3 Ways to Make Living with Arthritis Easier
When all is said and done, living with arthritis isn’t easy. It’s estimated that more than 25 million adults suffer from osteoarthritis, making accomplishing even the simplest daily activities and tasks around the home exhausting. If arthritis is making your day to day life a struggle, there are ways to fight back. 3 Ways to Make Living with Arthritis Easier
Around the Home
Start by making some practical changes around your home.
- Swap out traditional toggle wall switches with rocker-panel switches. They require far less fine motor control to be turned on and off.
- For lamps, install a converter that fits into the bulb socket and bypasses the on-off switch, making the lamp touch-sensitive.
- Replace round doorknobs with lever handles that are easy to to push down with your hand, arm, or elbow.
- Raise the level of electrical appliances in the kitchen to a comfortable height to help relieve undue pressure on your hips and knees.
- Use furniture leg extenders to raise couches and chairs to a more comfortable level.
- Install faucet turners to make turning on faucets in the sink much easier.
- Since arthritis contributes to falls, place grab bars in the shower, tub, and around the toilet.
- Put in and elevated toilet seats to lessen the strain created by getting on and off traditional low toilet seats.
Self-Help Devices
Investing in self-help devices can take stress off your joints and make tasks easier and more efficient — especially when you’re tired or your joints are particularly painful. Here are some common devices that make living with arthritis more accessible:
- Reach extender/gripper
- Easy grip utensils
- Automatic jar opener
- Sock aids
- Long handled shoe horns
- Zipper pulls
- Foam bath mitts
- Long handled bath brushes
- Key grips and turners
- Large button remotes
- Book, embroidery hoop, and playing card holders
Exercise
When arthritis is painful, you probably won’t feel like exercising. However, being active can reduce and prevent arthritis pain. Regular exercise can also improve your range of movement and joint mobility, increase muscle strength, and reduce stiffness.
As long as you’re doing the right type and level of exercise for your condition, your arthritis won’t get any worse. If you add a healthy, balanced diet to your exercise regimen, you can lose weight and place less strain on your joints. An occupational therapist can help you develop an exercise program that’s right for you.
Liz Greene hails from the beautiful city of trees, Boise, Idaho. She’s a lover of all things geek and is happiest when cuddling with her dogs and catching up on the latest Marvel movies. You can follow her on Twitter @LizVGreene
