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Tips on Taking Care of Your Arthritic Joints
Although there is no cure for arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis), you can do a lot to control the condition. In order to control arthritis, it is important to take good care of the affected joints. You should prevent exerting too much stress on these joints either by bending or turning. Especially during a painful flare-up, you need to take extra care of the affected join. When you are carrying out your daily chores, you should try not to strain the joint too much. By doing this, you can help to prevent much pain and damage to the joint. Below are some tips on how you can take care of your arthritic joint.
* Splints
Splints are supports that are strap onto the joints to immobilize them during painful flare-ups. They are made of plastic, cloth or metal. They are usually used on fingers, wrists, knees and ankles where arthritis occurs. These supports enable proper alignment of the joint, help relieve pain and prevent injury to the joint. Although splints are useful for protecting joints, using it too often can stiffen the joints and limit joint flexibility. Hence, it is advisable to use them only during painful flare-ups. While using it, you should remove it several times within a day to do some range-of-motion exercises with your joint. This is necessary to prevent stiffening of the joint and facilitate joint mobility.
* Supportive aids
Canes, crutches or walkers can be used to help you move around with less pain. Your doctor can advise you on how to use it correctly in order not to harm the joint.
* Raising the seat of your chair
With painful joints, it can be difficult for you to get into and out of a chair. You can make it easier by raising the seat of your chair. One way is to place a firm pillow on the seat of the chair. Alternatively, you can buy a lift-up seat for your chair.
* Bigger size handles
If you have arthritis at your hands, you may find it difficult to grip kitchen items, such as knives, peelers and can openers. If that is the case, you should use those which have bigger rubberized handles. They are easier to grip and can make your tasks easier to do.
* Clothes with Velcro straps
If you find clothes having back zipper or buttons difficult to use, you can replace the zipper or buttons with Velcro straps. They are much easier to use and can reduce and stress on your joints.
* Choosing the right shoes
It is important that you obtain appropriate shoes to wear if you have arthritis at your feet. The shoes should be easy to put on and take off, and are able to protect your feet and ankles. They have to be light, fit well and possess good shock absorption. Shock absorbing soles help to make walking more comfortable. You can consider using orthotics, which are special inserts that make shoes fit better on your feet. These inserts help to support your feet and spread your weight more evenly at your feet. They help eliminate discomfort and can make your feet feel better.
* Special household tools
There are specially designed household tools for those who suffer from arthritis to use which include peelers, can-openers, scissors, etc. These useful gadgets are designed to prevent too much strain on painful joints, hence making household chores easier to do. There are also specially designed gardening tools for people with arthritis as well. You can make use of these useful gadgets to do your chores.
* Distributing work over a longer span
If you have arthritis and need to do a set of household chores regularly, you can protect your joints from too much stress by distributing your chores over a longer period of time. Doing a little each day can allow some time for your joints to rest.
If you have arthritis, the above tips are some ways you can use to protect your joints. Protecting inflamed joints from further damage or injury is important. By taking these steps to protect your joints, you are able to control the condition more effectively. You can make use of whatever is available in the market to help you protect your joints and prevent it from worsening. With these useful devices, you are able to cope with arthritis better and reduce its impact on your life.
About the Author: Julie Brown has special interests in homecare and elderly care and is actively involved in researching innovative ways to enhance the quality of life for seniors and homecare providers. For more information on homecare and elderly care products and services, please visit Homecare and Elderly care at:
http://www.internetbizcenter.com/wellness/index.htm
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