Top Ways to Reduce Everyday Knee, Hip and Neck Joint Pain

It’s important to remember that most neck pain can come from built-up tension, which is very often caused by stress. Other neck injuries may come as a result of whiplash or cervical spondylosis; the main signs will be stiffness, numbness or tingling.

Sleeping in an awkward position will also exacerbate neck pain. This is simply remedied by readjusting your position to sleep on your back, and by using just one pillow. It’s important to choose a pillow that’s been specifically developed to help with neck pain and provide support. You could also invest in an adjustable bed that helps your posture as you sleep. 

Another overriding reason for neck pain is poor posture. Sitting at a desk, or bending your head over a tablet, laptop or smartphone will strain the muscles in your neck. For every inch that you crouch over, there is an added weight put onto the pressure of the neck. The poor postural position that many of us seem to have will likely cause neck and back pain which can lead onto other, more serious ailments.

So, can you stop your neck from hurting? Invest in a quality piece of furniture that will improve your seating position. Choose a comfortable chair that is the correct size for you and try to always keep your body in a neutral position.

After a lifetime of everyday use, the knee joint is an especially vulnerable joint as it continuously takes the full weight of the body. Any sudden movement or strenuous sporting activities can trigger an injury.

It’s thought that clicking knees when either sitting up or down is normal, but any lasting pain is not. Sometimes, a dull aching pain can be common in both knees at the same time, and is often magnified when sitting for prolonged periods, squatting or kneeling.

The problem that often occurs with knee joints is that there is an imbalance with the thigh muscle. For example, the inside muscle could be larger than the outside muscle and vice versa, which inevitably leads to inflammation.

To reduce the pain caused by the knee joint, you could choose to see a physiotherapist – as strengthening exercises will help to redress the muscle balance. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that this is a sort of condition that will naturally improve over time.

Similarly, losing weight is one of the best things that you can do to relieve knee pressure. It’s said that for every pound of weight lost, four pounds are relieved off the knee. Pilates is a great form of exercise to help you lose weight, build strength, enhance your posture and boost your mood, too.

If your symptoms get progressively worse, icing the front of the knee will reduce any swelling, and stretching will improve flexibility.

Hip pain can often be the most intense joint discomfort because of its sheer size. A regular, working hip has what is referred to as a ‘ball and socket joint’ covered in cartilage, that enables the hip to move smoothly. Sometimes, this cartilage can erode over time and cause severe pain. In some cases, bones can rub together causing stiffness – this will eventually lead to the need for replacements.

There is often not any single factor that causes hip pain, however some individuals may be more genetically predisposed to having the condition. Like knee pain, sore hip joints can also come about from being overweight or playing sport excessively.

Unfortunately, if movement is causing daily pain and it’s a struggle to carry out day-to-day activities such as walking or getting in or out of bed, then a hip replacement is very likely. Up until an operation, do your best to keep moving gently to avoid loss of mobility all together. As little as walking around the house for an hour each day will go some way in helping.

For those with less serious hip pain, there are ways to reduce the pain. Swimming is the best possible exercise, as the water will act as a buoyancy aid and give a feeling of weightlessness. In addition, manual therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy will help.

If you suffer from neck, knee or hip pain, it’s important that the furniture in your home supports your body. An adjustable bed is great for encouraging good posture while you sleep and reducing any unwanted pressure on your body.

When it comes to daily relaxation in your home, an orthopaedic chair can work wonders. However, you’ll need to find one that is right for you. When you lean back, the headrest should encourage proper neck and shoulder alignment – this will reduce any unwanted tension or stiffness in the upper body. Your head will be fully supported, with your eye-line level and your shoulders nice and relaxed.

To ensure that your hips are properly supported, your bottom should fit snuggly into the base of the chair. Your lower back must also be flush against the back of the seat. To help your knees and hips, both should be aligned to reduce the pressure in both regions of your body. You should feel perfectly balanced when you sit down on your chair.

At HSL, our trained Comfort Specialists will help you select the right furniture to match your comfort needs using our unique Exclusive Chair Fitting.

Knee, hip and neck pain are prominent issues for people all over the UK. Unfortunately, there is no single sure-fire solution to cure everyone’s aches and pains, as each pain will be specific to the individual.

However, maintaining a good weight, exercising lightly and having sufficient levels of rest will contribute to alleviating these pains in some fashion. The decisions you make about your home furniture will also have an impact.

At HSL, your comfort and wellbeing are our top priority. Our chairs, sofas and beds are ergonomically designed to support your body effectively, and have all been approved by our Occupational Therapist, Julie Jennings Dip COT HCPC. Visit one of our showrooms or arrange a free home visit to find out how we can help you.