Easing Hip Pain and Soreness

Q. Lately my hips have been achy. Some days I walk more than 10,000 steps, though other days I don't go nearly so far. I'd rather not take ibuprofen if possible. What else can I do?
-- Shanna, via e-mail

A. There could be a thousand reasons for your hip pain. Okay, we exaggerate; maybe there are a dozen, including tendonitis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, sciatica, and sacroiliac trouble. You need to see a doctor to determine what's up. But as Nancy Sinatra once crooned to her boots, "Keep on walking." Staying active is one of the best ways to keep your joints young and healthy, but go a little easy until your doctor has a look at you. Meanwhile, here are some ways to ease those achy hips naturally:

• Lose some weight if you need to. Extra pounds put extra strain on your joints.
• Muscle up. Strength training (even just 10 minutes every other day or so) builds muscular support for your joints.
• Get a foot checkup. Flat feet can throw off your gait and hurt your hips. You may need orthotic inserts for your well-fitting, nicely-cushioned, made-for-walking shoes.
• Take omega-3s before and after walking. They act as anti-inflammatories. We recommend 900 mg daily of the DHA form of omega-3s, and prefer supplements made from algae, not fish oil (algae is where fish get their omega-3s).

Don't shy away from ibuprofen or aspirin if you need it occasionally. And try using a heating pad or drugstore heat wrap after walking to keep your muscles from tightening up. Stiff muscles could also be causing your pain.

Discover all the benefits (a lot!) of walking 10,000 steps a day -- and, yes, every step counts.