Gynecologist Tatyana Ilyukhina has shared six recommendations for people over 40 to get rid of joint pain, publishing her advice on Telegram.
In her first guideline, Ilyukhina urged individuals experiencing joint discomfort not to switch to complete rest. She explained that total inactivity actually worsens joint pain over time because the supporting muscles weaken when they are left unused.
Instead of remaining stationary, the doctor advised maintaining manageable physical activity adapted to individual capability. Recommended options include walking, swimming, cycling, and performing calm exercises designed to build overall strength and mobility.
As people pass the age of 40, cartilage in the joints naturally undergoes wear, while muscle mass and joint flexibility can gradually decrease. Regular low impact activities, such as swimming and cycling, encourage the circulation of synovial fluid inside joint cavities. This fluid provides essential lubrication and nutrients to cartilage, while physical movement keeps surrounding skeletal muscles strong enough to stabilize vulnerable joints during daily movements.
Managing exertion and body weight
For her third recommendation, Ilyukhina emphasized the need to temporarily reduce any types of physical exertion that lead to pronounced or prolonged worsening of joint symptoms. Her fourth tip focused on weight management, advising individuals carrying excess weight to gradually reduce their weight to decrease the mechanical load placed on their knee and hip joints.
The hips and knees function as primary weight bearing joints, supporting several times a person's total body weight during routine movements such as walking, squatting, or climbing stairs. Biomechanical studies show that even modest weight loss significantly reduces the cumulative pressure placed on lower limb joints, helping to protect vulnerable cartilage from accelerated degradation as body mass declines.
Medication, supplements and weather sensitivity
Fifthly, the doctor stated that patients can select pain relieving medications to manage their symptoms, though she emphasized that this must be done only in consultation with a qualified physician. Finally, Ilyukhina cautioned against relying on dietary supplements as a primary treatment option, noting that such products have questionable effectiveness.
Prescription and over the counter analgesics work by blocking pain signals or reducing tissue inflammation, but improper medical use can lead to adverse side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation. Meanwhile, extensive clinical research on popular joint supplements has produced inconsistent evidence, leading medical guidelines to emphasize proven lifestyle modifications and targeted medical therapies over unproven dietary products.
Ilyukhina's recommendations follow earlier insights from traumatologist Sergey Malykhin, who addressed why some individuals experience knee pain before rain. Malykhin asserted that shifting atmospheric pressure is the primary cause behind pre-rain joint soreness and stiffness.
Traumatologists specialize in evaluating and treating injuries and degenerative conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, which encompasses bones, joints, muscles, and tendons. Drops in barometric pressure prior to rainy weather can cause tissues inside joint capsules to expand slightly, stimulating sensitive nerve endings in individuals who already suffer from joint inflammation.
