Preventing damage to your cartilage from impact—which then puts more pressure and pain on the joints—is an important component of overall longevity. Strength and flexibility are also critical components, a physical therapist and an orthopedist tell Well + Good.
“It’s all part of the whole concept of conditioning, which is a combination of maintaining flexibility, strength, and coordination. If you can do that, then you have the best chance of avoiding injury and staying healthy,” says James Gladstone, MD, an orthopedist and chief of sports medicine at Mount Sinai.
Read on to learn five ways to help improve your joint health for better, easier movement.
