Getting On with Arthritis

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Getting On with Arthritis
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• In later life, many people may find that they
  have some form of arthritis in their joints,
  which makes straightforward movements somewhat
  painful. This discomfort can affect dexterity,
  sitting, standing and mobility.
• Managing arthritis is paramount to quality of
  life and to maintaining a comfortable level of
  continued independence.
• Whilst ageing might have, in the not too distant
  past, affected quality of life quite severely,
  technology and equipment available in todays
  world allows us to limit the effect of ageing on
  everyday life.

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Arthritis Arthritis is a condition which many
people will experience in their later years. It
presents itself as tenderness, stiffness and
swelling in one or more of the joints. Arthritis
occurs when the bodys immune system attacks the
soft tissue (synovium) in the joints, which then
leads to pain and restricted movements around
the affected joint. Stiffness can occur after
heavy work or strenuous exercise but can also be
as a result of prolonged sitting. Arthritis pain
can feel like a burning sensation but also like a
dull ache. The most common types of arthritis
are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheu
matoid arthritis can begin at a very early age
(in children) but is more often diagnosed
between the ages of thirty and sixty. Cartilage
is a form of padding between joints, which stops
bones rubbing together and osteoarthritis begins
when this tissue becomes ragged or starts to
wear away. Osteoarthritis is one of the most
common causes of physical disability in the
elderly.
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• Before the age of forty five, more men
  develop osteoarthritis than women though, in
  later years, it is women who are more likely to
  develop this form of arthritis than men.
• Ways to Manage Arthritis
• Regular exercise is a way of keeping the muscles
  strong around the joints, by keeping the
  pressure off the bones and / or the joint.
  Regular exercise can also help reduce fatigue.
• Arthritis can be slowed down, or managed, not
  only by exercise but also by-
• keeping your weight under control, as excessive
  weight puts pressure on weight-bearing joints,
  such as the hips and knees
• living a healthy lifestyle
• controlling your blood sugar levels (healthy
  eating, drinking plenty of water and also
  managing stress levels)
• regular stretching e.g. yoga, a practice which
  leaves you feeling stronger and more flexible,
  as well as more mentally focussed
• a healthy diet steering clear of processed fast
  foods, alcohol and sugary foods

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• eating fish at least twice a week fatty fish,
  such as
• salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines, are the best
  source of omega -3, which can help reduce
  inflammation
• stopping smoking
• squeezing a stress ball, which can improve grip
  and relieve pain for those with hand
  osteoarthritis
• sitting comfortably, so as to take pressure off
  affected joints.
• Dexterity
• Weakened grip can make people feel unsafe on
  their feet, as they no longer have that
  safeguard of holding sturdily on to chairs,
  tables, or worktops, when walking.
• Life is quite often lived in the kitchen and so
  managing once easy tasks has been well covered
  with appropriate aids-
• can pull tin openers designed to open ring pull
  tins, even with reduced strength
• cutlery with fatter handles, or with Velcro
  straps, which keep the cutlery in ones hand,
  even if the user has a weaker grip. The Velcro
  fastener also houses a small pocket, into which
  the knife, fork or spoon handle can rest whilst
  in use
• two-handled cups share the weight between both
  hands

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• a kettle tipper stand supports the kettle while
  tilting it
• towards the teapot or cup
• an under counter bottle and jar opener, which
  needs only one hand to perform the task
• a tea trolley on wheels, which helps you get
  drinks and meals safely to the table, without
  the fear of losing grip on hot items.
• Weakened grip can lead to loss of confidence in
  carrying out everyday tasks, so finding the
  right aid addresses the need.
• Sitting and Standing Sitting
• Our height can dictate the right seat height for
  us, as the length of our legs will determine the
  best seat pad height which will support our
  upper legs along their whole length.
• The correct depth of seat pad will support our
  upper legs right along to the knee joint,
  allowing the lower leg to bend appropriately at
  the knee and to comfortably meet the floor.
• If a seat pad height is either too high or too
  low, it will make getting into a standing
  position much more difficult which, exacerbated
  by arthritis, could prove somewhat cumbersome
  and could lead to a fall.

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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Should the
seat pad of your favourite chair be a little too
high for you, a footstool can help shorten the
distance for you between your foot and the
floor. When purchasing a footstool, buy a folding
footstool, as it can be folded away when not in
use and, when folded, it is easier to carry, as
well as store. Standing Difficulty in standing
from a chair can also be because of stiffness in
the back, weakness in the legs and bad
balance. If arthritis is in the leg joints, the
legs may prove too weak to take the individuals
weight and a walking frame may be needed for
moving independently around the house. Walking
frames take the weight off the legs and transfer
it to the arms and shoulders. A sturdy, metal,
standing aid frame can fit against a chair, bed,
car, or toilet. Its adjustable height makes it
suitable for people of all heights to
comfortably reach a stable standing position. Leg
pain could also suggest excess fluid in the leg
veins, so always make your local GP the first
port of call.
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• Getting In and Out of a Chair
• Getting the right seat height can be achieved in
  several ways-
• Extra seat pad height. A booster cushion can add
  an extra four inches (10 cms.) of height to the
  users favourite chair.
• The foam layers in a booster cushion allow the
  user to get onto his / her feet, as leaning
  forward encourages the spongy layers to
  re-inflate and enables the user to move up to a
  new height.
• Raising the chair. Chair raisers are designed to
  place the chair legs into fitted shapes (liken
  it to wearing heeled boots), in which the chair
  legs can be raised up to six inches (15 cms.)
  from the ground. For taller people with longer
  legs, chair raisers allow the thighs to be better
  supported, rather than the knees rising above
  the seat pad and creating difficulty in getting
  into a standing position.
• A folding footstool. For the person with shorter
  legs, a folding footstool can allow the users
  feet to touch down onto the stool, rather than
  them hanging limply in the air, whilst also
  causing pressure and numbness on the thighs.
• Riser recliner chairs. Riser recliner chairs can
  do the work of sitting and standing for you. At
  the press of a button, electrically-powered
  chairs can tilt the user into a standing
  position and also lower the user into a sitting
  position.

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• Riser recliner chairs offer the user many
  adjustment
• choices, getting the best position to suit the
  user in that moment.
• Getting the chair into that right position can
  help take the pressure of aching joints, relieve
  back pain and reduce arthritis pain.
• Riser recliner chairs take away the need to ask
  for support in standing and so help to maintain
  self respect and independence.
• Mobility
• Walking and arthritis dont come together
  comfortably.
• Walking frames can support the upright body when
  walking, or when simply standing.
• Walking frames are available with or without
  wheels.
• Walkers without wheels would command appropriate
  upper body strength, to regularly lift the frame
  forward, ready for the next step forward.
• Without wheels, a walker may have three or four
  legs. In tight spaces, the three-legged walker
  offers more manoeuvrability.
• Frames with wheels need less upper body strength,
  as the wheels propel the walker forward.

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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Frames with
wheels can be used both indoors and
outdoors, helping to maintain an adequate level
of independence with most everyday tasks. For
outside use, the four wheel frame offers better
stability than the three wheel frame, as it can
move more easily over bumpy terrain. Moving
around the kitchen and walking in the garden can
both benefit from appropriately located grab
rails, just like climbing stairs is supported by
the standard handrail. Summary Todays
technology lessens the blow of arthritis on our
everyday activities. Remember that leg pain may
also be as a result of excess fluid in the leg
veins, so always make your local GP the first
port of call. Chair raisers and folding
footstools are more economical ways of
supporting comfortable sitting and standing. The
cost of purchasing a riser recliner chair can be
quite prohibitive. When purchasing a walker,
always test them out before deciding which one
to purchase.
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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com If you are
suffering significant discomfort or find yourself
unable to perform everyday activities, a local
authority occupational therapist should be able
to help. They will advise on home adaptations or
other other equipment or steps available to
overcome practical problems. Blog an Originally
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etting-arthritis.html
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