Arthritis: Personal trainer's 5 tips to 'future-proof' joints - 'Never too late' to start

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arthritis in the UK, affecting nearly nine million people. Initially it compromises the smooth cartilage lining of the joint, making movement more difficult and leading to pain and stiffness.

It mainly affects joints in the hands, knees, spine and hips, and typically occurs after the age of 40. And the second most common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is when the body's immune system targets affected joints, causing pain and swelling.

Rheumatoid arthritis often affects people between 40 and 50 years old. But Doctor Gill Jenkins, GP and advisor to the pain specialists Deep Relief, explained it was possible to look after our joints as we age.

She said: "Healthy joints are essential for a healthy life, and while some deterioration is inevitable as we get older, there is a lot we can do to protect our joints and minimise issues as we get older. READ MORE: Heart failure: The not-so-intuitive sign in your tummy that could mean heart failure"It is never too late to improve the health of your joints and muscles, and it's never too soon to start. "Taking steps to reduce weight and inflammation, and improve activity levels and posture will not only help to protect and future-proof your joints, they will also lead to noticeable improvements in health and wellbeing across the board. "It can be a struggle to stay active when you have an injury or experience chronic pain from arthritis and other joint problems. "Her colleague, Chris Ruxton - a personal trainer from Deep Relief - shared his top five tips for tackling the onset of arthritis exclusively with Express.