TOOLS TO MANAGE OSTEOARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS

TOOLS TO MANAGE OSTEOARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS
Certain tools and devices, like braces and trash cans on wheels, can relieve stress and minimize damage to osteoarthritic joints. Get tips on how these devices can help you manage your osteoarthritis symptoms.
Osteoarthritis symptoms tend to get worse with activity and get better with rest. One in six people with osteoarthritis report that it limits their daily activities. In addition to the lifestyle changes and medications used to treat osteoarthritis, specially designed or modified devices can help a person with osteoarthristis avoid painful stress and damage to osteoarthritic joints.
Help for Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Braces
Braces are medical devices that steady and support your body, such as canes, crutches, canes, walkers, or lightweight, fitted braces that attack to the body to support specific joints. A brace can protect a weakened joint and take weight off the joint. Each pound of weight on a joint increases the stress load by three to six times.
Many people with knee osteoarthritis get relief from wearing a fitted knee brace. For someone with hip osteoarthritisa straight cane might be the most useful device, but even something as simple as a cane requires instruction for proper use. A person using a cane should hold it in the hand opposite the affected joint, and the height of the cane needs to be adjusted to the person's body. Using a walker correctly also requires instruction, so work with your doctor and your physical therapist before using any bracing device.
Help for Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Footwear Orthotics
Footwear orthotics are foot devices that redistribute weight or cushion the impact on your joints while you are walking. Wedges can be designed for your shoes to relieve pressure on an osteoarthritic knee but the evidence from clinical trials is not strong that these are helpful. Cushioned soft plastic inserts, however, are inexpensive devices that can be put inside your shoes and one study found that they absorb up to 42 percent of incoming shock waves from the ground. In people with osteoarthritis symptoms, 78 percent reported a decrease in pain with cushioned inserts.
Help for Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Assistive Devices
There are dozens of assistive devices designed to help you mange your osteoarthritis. These devices can take stress off a painful joint and help you avoid painful osteoarthritis symptoms. Here are just a few:
Wheels. Trash cans, furniture, or anything else that has to be moved can more easily be pushed around on wheels than picked up and carried.
Hand savers. Avoid painful stress on osteoarthritic fingers by using jar openers, which are widely available in kitchen stores. You can also get door knob extenders and key turners that allow you to open doors without twisting your wrist. Writing devices are available to transfer the stress away from your fingers to your arm. Substitute Velcro fasteners for buttons. If you don't like Velcro there are even button loops you can use. Think about adding large pull tabs to zippers.
Bathroom benches, raised seats, and hand rails. Take stress off your knees and make your bathroom safer with a shower bench that fits over the tub. You can also get a raised toilet seat. Install hand rails anywhere in the house you need support getting up and down.
Kitchen tools and gadgets. There are ways to make your life easier in the kitchen, too. These suggestions can help:
Use electric tools in the kitchen whenever possible to avoid straining your hands.
Keep everything you need at waist level so you don't have to reach or get up and down to retrieve what you need.
Get a grasping device to help you reach items in cabinets above your head.
Use faucet openers to turn water off and on.
Buy molded and padded handles for pots and pans; larger grips on knife handles can also help.
Use tongs to turn meat when cooking.
Buy a mitt made of spongy, non-slip material that can help you grip wet dishes.
Anything you can do to avoid putting stress on your joints with osteoarthritis will help to decrease your pain and increase your overall function. This may help you delay or avoid the need for stronger medications or surgery.
Assistive devices can make managing osteoarthritis a lot easier. To find these devices, try the Arthritis Foundation; another good source are medical supply company catalogs. Talk to your doctor or your occupational therapist the kids of assistive devices that might be right for you.
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