Summer is gone and soon we’ll be replacing our warm and limber muscles with bouts of cold, creaky knees and hips. Arizonans love to run and hike, which means our joints can take a beating. Here to help us keep our body limber year-round is Anthony K. Hedley, M.D., FRCS, an orthopedic surgeon at the AZ Center for Bone & Joint Disorders, a Physician Group of Arizona, Inc., practice. Dr. Hedley says the best medicine for healthy joints is prevention, offering the following tips:

Exercise regularly. Favor low impact exercises and change your routines to prevent repetitive overuse of a particular joint.
Wear appropriate, properly-fitted footwear when exercising. The right shoes provide a stable foundation for your ankles, knees and hips, and cushions the impact of walking and running. The staff at a reputable athletic store can usually determine how your foot interacts with the ground and recommend the right shoe for you.

Ditch the high heels. They’re sleek and beautiful but they can leave your body and knees in torment. Wear heels in varying heights and opt for round-toed styles with a shock-absorbent sole to minimize the shock to the joints. Women who wear high heels have 7 to 10 times greater chance of developing joint pain and problems. If possible, wear them only for a short period of time, like a wedding or event, and then change into a more comfortable option.

Watch your weight. For every extra pound of weight you add to your body, you place the equivalent of five extra pounds of strain on your knees — increasing the risk of arthritis.

For more information on Dr. Hedley, click here.

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