This article has kindly been shared by Alison Richmond of Provention
Our joints are designed to move –
– and without regular motion, they can lose function and become stiff over time. Think of your joints like high-performance machinery: without care, they don’t operate smoothly.
Regular movement helps circulate synovial fluid, which lubricates the cartilage and nourishes the joint. Picture a creaky, rusty hinge on a gate. What does it need? A squirt of CRC and regular use. Your joints work the same way.
Without regular movement, joints can dry out, degrade, and increase the risk of stiffness, pain, and osteoarthritis.
Modern lifestyles often reduce natural movement. We rarely squat, crawl, or twist like our ancestors, and our hips are especially affected.
In traditional cultures where daily squatting and deep hip flexion are common, hip arthritis is rare.
In contrast, Western adults frequently sit in chairs, bend from their backs, and limit hip mobility, which can lead to stiffness, pain, and even hip replacements.
To maintain healthy joints, treat them like sponges –
Move them often, in all directions, and through their full range of motion.
