Chances are you or someone you know has arthritis. The pain, stiffness, swelling and fatigue affects one in seven Americans. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, involves the breakdown of cartilage and bones and affects many of us as we grow older. It generally causes pain in one or two joints, most commonly in the knees, hips, back, feet and hands. Another common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs when the immune system causes inflammation in the joint lining. It often affects many different joints in the body. Arthritis is a serious condition, but it is manageable and most people get better with treatment.
Don’t let arthritis limit you. Our Living with Arthritis program will teach you how to ease your pain, protect your joints and participate in the activities you love. You will learn when to rest, when exercise is best and what you can do at home to relieve your pain.
If medication alone has not achieved the result you want, this program will give you the information you need to manage your arthritis. Don’t let pain or stiffness limit your life or the life of someone you love.
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Practice good posture – good posture puts your body in the most efficient and least stressful position. Imagine a straight line connecting your ear, through the middle of your shoulder to your hip and knee.
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Use your largest and strongest joints - whenever possible spread the load over a larger surface and take the stress off your smaller joints.
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splinting work and rest - by organizing your day, setting priorities and scheduling rest time you decrease the stress on your joints from repeated tasks and fatigue.
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Change positions often - your muscles fatigue when held in the same position. You should move or stretch every 15 minutes when reading, watching television or using the computer.
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Get help - help may come in the form of family and friends or an electric appliance such as a can opener that eliminates the stress on the small joints
There are many ways to decrease your pain and limit the impact of arthritis on your life. Your therapist will help you learn:
- What positions decrease the stress in your joints and what positions cause deformity.
- When it is important to rest and when exercise is best.
- Which exercises are best for you and how often should they be done.
- Whether or not a splint can help you decrease your pain and be more independent.
- How to use heat and/or cold to decrease your pain.
- Activities that cause pain - when your joints are inflamed you need to take precautions to avoid joint damage.
- Inactivity - exercise makes your joints flexible, your muscles strong and your heart and lungs fit.
- Not taking your medication as prescribed - many arthritis medications need to be taken on a regular basis to be effective.