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Walk Fido. Pets don't just help your mental health, they also help your physical health. Walking your dog is a great excuse for ge ng yourself into shape. Use a sturdy leash that is easy to grip, such as a thick leash with a loop handle. Don't stomp your feet. Research shows pounding exercises like kickboxing, step aerobics and more can be tough on joints. Switch to low-impact ac vi es like biking and swimming that offer the same calorie-burning benefits without the painful pounding. Increase your range. Range-of-mo on exercises (such as stretching) are a good way to keep your muscles and ligaments flexible and strong. Add weights to your workout and you'll tone up, too. Soak it up. There's nothing like a warm bath to soothe aching muscles and joints a er a workout. So go ahead and pamper yourself without guilt – how you treat yourself a er exercise is as cri cal as how you treat yourself during a workout. Enjoy a massage. Massage can relieve muscle tension and help reduce fa gue. Invest in a professional massage or research informa on on do-it-yourself ps. Go ahead and treat yourself to a soothing massage a er a busy period at work or stressful me. Certain forms of massage, such as Swedish, focus on muscles and joints to improve func on. Let yourself go. On vaca on, that is. Find me to take a break away from your rou ne – even if you are a stay-at-home mom or you work from home. Don't get caught up in trying to plan an expensive weeklong trip to an island, either. A day or two off to enjoy your favorite ac vity counts as vaca on, too. Experts con nue to emphasize the connec on between stress and pain. Say no. It may be tough at first, but a er awhile you'll get the hang of it. Saying no to others and to ac vi es lets you say yes to extra me for yourself. It also allows you to say yes to exercise, healthy ea ng and stress reduc on – three power- packed methods of improving your health. Pack some heat. To relieve pain and s ffness, try heat therapies, such as heated pools, whirlpools, warm showers, warm compresses or heat packs. Chill out. Applying cold to sore spots can also help reduce pain and swelling. Use a cold pack, a bag of ice wrapped in a towel or a bag of frozen vegetables for a quick and easy cold treatment. You can also try an "ice massage" and rub ice directly on a painful joint. Kick bu . People who smoke have a greater risk of fracture than nonsmokers. In fact, smoking can reduce bone mass, which can lead to osteoporosis. Kick the habit to keep your body strong and healthy. Plus, just think of all the money you'll save by going smoke-free. Be Good to Your Joints Abby's Magazine - Volume Volume 5 Issue 3| Page 7