How to protect your musculoskeletal health

There are some simple and easy steps you can take to protect your bones, muscles and joints.

Freedom of movement is something you take for granted, until you no longer have it.

Aching muscles, swollen joints and bone tenderness — the sorts of complaints that come under the broad heading of musculoskeletal pain — can leave you feeling years older than your chronological age.

Exactly what is musculoskeletal pain?

Musculoskeletal conditions are problems affecting bones, muscles and joints.

Injury can cause a loss of mobility and dexterity that can make it difficult to carry out everyday activities, which can seriously affect your quality of life.

Keeping bones, muscles and joints healthy

With life expectancy continuing to rise in Australia, the last thing you want is problems with your bones, muscles and joints impacting your ability to move easily.

Because people, once Covid-19 restrictions have eased, we have a lot of living to do.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? The good news is, a lot.

A healthy and balanced diet, physical activity, including weight-bearing exercises and stretching, and maintaining an ideal weight will all go a long way to keeping these parts of your body in tip top shape.

There are also some key nutrients you should be incorporating into your daily life, including:

Magnesium: A ‘macromineral’ and vital mineral that human beings need in amounts of 100 milligrams or more each day, magnesium is used in hundreds of biochemical activities in our bodies, including keeping muscles and nerves working properly.

Calcium: It’s the main mineral found in your bones and super important for bone health. Old bone cells are repeatedly broken down and replaced by new ones, so it’s important to consume calcium daily.

Vitamin D3: Also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, deficiency in vitamin D is very common, affecting about one billion people worldwide. D3 aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which helps keeps bones strong.

Potassium, zinc and the B vitamins (think B6, B9 and B12 for starters) have also been shown to assist in musculoskeletal health.

If you don’t get enough of the nutrients mentioned above in your diet, speak to your health professional about dietary changes or supplementation and look forward to showing off your best moves for many years to come.

* This post is brought to you by BioCeuticals Ultra Muscleze.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Vitamins and minerals can only be of assistance if dietary intake is inadequate.