How to Keep Your Bones and Joints Healthy

Co-authored by Karen Litzy, PT, DPT

Last Updated: June 8, 2022 Fact Checked

Keeping your bones and joints healthy becomes more important as you age. Serious conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis can make it hard to move around and may lead to even more medical issues. There are simple things that you can do to reduce your likelihood of developing these conditions or at least prevent them from becoming worse. Simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, getting more calcium, and incorporating weight-bearing exercises can help to protect your bones and joints.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Maintaining a Healthy Diet for Your Bones and Joints

1
Incorporate more calcium-rich foods into your diet. Getting enough calcium is essential to keep your bones healthy and strong. The best way to make sure that you are getting enough calcium is to eat a diet that includes lots of calcium-rich foods. Calcium-rich foods include:^{[1]
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- Low-fat dairy products, such as low-fat yogurt or milk.
- Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale, and turnip greens.
- Foods fortified with calcium, such as orange juice, cereal, bread, soy beverages, and tofu products.
2
Eat foods that contain Vitamin D. Not many foods contain Vitamin D, so it is easy to become deficient. The primary way that we get vitamin D is from the sun, but if you live in a place that does not get much sun, you will have to find ways to get it from the foods you eat. Foods that contain vitamin D include:^{[2]
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National Health Service (UK)
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- Fatty fish, such as tuna and sardines.
- Egg yolks
- Cheese
- Fortified milk, yogurt, or soy products
- Beef liver
3
Get enough Vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary to help repair tissues, including the cartilage in your joints. Make sure that your diet includes plenty of vitamin C rich foods to ensure that you are getting your daily allowance, but do not exceed 2,000 milligrams per day. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include:^{[3]
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MedlinePlus
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- Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, and lemons
- Watermelon
- Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries
- Tropical fruits, such as pineapple, papaya, kiwi, and mango
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
- Leafy greens such as kale, cabbage, and spinach
- Sweet potatoes and regular potatoes
- Winter squash
- Tomatoes
4
Boost bone density with Vitamin K. Some studies have suggested that vitamin K may help to promote bone density. Other studies have shown that vitamin K does not help promote bone density, but it may help prevent bone fractures and cancers. Consider adding a vitamin K supplement or more vitamin K rich foods to your diet. Foods that are rich in vitamin K include:^{[4]
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- Leafy greens
- Meat
- Cheese
- Eggs
5
Reduce your sodium intake and increase your potassium intake. A diet that is high in salt may cause you to lose bone density. To eliminate this factor, follow a low-sodium diet and increase your intake of potassium-rich foods to help offset the salt you do consume. Look for low-sodium options for your favorite foods and avoid adding salt to the foods you eat.^{[5]
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Research source} Add potassium-rich foods to help offset your sodium intake. Most fruits and vegetables are high in potassium. Some common potassium-rich foods include:
- Bananas
- Baked potatoes
- Orange juice
- Winter squash
- Broccoli
- Yogurt
- White beans
- Cantaloupe
- Halibut
- Sweet potatoes
- Lentils^{[6]
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6
Consume less caffeine. The occasional cup of coffee is not bad for you, but drinking too much caffeine can cause your bones to lose calcium. Keep your caffeine intake under 300 milligrams per day to help prevent these losses. Keep in mind that caffeine can be found in many different beverages, such as coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, and hot chocolate.^{[7]
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MedlinePlus
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- Try switching to half-decaffeinated coffee or switch to drinks that are naturally caffeine free, such as herbal tea, water, and juice.
7
Moderate alcohol consumption. People who drink a lot of alcohol are more likely to have broken bones and brittle bones. Drinking not only interferes with your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals, but it also results in an increase in hormones that deplete bone density. To avoid these side effects, drink only in moderation or get help to quit drinking if you have problems moderating your consumption.^{[8]
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- Talk to your doctor if you think that you may have a problem with alcohol addiction. You may need help to get your drinking under control.
8
Try glucosamine supplements. Glucosamine is a chemical compound which occurs naturally in your body and supports the cartilage in your joints. While glucosamine in the body does contribute to cartilage formation, large research trials have shown that glucosamine supplements aren't very effective. It is not found in any foods, so to increase your glucosamine, you must take supplements. ^{[9]
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- Try taking 500 milligrams three times a day.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Exercising to Promote Healthy Bones and Joints

1
Talk to your doctor before you begin an exercise regimen. It is important to discuss your plans with your doctor before you begin an exercise regimen. Your doctor can help you to decide what exercises will be best for you based on your age, weight, and any medical conditions that you have. Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist if you have significant progress to make before you can safely exercise on your own.^{[10]
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- If you have osteoporosis, be sure to work with your physician to make sure you're on the right diet and taking the proper supplements. They'll base that information on your blood work and/or bone scans.^{[11]
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  Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
  Physical Therapist
  
  Expert Interview. 27 August 2020.}
2
Include weight-bearing exercises to keep your bones strong.^{[12]
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Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Expert Interview. 27 August 2020.} Weight-bearing exercises help your body to build more bone mass and maintain the bone density that you already have. Any exercise that forces you to work against gravity would be considered a weight-bearing exercise. Exercises like swimming and biking are not considered weight-bearing exercises because you are not bearing your full body weight on the ground. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. If you find that it is too hard to do 30 minutes at once, try exercising for 10 minutes three times per day. Some examples of weight-bearing exercises include:^{[13]
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- Walking
- Running
- Dancing
- Playing soccer
- Playing basketball
- Playing tennis
If you are more focused on finding exercises that will not aggravate your joints, go for low impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and biking. These exercises will give you a good cardiovascular workout without causing too much stress on your joints. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. If you find that it is too hard to do 30 minutes at once, try exercising for 10 minutes three times per day.^{[14]
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Building strength in your muscles can also help to protect your bones and joints. Having strong muscles can actually help prevent osteoporosis. Make sure that you build strength in all of your major muscle groups, especially your core (back and stomach). Having a strong core will help prevent posture problems later on. Aim to do some strength training every other day.
Your joints can get injured while you exercise, so it is important to protect them if there is a chance they might get injured. Common activities that can result in injured joints include rollerblading, skateboarding, and ice skating. Make sure that you wear elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and a helmet when doing any exercise that might cause a joint injury.^{[15]
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You can also help to keep your bones and joints healthy by incorporating balance and stretching exercises into your exercise regimen. Yoga is a great option to incorporate balance and stretching exercises because of the many different types of poses. Look for a beginner’s yoga class if you have never tried it before.
7
Try vibration therapy. Vibration machines have been shown to increase bone density in some studies, while other studies have shown no increase in bone density. There is more research that needs to be done, but for now, there is favorable research showing that it may have some benefit for those that can’t engage in strenuous exercise or require something less stressful to their bones.^{[16]
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- The main type of vibration therapy is called Whole Body Vibration (WBV). The person stands on a machine with a vibrating platform, using a railing for support. The intensity of the vibration can be adjusted; beginners should start with a low-intensity vibration and work up to higher intensities.
- You should not use vibration therapy if you are prone to blood clots, have a pacemaker, are pregnant, or have inner ear problems.
Try to give yourself a day to rest each week so that you do not injure yourself. Your body needs time to repair itself after you have exercised, so listen to your body and do not push yourself too far in the beginning. Designate one day per week as your rest day or do something easy on that day like taking a leisurely walk or taking a short bike ride.^{[17]
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9
Take care of your body after exercising. Make sure that you care for your body immediately after your workouts as well. If your joints become inflamed, you can use ice to dull the pain and reduce swelling. Wrap a paper towel around an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with ice and apply the ice pack to your sore joints.^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Over-exercising can cause injuries and that may affect your progress. Talk to your doctor right away if you think you may have injured yourself while exercising.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Other Important Steps for Bone & Joint Health

Smoking has been shown to cause bone mass depletion. If you are a smoker, quit smoking right away to avoid losing any more bone mass as a result of your smoking.^{[19]
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Research source} Smoking causes many other serious health problems as well. If you want to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation program in your area.
2
Maintain a healthy body weight. It is important to maintain a healthy body weight to keep your bones and joints healthy. If you are underweight, you are at a higher risk of bone loss.^{[20]
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Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} If you are overweight, you may be causing extra stress on your joints and you may even be at risk of developing osteoarthritis.
- If you are over or under your ideal body weight, talk to your doctor about how you can get to a healthy weight and maintain it.
You may be avoiding too much extra movement due to joint pain, but having a sedentary job or simply not moving around enough during the day can cause joint pain or make it worse. If you usually sit for long periods of time, try to remember to get up and move around once every couple of hours. ^{[21]
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Some shoes put you at higher risk of having joint problems. High heels make it ten times more likely for women to experience joint pain. If you often wear high heels, try switching to a lower heel (less than 3 inches). Also, make sure your shoes are the right size and that they have good cushioning and arch support.^{[22]
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5
Talk to your physician about bone and joint health. If you have concerns about your bone and joint health, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can perform tests to determine if your bone density is adequate or if you have low bone density.
- Ask about medications that might help to treat or prevent bone loss.
- Discuss surgical options if you have severe joint pain.
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How do you take care of your bones and joints?

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

It's important to regularly do weight-bearing exercises to keep your bones strong. That includes speed walking, running, squats, lunges, stair-climbing, using weights or kettlebells, or anything else where your body has to support a weight.

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