How to Live Better Even with Arthritis
The pain and stiffness that come from arthritis can interfere with your enjoyment of life. Doing even the simplest of daily tasks can be next to impossible, whether it’s putting on your socks or turning a doorknob.
Most people take their range of motion for granted until they have arthritis. However, if you have this condition, it doesn’t mean you can’t get back to enjoying life. You’ll just have to learn a few new tricks to adjust and manage it.
Take Care of Your Whole Health
When contending with arthritis, eating more healthy foods will be to your benefit. This will in turn help you shed any excess pounds which will put less strain on your joints.
Don’t Be Sedentary
Staying in one position for too long can really cause arthritis pains to creep up. Make sure you get up every 15 to 20 minutes when you’re sitting at your desk, reading, watching TV, or any other sedentary activity. Walk around and do a few light stretches to help keep the stiffness away.
Refrain from Stressing Your Joints
Movements that add excessive stress on your joints should be avoided. If you struggle to open jars because of hand arthritis, you can get a wall-mounted jar opening to help you and limit the stress to the affected joints.
Work with Your Strongest Muscles
When you identify which joints have problems, you can use your strongest muscles and joints to do the heavy lifting. This minimizes the impact your weakened joints will have and improves your well-being.
Think Smarter Around the House
There are many ways you can simplify things in your home as you adjust to life with arthritis. Labor-saving products can be a godsend, such as electric can openers and mixers to help you get back into cooking and baking.
For daily chores, consider things that do the work for you like spray-on soap scum remover or automatic toilet bowl cleaners. A robot vacuum can help keep your floors clean too.
Making modifications to your home to make your life easier is also ideal. You can install a grab bar over the tub or put a suction mat in your shower to help you keep a firm grip. If you have arthritis in your legs, adding a bench to your shower will make bathing much easier.
Remember, there’s no shame in asking for help. Experts recommend that if you have arthritis or osteoarthritis that you work with your doctor to find the best solution. You can also live better by working with a physiotherapist, acupuncturist, and licensed professional masseuse. In fact, you can find all three of these services right in your living room by using In Your Home Therapy. Now you won’t have to shuffle all around town to all kinds of appointments and simply let them come to you!
