1. Understand How Joints Work Together
Joint muscles work in synergy to produce movement in your body. Your body needs several muscles working properly to produce even the simplest joint movement in your knee, for example. The overall effect of all muscles acting at a joint efficiently determines the healthy action of joints and muscles. Your hip joint flexes in conjunction with your thigh muscles to move your femur (the bone between your pelvis and knee). Your hip muscles and hip joint also tilt the pelvis. When pelvic tilt is unnecessary or unwanted, your abdominal muscles kick in to stabilize your pelvis.
2. Learn Why You Need Joints
Joints make your skeleton flexible. They allow you to walk, dance, jump, sit and get into bed at night. You have over 230 moveable and partially-moveable joints in your body. Without healthy muscles connecting the roadwork of your joints, your joints won't move freely. You'll find joints where two bones intersect in your body.
3. The Role of Muscles
Muscles at your joints work with your bones to enable you to move around freely. Muscle is tissue that's composed of fiber. These fibers contract and then relax, making bodily movement possible. Muscle tissue is strong and tough, yet elastic, to pull your bones and joints along when you move. The human body has over 650 muscles. Joint muscles are connected to your bones and joints by strong tissue "cords" called tendons. Your tendons help joint muscles pull on your bones.
4. Weak Muscles, Weak Joints
Athletes know that weak muscles eventually make weak joints. Joint muscles (and all muscles in your body) are made up of protein. Without protein, your body cannot convert fat to muscle. Amino acid supplements are used by athletes for boosting muscle strength and strengthen joints. Amino acid formulas are particularly beneficial after a joint injury. Muscle tissue breaks down when you have an inadequate supply of amino acids in your body.
5. Exercises That Build Joint Muscles
Resistance bands (stretchy, oversize rubber bands) are inexpensive and easy to use. Stretch the bands in various directions to build joint muscles in your arms and legs. You may buy these bands in sets that offer varying levels of tension in each band so that you progress in strength. Lifting weights, such as dumbbells and barbells, also build joint muscles. Don't lock your joints as you exercise, as this puts pressure on the joint instead of the muscle and may cause pain and injury.
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