10 Great Ways To Overcome Morning Stiffness

One of the most common complaints that doctors hear in elders that are suffering from fibromyalgia, arthritis, rheumatism and those whose bodies no longer rebound after a day of activity is morning stiffness; it affects every 1 out of 50 Americans with women being 7 times more susceptible to this condition than men. Do not let morning stiffness cut your day; you could overcome it by the 10 great ways.

10 great ways in which elders can overcome morning stiffness:

1) It is best to ensure that you have quality sleep free of stress; sleep either on your side or on your back and avoid sleeping on the stomach as it causes unnecessary stress on the lower spine and back. A poor sleeping posture locks the body in a bad position for hours causing reduced blood flow to the local muscles, and a builds up of lactic acid, causing stiffness.

2) Elders living in cold and damp environments are more prone to muscle stiffness than others as the blood flow in the body is affected; seal the window or doors of the room if it is drafty. It would also help to use a space heater or extra blankets to prevent that cold or dampness from causing morning stiffness.

3) Daily exercising helps to release those feel-good endorphins, get the blood moving, and help clear nasty toxins from the body that causes morning stiffness. It would help to do a few easy stretches while lying down in bed; it will not only stretch and loosen the muscles, but also flush it with more blood.

4) Learn and practice stress management and coping mechanisms; once you sleep better you will be able to reduce stress-induced muscle spasms that cause pain.

5) It is advisable to drink either bottled or reverse osmosis filtered water; this would help eliminate the buildup of toxins in the system that causes pain and stiffness.

6) It is best to reduce overweight and maintain it as the excess weight causes extra strain on your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

7) A poor diet that is high in simple carbohydrates causes weak muscles, bad posture, and lethargy, so eat healthy. Cut down on simple carbohydrates and eliminate foods with artificial color, enriched white flour, and artificial flavors/sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose and aspartame.

8) Take a hot shower; it helps induce sweating and promotes blood circulation and releases muscle spasms. The elder can do a few gentle knee bends; he need not go all the way down and can hold on to something for support.  Then find a counter, table, or chair and use his hands for support; exhaling and squatting as low as you can go, then inhale and stand up again 10 times helps get the morning blood flowing and silence the creaky joints.

9) Walking is one of the best exercises; get some regular exercise by using a pedometer and taking 10000 steps daily to greatly improve your health.   

10) Lastly dress appropriately for these cold months; you could sleep well in flannel pajamas or sweats to prevent cold air from stiffening your muscles and joints.

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