How to help yourself if you suffer from painful back and joints

Many people suffer from painful joints, usually due to wear and tear, osteoarthritis or inflammation of tendons and muscles. Changes in the weather can also significantly affect people with painful joints and muscles. You may have heard someone say “rain is coming, my joints are hurting.” Particularly in winter, when temperatures drop below zero, old injuries may let themselves known or existing pain may get even worse. So, how can you get some relief?

Since we want our joints to work well and, most importantly, wish to avoid pain, we should look after them, exercise regularly and take vitamins and supplements to help prevent any problems.

How to choose the right support?

Make sure the brace or support you need is not too tight but at the same time not too loose either, otherwise it might keep rolling down. Some braces and belts come in one size and fit almost anybody, others are available in several sizes. Click on a link “Which size should I choose” which will take you to our size charts. Just take all the necessary measurements and compare them with our table.

How to help yourself with the pain?

Apart from exercise, which is really important, you can try the various braces and warming belts we have on offer. Here at Woolville, you will find braces and warming belts made of sheep’s wool, a natural material. They also have added value, because they generate dry heat.

What actually is dry heat? We talk about therapy using a dry compress, whereby you wrap a part of your body in something warm that generates heat, thus warming up painful areas in the process. Products made of sheep’s wool, like warming belts or braces are ideal for this. They are especially suitable for the regeneration of muscles, tendons and joints and also help relieve pain. Some belts and braces we offer are elasticated, others are adjustable with velcro. You can watch our video in which we show you how these belts and braces work, and tell you about the differences between the individual types.

One of the most common musculoskeletal problems is back pain. It often starts as a minor discomfort that quickly escalates, at times becoming almost unbearable. Warming belts made of wool work their magic on the lower back and pelvis, helping you get rid of the pain. They are also great for people suffering from kidney and bladder problems, and what is more, they can stop you getting a chill, which is especially appreciated by women.

At Woolville, we offer a choice of 4 types of warming belts. The classic version with ties is also available in beautiful brown colour that is due to camel wool. The smallest belt we have is a mini belt, suitable for children or when you are on the road. A more sophisticated version is the elasticated belt, which you can adjust with velcro fastening to fit any part of your body. It holds better on the body and may be therefore slightly more effective.

Again, a very common problem is pain affecting the area around the neck, often accompanied by stiff muscles. Such an experience can really spoil your day. Neck pain is most commonly associated with problems concerning the cervical spine, and can have various causes. Usually, this kind of pain is a result of an unfavourable sleeping position, which could be rectified with a suitable pillow. See more on this topic in another article. It is always a good idea to consult the cause of your pain with a specialist. However, you can always have something handy for a quick relief. Try our wool neck warmer that will warm up your neck all around. It is also great as a preventative measure, for example, when you spend a long time sitting in a cold office, working outside in the garden, or you can also use it instead of a scarf when you want to enjoy a spring walk.

Today’s modern times force us to put more and more strain on our wrists. Most of us certainly have to admit that we spend a lot of time on the computer or mobile phone. And typing away on a keyboard can have an adverse effect on the movement of our wrists. Some of you may already be familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome that manifests itself by unpleasant wrist pain. Fortunately, we at Woolville know that dry heat can bring a welcome relief. Our wool wrist brace with velcro is perfect, just wrap it around the wrist and adjust as needed. The second option you can try is an elasticated wrist brace, which is more suitable for sports, it is similar to what tennis players wear.

Knee pain is one of the most common problems associated with joints because knees are the most stressed joints in our musculoskeletal system. The knee and elbow braces are very similar, although the sizes and stitching are slightly different. You simply pull one onto your leg or arm. They are very comfortable, soft and warm. You can choose from several sizes, see our size charts for the measurements.

These braces are excellent whether you relax or want to be active. And since they are elasticated, they are also suitable to wear for light exercise.

We also have the knee brace in a version with velcro fastening, which can easily fit any knee. It is especially good for people whose knees are prone to swelling or who find other types of braces somehow unsuitable. The velcro brace is better for more sedate activities.

Shoulder pain can also be very bothersome, so try and give yourself some relief with the dry heat of a wool shoulder warmer.

Last but not least, we have the perfect elastic socks and knee highs that adapt to any foot. They are especially loved by people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins and sore ankles. Merino wool keeps feet lovely and warm, gently massages the nerve endings and provides relief from swelling and muscle tension. While these socks and knee highs are great for people with health problems, they are also well liked by sports enthusiasts. Thanks to the fact that wool is a natural material, Merino socks are warm yet breathable, and also antibacterial.

There are other sources of dry heat that are a great help when you are experiencing pain and discomfort. Apart from braces and warming belts, we also have  heat pads and salt heat packs that you warm up first and then the heat is transferred to whatever part of your body needs it. A hot water bottle works on a similar principle. In combination with a wool cover, it’s great, for example, for various tummy aches.