Mobility
Seven Seas® Cod Liver Oil And You
In the olden days, cod liver oil was only given to children to boost immunity and prevent coughs and colds. Today, cold liver oil is widely taken as a nutritional supplement in adults for various conditions ranging from arthritis to rough skin, brittle hair and nails.
What’s in cod liver oil?
- www.answers.com
- American Cancer Society
- www.evitamins.com
The joints connect bones together and allow flexible movement of the body. The 230 moveable and semi-moveable joints in the body allow us to move around effortlessly in our daily lives.
In a healthy joint, the ends of the opposing bones are covered with hyaline cartilage, the articular cartilage. The joint cavity separates the bones from each other. The components of the joints are enclosed in a dense fibrous joint capsule. The outer layer of the capsule consists of the ligaments that hold the bones together. The inner layer is the synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid into the joint cavity for lubrication
With so much movement in our everyday activities, our joints are subject to a lifetime of wear and tear. Over time, the cartilage that acts as a suspension buffer between two bones will wear out. Although the body continually breaks down ageing cartilage and processes new cartilage to protect the bones, our bodies become less able to do this as we age.
Cartilage can also wear out earlier due to infection, extreme sports, trauma and an autoimmune condition known as arthritis. When this happens, the bones will rub or knock against each other, causing pain, immobility and loss of function.
As such, it is important for us to protect our joints in our daily lives. Here are some joint protection tips:
- Have enough rest and sleep and avoid excessive stress
- Arrange your workspace to minimise lifting, reaching, carrying, holding or walking to conserve energy
- Avoid heavy impact sports that traumatise the joints
- Avoid repetitive movements for long periods of time- vary your activities
- Protect your joints from pain, strain and inflammation by wearing splints or using protective devices
- Take frequent, short breaks every 20 or 30 minutes
- Change positions often to avoid straining any particular joint
Read more:
Arthritis and management
Types of joints
Arthritis and management
Arthritis is a degenerative and inflammatory condition affecting mainly the joints. It makes joints painful, stiff and swollen. As a result, movement is restricted, which interferes with the most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs or brushing teeth.
Arthritis can range from slight stiffness in the morning to a degenerative, long-term disease, which could ultimately result in joint replacement surgery. Other symptoms include:
Constant pain in a joint
Prolonged stiffness (more than 30 minutes)especially in the morning or after sitting for a long time
Swelling in one or more joints
A hot, red, or tender joint
There are many forms of arthritis, but the two most common are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 5 in 1000 people in Malaysia, whereas osterarthritis affects about 10% - 20% of the adult population.
Although there is still no known cure for arthritis, healthcare practitioners can recommend management methods that can improve your quality of life when you have arthritis These usually include a combination of medications, exercise, rest and relaxation, as stress has a close association with arthritis.
The best option is prevention against arthritis by practicing joint care strategies and taking nutritional supplements for healthy joints such as cod liver oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Clinical studies show that cod liver oil helps prevents and relieves the pain of osteoarthritis.
Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D that aids bone resorption and formation which helps in the prevention of rickets (aches, pains and bones enlargement at the joints) and osteomalacia (widespread joint pains and muscle weakness).
Types of joints
There are three different kinds of joints in the body, each with different capabilities and functions. They are categorised as:
Movable joints– These joints work like door hinges allowing you to move back and forth. Examples are the joints at your knees, shoulder, elbow, fingers and wrist.
Slightly movable joints – These joints allow limited movement, such as the joints at your neck and the ribs connected the sternum.
Immovable joints– These joints do not move at all, such as those at the skull.
References:
- Arthritis Foundation Malaysia
- American Arthritis Foundation
- US National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Medline Plus
