Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints and it can make day to day life difficult and uncomfortable. It’s often thought of as a condition that only affects the elderly, but people of any age can suffer from arthritis.
It’s estimated that there are around 10 million people in the UK living with arthritis, but luckily there are treatments and tips that can help manage the condition. If you are experiencing symptoms of arthritis or are finding that it’s making everyday tasks more difficult, read on for our tips to help living with arthritis easier.
Joint care
Arthritis affects the joints and they can become very swollen and painful. It’s important to protect any affected areas and avoid putting unnecessary strain on your joints. Take regular breaks when sitting down to get up and stretch and avoid carrying heavy loads with one hand. Spread the weight by carrying shopping in a rucksack or trolly, or use larger, stronger joints as levers e.g open a door by pushing with your shoulder instead of your hand.
Exercise
Regular exercise might not seem appealing if you’re uncomfortable, but it can actually reduce the amount of pain and prevent it from recurring. Exercise improves mobility, boosts muscle strength and reduces stiffness, which can all help to ease symptoms of arthritis. Start with gentle, low impact exercises like walking, swimming or yoga.
Adapting your home
Arthritis can make everyday tasks more challenging, but there are many ways to adapt your home to make day to day life easier. Specialist tools are available to help grab things out of reach or pick things up from the floor, as well as open jars or prepare food more easily.
Installing a handrail or stairlift makes reaching upper floors easier and you could install a walk-in shower or bath to make bathing more comfortable. You may be eligible for financial assistance if you need to make changes to your home, you can find out more about what is assistance available here.
Here to help
If you or a loved one has found bathing difficult due to arthritis, get in touch with the team at Life Quality Bathing. We are proud to provide disabled bathing solutions throughout England and Wales and we’ve got the products you need to bathe in safety and comfort. We can work with you to design and install a bathroom that’s tailored to your needs and there’s plenty to choose from, including wet rooms, walk-in showers and walk-in baths.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, give our expert team a call today or contact us via the website.