Gentle on the Joints

Like the brake pads in your car, the cushioning cartilage in your joints wears down over time.

But there are things you can do to keep that cushion as thick as possible. Here are some joint-nurturing dos and don'ts:

DO:

• Build muscle strength to support your joints through gentle weight-bearing activities like pilates.
• Keep your joints flexible through practicing yoga.
• Enhance your stamina through aerobic activities such as walking, swimming and biking.
• Lose weight. Every pound you lose takes 4 pounds of stress off of your knees and hips.

DON'T:

• Spend too long on your feet. If you can't sit down, make sure to stand with your feet a "hip-width" apart to distribute the weight of your body equally over your joints.
• Sit in one position for long periods. Get up, stretch and walk around every 20 minutes or so.
• Bend at the waist when picking up heavy objects.
• Exercise past the point of pain. Your body is telling you something when it hurts, so listen to it.