“Motion is Lotion”
For the second week in a row, my wife gets credit with giving me the topic for my weekly message. Last week she gave me a quote about Wellness and Illness. This week, a friend in her gym class told her that “Motion is Lotion”. It refers to your joints and the synovial fluid (lotion) that keeps them lubricated.
What is synovial fluid? It’s a thick, lotion like lubricant that keeps your joints moving smoothly. It’s in your knees, shoulders, wrists, ankles and all the other joints in your body.
When you get arthritis, bursitis, swelling and other inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis) or a breakdown of the joint caused by a disease (osteoarthritis), the make-up of the synovial fluid changes. Medical professionals have a way of testing the make-up of the synovial fluid and diagnosing the cause of your joint problems.
Damage to the joints usually comes from misuse or overuse, or some sort of overload on the joint. This happens as a result of unusual twists or turns, or the inability of the muscles and joints to support the load put on them. Listen to your body. In most cases, your body will tell you when you are doing something that will cause problems.
The best prevention is to keep the joints from misfiring in the first place. And the best way to do that is to keep the lubricating lotion in its natural state. That happens when you move your body, keep it in motion, and run your joints through their entire range. A greased hinge will keep on working. When the grease breaks down, so does the hinge.
Joint replacements are becoming pandemic. My wife has a stainless steel knee. Her sister has an artificial hip. My brother has an artificial hip and knee. I know two people who either have just had or are about to have shoulder joint replacements, one of whom has already had hip and knee replacements. Knee and hip replacement are the most common, followed by shoulder replacement.
Understand that “Prevention is the best medicine”. And remember: “Motion is lotion”. Keep your body moving to prevent your joints from getting rusty and to keep your joints moving smoothly. If you think you have a problem with your joints, see a medical professional. Otherwise: KEEP MOVING!
Thank you for reading.