Written by Amrita Dhaliwal & Reviewed by Gurnoor Mand
As temperatures continue to decrease and the seasons change, many people who live with arthritis may feel an increase in pain, stiffness and mobility limitations. This can make day-to-day tasks much more difficult and worsen symptoms overall. In this blog post, we will break down a few high-level tips to alleviate these worsened symptoms and make life just a bit easier for arthritic patients.
Tip 1 - Consider Getting a Massage
Arthritic patients should consider seeking help from a registered massage therapists to undergo a massage. Massages help relax, reduce pain and stiffness, and achieve further benefits related to Arthritis. Although everyone has different requirements, massages may be a wonderful addition to the therapy that your physician has recommended. However, like any type of therapy, it is essential that you discuss your interest in receiving frequent massages with your healthcare physician so that they may determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate for such treatment.
Tip 2 - Consider Getting a Massage
Arthritic patients should consider seeking help from a registered massage therapists to undergo a massage. Massages help relax, reduce pain and stiffness, and achieve further benefits related to Arthritis. Although everyone has different requirements, massages may be a wonderful addition to the therapy that your physician has recommended. However, like any type of therapy, it is essential that you discuss your interest in receiving frequent massages with your healthcare physician so that they may determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate for such treatment.
Tip 3 - Strengthen, Support and Protect Your Joints
Arthritic patients are extremely vulnerable to prolonged joint injury. Thus, it is crucial that people listen to their bodies, avoid positions and tasks that cause deformity or overexertion, reduce effort, and avoid staying static for long periods of time. A good rule of thumb for joint protection and support is the RICE method–Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. This method of ‘break-taking’ will help reduce joint pain, minimize swelling and prevent further injury.
Tip 4 - Consider Using Assistive Devices
Assistive devices can be a very beneficial tool to help ease the pain of arthritis and make everyday tasks easier. These devices can include (but are not limited to) canes, braces, and orthotics. By using these devices to aid your body, you can help prevent injury, eliminate stress on your joints and pain points and relieve symptoms overall.
Tip 5 - Try Out Hot and Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy is a treatment that has helped aid arthritis pain, joint discomfort and inflammation for decades. Some examples of heat therapies include taking a warm shower or bath first thing in the morning to help your body relax and assist with stiffness. You can also then use a heated blanket or a wet heating pad overnight to minimize pain. Some examples of cold therapies include applying a cold gel pack or a bag of ice that has been wrapped in a towel to provide almost instant relief.
Tip 6 - Consider Incorporating Adaptive Clothing Into Your Wardrobe
Those who suffer from arthritis may find that even the act of getting dressed on a daily basis to be difficult at times. Arthritic patients struggle with mobility and function limitations in their joints, and as a result of this restricted functionality, it may make it difficult for the user to dress and undress independently. Common clothing items contain tiny zippers or buttons, which make it particularly difficult for those who have arthritis or chronic pain to put on and take off. Luckily, June Adaptive provides a plethora of adaptive clothing items that feature innovative designs made to make the act of dressing much easier. They feature designs such as easy clasping velcro shoes and magnetic and easy zip enclosures on open side tops and bottoms, that eliminate the pain from the act of donning ones own clothes.
As a result, using these suggestions can help lessen the symptoms and pain spots produced by arthritis, which will make it simpler for individuals who are affected to go about their daily lives.
