Let's Talk Joint Health

Why do our joints crack and pop like we just broke a bone in our body? You might probably think there's something wrong with you. To be honest, cracks and pops are a harmless and normal thing. However, some questions arise; 1) do we need to address this and 2) how can we improve our joint health?

Let's dive in.

How To Be Proactive About Our Joints

First off, what are joints? I'm not talking about the one you roll up and light. I'm talking about the ones in your body. To simplify it, a joint is where two bone ends meet to allow for movement and structural support. Within the joint consists of cartilage - a smooth, cushioning tissue that covers the ends of bones, which is made to reduce friction and absorb shock. Some joints have a joint capsule in which they enclose the joint to provide stability and in this part, contains synovial fluid which helps with lubrication for the joint itself.

It's important to know what a joint consists of because now you can be mindful of what it can or cannot do. Since you have a basic understanding of what a joint is, why do we need to be proactive about joint health and how can we incorporate care to our joints in our training?

If our joints don't do what it's made to do, then they get stiff and rigid. This, in worse cases, leads to mild discomfort/pain. If we don't address it and keep on pushing it aside, thinking rest and recovery will (possibly but probably not) do the trick, it would more so likely lead to injury. Then you're out for a good few weeks/months from your sport or the gym and your motivation and strength gains have deteriorated ever since you gotten injured.

Now you feel like sh*t. I want to make sure that does not happen.

This is where mobility work comes in.

I created a beginner's guide into mobility training that can be added to your warm ups or within your workouts.

Click here to access it.