Saina Nehwal Opens Up About Arthritis Ending Her Badminton Career

A famous badminton player named Saina Nehwal had to stop playing because of a joint problem called arthritis.

Arthritis hurts because the soft cushioning inside the joints wears down, making them stiff, swollen and painful.

Saina played badminton for 25 years, and all that running, jumping and training made her joints wear out.

A bone doctor named Dr Sanjeev Jain explains that athletes who train very hard can get arthritis when they are younger.

Sports with lots of jumping, fast moves and heavy impact slowly damage the joints.

The damage can be even worse if an athlete has already hurt a knee or a ligament.

Joint pain that lasts for weeks, stiffness in the morning, swelling or grinding noises are signs to see a doctor.

Having arthritis does not mean you have to stop moving.

Swimming, cycling, walking, yoga and supervised strength training are easier on the joints.

Staying active, keeping a healthy weight and wearing good shoes help protect the joints and reduce pain.