daily lives. However, recent reports state that more people are developing arthritis at a younger age due to sporting activities such as skiing and snow-boarding. While regular exercise may actually prevent arthritis, it does depend upon what sports you love to play and how you play them.



If you are very active in a sensible, regular way then you will keep your body fit and supple, your muscle groups active and stay within your normal range of motion. However, if you are a weekend sports-person, out of shape, overweight, in your older years or have had previous injuries, your ability to participate in your favorite activities can be restricted by arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis.

There are more than 100 types of arthritic conditions. These include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, gout and osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative arthritis. While many forms of arthritis are caused by body illnesses that can affect other organ systems, osteoarthritis is different. The most common symptom is pain in the affected joints due to repetitive use which can be due to the general wear and tear on the cartilage, or protective cushion, in your joints.

This damage can cause the bones to rub against each other, resulting in pain, stiffness and a lack of mobility of the affected joint. While exercise itself does not cause osteoarthritis, studies show that damage to the joint area can.

The most common risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include: aging, being over-weight, a previous joint injury, heredity factors, overuse injuries and lack of physical activity. garments are proving to be highly effective arthritis treatments.

Follow these health care tips to keep your joints healthy and decrease your risk of developing osteoarthritis:

* Warm up before and cool down after your activity. This is especially important if you are undertaking a weight-bearing activity such as jogging or skiing.

*Keep your muscles supple and strong. Strengthening exercises help protect and support joints.

* Cross-train. This is very important to avoid overuse injuries. By alternating low and high-impact activities, you will keep your body in good physical shape.

* Try a range of motion exercises to help maintain and improve your flexibility.

* Warm up with aerobic exercises to enhance your endurance and keep your weight under control.

If you feel any pain or stiffness after your activity understand that your body is sending you a message that you overdid it. Consider what you can do to avoid pain and stiffness next time. Sports therapists and health care professionals recommend that you wear supportive compression body bands and joint braces that can provide the correct level of support needed to reduce your risk of injury and pain.

Clinical trials show  far infrared thermal therapy garments and joint supports are effective aids to help prevent pain, stiffness or injury following strenuous activity. After exercise, it is important to give your muscles time to recover. Far infrared , body bands and joint supports are an excellent choice for elite athletes and recreational sports people to ensure safe, pain-free exercise without the risk of strain and injury. Far infrared joint supports and therapy garments can also assist to improve your body's natural healing ability for enhanced sports performance.