Joint Care basics

Joints, where bones meet, are delicate. They're held together by ligaments which are like elastic bands keeping the bones in place while muscles do their thing.

Look after them. Arthritis is the single biggest cause of physical disability in the UK affecting about 10 million people.

Stick to a healthy weight, take some exercise and stretch. You put about four times your body weight through your knees when you run. This means that every extra pound round the waist is an extra four through the knees. So, unless you're fit, prefer activities that are kind to the joints such as swimming, cycling and walking over those which are higher-impact like running, contact sports and twisting, turning sports like tennis and squash.

If you have joint pain, see a GP. Help yourself by planning ahead and pacing yourself throughout the day. Avoid overstretching and staying in the same position for too long.

• How healthy are you? Try our DIY MOT
• Get fit with malehealth's online gym
• Ask malehealth's fitness expert Scott Pearson a question.
• More on arthritis from Arthritis Care
• Knee care

This page was produced by malehealth, the Men's Health Forum's health information website for men of all ages, for the men's health app Bloke Noises. Download the app here.