Joint pain is one of the biggest signs of arthritis. It is usually experienced as discomfort in the hands, wrists, feet, and back. What people don’t know is that many of our day-to-day activities and habits actually contribute to joint pain and conditions such as arthritis. However, the good news is that these habits can be addressed and remedied. Read on to find out about these habits and how they could be damaging your joints.

Wearing heels

Higher heels cause more weight to be pushed forward. This forces your leg muscles to work harder and puts pressure on your knees and ankles, increasing the risk of arthritis.

Wearing ill-fitting shoes

Wearing ill-fitted shoes can affect your knees, hips, ankles, and even your back.

Skipping out on strength training

Strength training improves muscle and slows down the bone loss that occurs with age.

Maintaining a poor form

Bad form while exercising overworks the muscles and puts pressure on joints.

Poor texting habits

It’s common to use your thumbs while texting, but this can irritate the tendons. People face something known as a “texting thumb,” where the thumb gets locked in a curled position.

Spending too much time with a screen

Too much time on your computer screen can lead to pain in your neck, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and back.

Carrying heavy loads

Heavy backpacks can lead to bad posture and neck and shoulder pain. Long-term use of one-sided bags can affect your balance and tire your joints.

Lack of exercise

Stretching can improve flexibility and support muscles and tendons. This allows joints to move freely and helps avoid arthritis.

Poor sleep cycles

Poor sleep cycles lead to inflammation in the body, which can worsen preexisting conditions such as arthritis.

Sleeping on your stomach

Sleeping on your stomach compresses the spine and pushes your head in one direction, leading to pressure on joints.

Bad posture

Bad posture can stress the muscles and joints and even lead to pain, worsening the symptoms of arthritis.

Not using the right muscles

Using the wrong muscles can strain the joints. So, if you’re picking up something from the floor, use your knees and not your back.

Disregarding pain

Not addressing pain in the early stages can make things worse. If your muscles and joints have been hurting, check with the doctor.

Too much caffeine

Too much caffeine or caffeine products can lead to inflammation in the joints and arthritis in the long run.

Overeating processed food

Processed foods contain additives, preservatives, and sugar that can do a lot of harm and lead to inflammation.

Weight gain

Gaining excess weight can lead to the development of arthritis as the extra weight strains the joints.