“It’s bad for her joints,” said the Queen’s royal sommelier Demetri Walters, explaining her decision to give up her nightly dry martini.
The 95-year-old Queen has osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in Australia. An estimated 2.2 million people (9.3 per cent of the population) have this condition.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Often described as ‘wear and tear’, osteoarthritis is now thought to be the result of a joint working extra hard to repair itself, according to Arthritis Australia.
The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness of the joints, the creaking, but the outlook for most people with osteoarthritis is very positive.
Here is the latest advice to ease the creaking of joints.
- Lose weight, which is the largest modifiable risk factor
- Have a moderate alcohol intake
- Eat broccoli as it contains sulforaphane, which maintains healthier joints
- Exercise tailored to your condition and ability with the aim to increase strength and balance
Exercise and maintaining a good diet seem to be key once again.
