2 Exercises for Healthier Joints
We’ve all been there — you stretch or move and hear “snap, crackle, pop!”
Alarming, right?
While the sound of our childhood breakfast cereal coming from our body is certainly off-putting, creaks and cracks in our joints are somewhat common.
One of the best ways to reduce these sounds and help support healthier joints is by building strength and improving flexibility. Keep reading for two exercises to get you started!
Stronger muscles support your joints, while flexibility helps them move more smoothly.
Here are two simple exercises that can help improve both strength and flexibility in your joints. Incorporating these into your routine can reduce those pesky creaks and cracks over time.
Standing Side Lunge
This exercise strengthens your hips, thighs, and core while improving flexibility in your legs.
- Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
- Step out to one side, bending your knee as you shift your weight onto that leg. Keep the other leg straight.
- Push off your bent leg to return to the starting position.
Complete 10 reps per side for 2-3 sets.
Standing Side Bend
This move helps to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your spine and ribs, improving mobility in your torso.
- Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart.
- Reach one arm overhead, and gently bend to the opposite side, feeling a stretch along the side of your body.
- Hold for a moment, then return to standing.
Complete 10 reps per side for 2-3 sets.
Regularly strengthening and stretching your muscles can help your joints function better and move more smoothly. These exercises are a great way to get started and keep your body feeling strong and healthy!
Want free access to more joint-healthy exercises?
Join our October fitness challenge, Power in Pink. You work out using the Physical Therapist-designed indi fitness app and we’ll donate to Team Roswell for breast cancer research. It’s that simple!
Get fit, build healthier joints, and support a great cause! Click below to reserve your free spot: