Arthritis of the elbows limits the careers of hand-troller commercial fisherman who spend their workdays turning a big crank that reels in their lines. The lesson is to try not to injure or overuse your joints over the course of a lifetime. I doubt that our lectures on DJD avoidance will have much of an effect on the behavior of young folks who, the last time I checked, still felt themselves invulnerable and immortal. Though prevention is always the best medicine, in the case of this disease, I recognize that my efforts are best devoted to those old enough to have suffered a pain or two in their joints. Cartilage, which doesn t contain blood vessels, depends on the joint fluid that bathes it for the nutrients that keep it healthy.
Movement circulates joint fluid and nourishes cartilage.
If an activity makes your joints hurt, back off. Don t keep beating up on the cartilage. For example, if running hurts, walk or bike or swim. Prescriptive exercise, at the hands of a physical therapist, can reduce the stresses brought to bear on arthritic joints by improving strength, balance and mechanics. If you can, lose weight to give your joints a break.