Surprising Ways to Keep Your Shoulder Healthy

The ball-and-socket shoulder joint lets you do so much. In fact, you rely on your shoulder any time you extend your arms. And the shape of your shoulder joint grants you your full range of comfortable upper-body movement.

That means everyone needs to take good care of this essential body part.

At Twin Palm Orthopedics, located in Ocala, Florida, our team of musculoskeletal experts can help you restore a damaged shoulder joint. But, as part of our commitment to comprehensive preventive medicine, we also want to ensure our patients are informed about the proper way to care for their shoulders.

If you follow these shoulder care tips, you might be able to avoid procedures like shoulder joint replacement. Some of them may surprise you!

Build shoulder strength

Your shoulders involve several muscles for movement and support. 

Creating an exercise plan that builds strength in these muscles makes a protective and supportive safety net for your shoulder joint.

Strengthening the muscles around your shoulder relieves many types of shoulder pain. It also means you’re at less risk for acute and repetitive stress injuries.

Maintain shoulder flexibility

You need your full range of upper-body motion, which means keeping your shoulder joints flexible.

Improve your shoulder flexibility with regular stretching. And stretch before and after engaging in strengthening exercises to keep your muscles moving easily. 

Muscle care, like hot compresses, can help maintain flexibility after intense physical activity, reducing your risk of repetitive stress injuries. Use ice packs to address inflammation.

Watch what you eat

Did you know your diet can affect your shoulder joint? This tip might surprise you — but watching what you eat impacts your whole-body health, including your shoulder joint and muscles.

Your muscles need lean protein for growth and strength. Good sources of lean protein include nuts and legumes, as well as lean meat and low-fat dairy. If you don’t get enough protein, you may not have the muscle strength to support your shoulders.

And your diet should also change the levels of inflammation present in your body. Suppose you’re concerned about inflammatory issues around your shoulder joints, including arthritis. In that case, switching to an anti-inflammatory diet may be what you need to relieve pain and increase the functionality in this part of your body.

For more information on comprehensive shoulder care, contact our team at Twin Palm Orthopedics today. You can call now to book your appointment or request an appointment with our easy-to-use online tool.