SUFFERING FROM ARTHRITIS?

Understanding Arthritis

Arthritis literally means "inflammation of the joint". There are over 150 different types of arthritis, which are all differing in cause, symptoms and treatment. The most common feature they have is pain and stiffness in the joints.

Since each type of arthritis is different in nature, it is important that you determine from your doctor the specific kind you are suffering from. This is important because each type of arthritis requires its own individual treatment.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

  Healthy Joint
 

Guidelines for Better Living with Arthritis

Since arthritis can be differing in nature, there is no one treatment that is right for everyone. However, there are a number of things that most people with arthritis can do to feel better.

Research has shown that people with arthritis who exercise regularly, practice relaxation and self-help, will have less pain and are more active than those people who do nothing. Psychological factors such as anxiety and stress should not be under-estimated as these factors can actually make them feel worse.

The following guidelines will help you to reduce physical stress on your body, reduce pain and help maintain the best possible level of activity.

Source: Australian Sports Commission

1. Respect Pain 

Pain is a warning signal your body produces when something is wrong. All activities should only be performed up to the point of discomfort, before pain is made worse. If an activity causes pain, then stop immediately. If pain lasts for more than one hour after you have stopped, then reduce the time or effort spent on that activity next time you do it.

2. The Right Balance

At any time you should maintain a balance between activity and rest. By doing a little, then having a rest, you'll get more done without discomfort. Rest and relaxation are important because they improve the endurance of the muscle groups, improve your overall stamina for activity and allow the body time to repair itself. The most effective way to increase endurance is to rest before becoming exhausted.

Dencorub Handy Hints: 

• Give yourself adequate rest every 24 hours. Some people find that a rest in the afternoon is helpful.
• Swap activities so that different muscles are used and different joints exercised. For example, do a job that involves walking (like sweeping), then sit down, relax and have a break. The next job could be an active one like hanging laundry. The next one could be writing a letter.
  With any activity the more you do, the more rest you need. In the same way, the more inflamed the joints are, the more rest you need. Thus at any time, you should maintain a balance between activity and rest.

3. Doing Things Better
                  When you do tasks in the easiest way possible, less strength is used and over-tiredness and pain are prevented. In doing all tasks you should ask yourself how I can do the task better in order to minimise effort. Sometimes this may mean allocating tasks to other family members, using better equipment and planning a balanced work schedule for those tasks that have to be done.

Dencorub Handy Hints:

• Organise your equipment, materials and work area through storing the most used equipment in easily reached places and less used equipment elsewhere. Make sure you choose appropriate equipment that is light in weight with enlarged handles which are easy to grip.
• Use a trolley or other wheeled equipment whenever possible.
• Use handles and tools with long levers to reduce the strength needed.
• Use your body efficiently through avoiding excessive loads.
• Use smooth symmetrical natural movements in all activities that you do.

Bibliography:

• Arthritis Foundation of Australia, "Arthritis Diet Guidelines and Research"
• Arthritis Foundation of Australia, "Arthritis Remedies Proven Unproven"
• Arthritis Foundation of Australia, "Pain and Stress Management in Arthritis"
• Arthritis Foundation of Australia, "Rheumatoid Arthritis - Something can be done"
• Arthritis Foundation of Australia, "Osteoarthritis - Something can be done"
• Australian Pharmacist, "Rheumatoid Arthritis", April 1997, MT Robinson, p146-153
• Condon, Lorraine, "A New Way of Life" Harper Health, 1995

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