Marvin Parker Personal Trainer

Living with the pain of arthritis can be incredibly tough, but getting active and partaking in regular workouts can be a great way to help reduce that soreness of arthritis. Research has shown that those individuals who regularly exercise notice increased flexibility, better joint function, and a higher range of motion. However, when it comes to exercise and keeping fit, what are the best workouts for arthritis? We have taken a closer look at some of the best activities you can complete at home to help ease the pain and stiffness of the condition. Why is exercise beneficial for arthritis? Before looking at some of the best exercises, it is important to understand how they can help improve your condition. While the first thing that springs to mind might be running or heading to the gym, exercise does not have to be so vigorous, and any kind of physical activity can be beneficial. When you get active, you are improving your blood flow and increasing the strength and flexibility of ...

Living with arthritis can be challenging not only physically but mentally as well. Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health issues arthritis sufferers face. What can also happen is that poor mental health can make arthritis symptoms even worse. Today, 23% of Americans suffering from some form of arthritis, and 11% of Americans suffer from diagnosed mental health issues. The cross-section between these two groups is large enough to consider mental health among people suffering from arthritis to be an epidemic. It is quite challenging to maintain positive mental health when your physical body is causing you major pain. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to reduce the physical and mental symptoms of both arthritis and emotional states like depression and anxiety. Here are some helpful tips on how you can maintain positive mental health when dealing with lifelong arthritis. Identify Your Triggers What causes your arthritis to flare up? Is it the weather? Wa...

Do you notice that your arthritis symptoms increase after eating certain foods? There has long been a belief that certain items, such as fast foods, can impact your level of discomfort and increase inflammation. Eating well and understanding the nutrients you are fueling your body with can help relieve soreness and improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Arthritis is one of the most common conditions in the world, with estimates suggesting that 1% of the global population is currently living with the condition. Despite the common misconception that it is a condition that only impacts the elderly, the stiffness and discomfort of arthritis can affect everyone, with the majority of sufferers actually being under 65 . While there is no current medical cure for arthritis, ditching those fried foods and focusing on what you are consuming can help to reduce the impact it has on your life. Why are fried foods bad? While diet is not the cause or a cure for arthritis, it can b...

You get up from your bed, eat breakfast at a table, drive to work, sit at your work desk for several hours, get back in your car, park yourself on the couch for the evening, and finally return to your bed for sleep. Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Most people spend the majority of their days sitting. In fact, those who work in an office spend up to 15 hours a day sitting! This is a problem, as our bodies were not made to sit all day. Need some motivation to reduce your time spent sitting? Here are seven health benefits of getting out of your chair. 1. You’ll lower your risk of weight gain and obesity The recipe for weight gain is ultimately caused by taking in more calories than you burn. As you may have guessed, you burn far fewer calories when sitting than when you’re standing or moving around. One study showed that when compared to an afternoon of sedentary work, an equal amount of time spent standing burned over 170 additional calories. On top of that, rese...

If you have aching joints, you will want to maintain a diet that contains a significant amount of foods that help fight inflammation. By reducing inflammation in your body, you reduce joint discomfort, soreness, stiffness, and swelling. Thankfully, there are plenty of healthy and delicious foods that will be your anti-inflammatory allies. If you want to reduce the discomfort you feel in your joints, you should consider adding the following foods that help fight inflammation to your diet: Fish Fish, especially fatty and oily kinds, are packed with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. According to studies conducted, when compared to lean fish or meat, fatty fish reduced joint inflammation the most. Fish are usually loaded with vitamin D as well, which can help combat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. If you want to eat the best fish for reducing inflammation, you can add the following to your plate: Salmon Mackerel Sardines Trout Ideally, you should eat one of these fish ...

Keeping inflammation at bay is the key to finding relief from joint soreness and stiffness. Even though inflammation is a natural response by the body to protect itself, too much inflammation can lead to severe discomfort. On the bright side, there are plenty of anti-inflammatory juices you can have that will reduce or eliminate the aches caused by inflammation. These juices involve plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds. Besides reducing inflammation, these juices will also help you lose weight. This becomes especially helpful if you are suffering from arthritis since losing weight will relieve some of the pressure on your joints. Best Anti-Inflammatory Juices In this article, you will learn about some of the best anti-inflammatory juices that you can drink to get rid of unwanted inflammation. Here are our picks for the best ones you can make: Cucumber & Pineapple This delicious anti-inflammatory juice is loaded with pineapple and cucu...

Many people know turmeric as a spice that gives curries their deep, golden color. What people might not know is that turmeric has a long history of use in Eastern medicine for its range of health benefits. Modern research also suggests that curcumin, a natural chemical compound in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit those suffering from arthritis. Plus, turmeric is known to be a potent antioxidant with antimicrobial and anticancer effects. Therefore, you’re probably wondering what the best way is to incorporate this healing spice into your diet. That’s exactly what we’ll be sharing today! Here are six healthy turmeric recipes that will help you fight back against inflammation and reduce the soreness, stiffness, and discomfort associated with arthritis. Note: You’ll notice that all of the recipes include black pepper. That’s because research shows that combining piperine, a bioactive compound in black pepper, enhances curcumin absorption by up to 2...

If you are one of the 54.4 million Americans who wake up to an aching back, then you are probably hoping to get a better night’s sleep. Not only are you waking up with joint stiffness and soreness, but you’re also likely suffering from insomnia like 35% of American adults . A new mattress could make a massive difference in how achy your body feels upon waking up. What is the best mattress for joint discomfort? It can be a challenging endeavor to find the right type of mattress, especially because the “perfect” mattress simply does not exist. This is because of the various ways people sleep (side, back, stomach, etc.), as well as personal preferences. This means a mattress that leads to a great night of sleep for one person may result in an uncomfortable one for someone else. How to Select the Best Mattress for Joint Discomfort When you search for a mattress online, you will find all sorts of recommendations for specific mattresses. However, as mentioned previously, this is a bit s...

Running injuries are far more prevalent than you may think. Half of all runners become injured at some point, with 80% of injuries occurring due to overuse of their joints. With this type of injury become so common, it is a good idea to take preventative measures to avoid common running injuries. While popping a painkiller may provide temporary relief, it is only masking a bigger issue that is best prevented. Down the road, that will definitely not be enough, and you will begin resorting to ice packs and be unable to run like you once did. On the bright side, there are several ways to avoid common running injuries. Some steps you can take are quite simple and may surprise you. If you want to prevent injuries and run for years to come, then keep reading! Strengthen Your Muscles When you have strong muscles, as well as ligaments and tendons around your joints, you prevent joint injuries. Weak muscles lead to worse form and harder impacts while running. Since running involves repe...

Golf is an easy-going, relaxing, and healthy sport that around 25 million Americans enjoy every year. Older adults are especially interested in playing golf because it is easy on their joints and does not involve too much strenuous activity. However, it may be difficult to be golfing with joint discomfort, you may be apprehensive about playing the game. Osteoarthritis is the most common issue leading to soreness and stiffness in joints. This occurs due to cartilage breaking down. Joints become more exposed to damage, resulting in aching that is very hard to get rid of. If you are over 50, you are more likely to succumb to the effects of this form of arthritis. Your knees, hips, lower back, and wrists are going to be the most affected joints if you are a golfer or want to become one. If you are overusing them or getting exposed to too much cold, your symptoms will be worse. So, how can you go golfing with joint discomfort and reduce it as much as possible? Here are some tips you can...

At least 15 million Americans report having joint discomfort in their everyday lives. Even though they suffer from soreness, stiffness, and aches of all kinds, some people will keep up bad habits. There are many bad habits that are giving you joint discomfort. Identifying what they are is the first step to becoming free from the suffering they cause. We are going to share the most common bad habits that are giving you joint discomfort, so you can eliminate a significant amount of the aches you are experiencing. Women suffer more from joint discomfort than men, which may be due to following expectations in fashion like wearing high heels. However, joint discomfort is a universal issue that can be reduced when you understand what may be making it worse. Here are the most likely bad habits that are giving you joint discomfort: Texting Ever since on-screen keyboards and social media become popular, texting has become widespread. With it has also come an issue known as text neck. Bes...