Joint pain can make it hard to do everything from day-to-day tasks to workouts. Being proactive is key to maintaining proper joint health. Stretching regularly is one underrated way to do this—besides improving posture and boosting blood flow, stretching can also help ease joint pain and prevent the injuries that can cause it to occur. We asked Ronnie Lubischer, CSCS, owner of Lubischer’s Burn and Blast Training, what stretch you can start your day off with to ease joint pain and even get ahead of it altogether.
First of all, what are the main causes of joint pain? “The most common causes of joint pain outside of medical arthritic conditions can all be traced back to two common culprits: joint weakness, which is really skeletal weakness, and excess unnecessary and self-inflicted inflammation mainly caused by poor nutrition.” Lubischer says. Making sure you’re leading a healthy lifestyle is one way you can make sure your joints are strong and prepared to fight potential injury. Range of motion stretches that target the shoulders are great for joint pain, as your shoulders often carry a lot of tension and are a problem area for discomfort. Lubischer shared his favorite exercise to recommend when dealing with joint pain, and how to do it each morning to get your day started off right.
YWT’s. This is a ROM (range of motion) exercise that targets the shoulders, which are a common area of contention when it comes to joint pain. To do this, lie on the floor belly down while keeping your toes firmly planted on the ground. Next, pull your chest away from the floor trying to create space between the floor and your chest. Then, hold your arms out in front of you making a Y shape and hold that for 20-30 seconds. Rest for 60 seconds and then perform the same thing but with your body as a W and then a T. Do this for 3-5 rounds and then see how your shoulders feel.
Besides all of this, making sure that you prioritize building strength in your body, especially in your core and glutes, will support good joint health. Making a point to add strength training exercises to your workout routine is incredibly beneficial for your joints, and can boost their integrity when you’re doing everyday tasks or exercising. These glute and core exercises are a great place to start with strength training that keeps joint health in mind.
