Joint resolution Feeling stiff and creaky? We’ll get your moving parts running smoothly again.

Feeling stiff or sounding creaky? It’s time to live more freely! Think of this as an owner’s manual for your joints.

Jointsare the body’s hardworking hinges. When healthy, they connect bone to bone and give you the range of motion you need to carry out daily activities. But women are particularly vulnerable to joint pain and stiffness (hello, frustration!). Indeed, a National Health Survey reported that 18 per cent of Australian women have some form of arthritis ( joint inflammation), while only 12 per cent of men do.

Experts point to a number of explanations for the disparity between men and women in arthritis. For starters, weight gain triggered by menopause can place stress on joints. Plus, hormones make your ligaments more lax, so they offer less support for joints at certain points in the menstrual cycle. Some research suggests that the angle of women’s hips to their knees could make them more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, another factor in osteoarthritis. Women are also much more likely to have autoimmune-related joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

“Women’s immune systems seem to be more robust than men’s,” says rheumatologist Dr Iris Navarro-Millan. But it can go into overdrive, leading it to misguidedly attack joints. Fortunately, there’s much you can do to keep your hinges happy. Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are key. “Regular activity keeps joints nourished and lubricated and strengthens the muscles and tendons that keep them stable and protected,” says Dr Kathy Weber, a sports medicine physician. And every extra five kilos you carry increases the load on your weight-bearing joints to 20 kilos.

In addition to straining joints, obesity can cause metabolic changes that promote inflammation and pain. But you don’t need to lose a lot to make a big difference. Dropping just 5 to 10 per cent of your bodyweight can cut knee pain and greatly improve