Stiff and achy in the mornings? How to fix that

Some days I feel incredibly ancient. Not in age or my knowledge of modern music (although my millennial daughter may disagree), but in how my body feels. There are mornings when everything is rusty and creaky. You know what I mean: the stiffness and dull aches (and accompanying grunts and groans) that occur after you wake up. These feelings often go away in about five or 10 minutes. Some mornings are worse than others, and sometimes I awaken stiffness-free. Why does morning stiffness happen? “It’s not known why morning stiffness occurs, especially as people age, but the only common thread is that it occurs after long bouts of inactivity,” says Dr. William Docken, a rheumatologist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “That is why you often feel so stiff when you wake up, since sleeping is when you are inactive for the longest continuous time.” However, any prolonged period of sitting also can cause stiffness, like watching TV, working at the computer, or riding in the car. A simple remedy for stiffness To break up long stretches of sitting, set a timer on your phone or computer to remind you to move around every 20 to 30 minutes. Walk around your home or neighborhood, do some household chores, or even a quick set of lunges or marching in place for a minute. Another option is the following A-B-C routine. The three moves focus on the main stiff areas: shoulders, back, and legs. Do this in the morning to get loose, during your breaks from ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Bones and joints Exercise and Fitness Health Healthy Aging Source Type: blogs