As Monday was World Arthritis Day, we wanted to keep the theme running and discuss something a little closer to our hearts. How to manage your arthritis at home.
Our founder and creator Andy was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis back in 2011 and not being able to complete his day to day tasks was frustrating and upsetting. This is actually how our Uccello Kettle came to be. Andy loved his coffee and found it hard to fill, lift, and pour a general kettle so he invented our Uccello Kettle to help him and many others with the same issues.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
How to manage your arthritis at home:
First off, it’s important to know that change needs to be made to your lifestyle to help with the management. Arthritic joint pain and weakness can make your everyday activities around the home difficult.
Some tasks may even cause pain or strain while others become near impossible. There are a number of simple and easy tips we can provide to help make living at home with arthritis easier to manage.
Joint Care
The joints that are affected by arthritis can be weak and unstable. This can make them more vulnerable to damage, particularly from twisting or possible repetitive movement.
It’s important to look after and take care of your joints. Making small adjustments to the way you usually do things can help reduce stress on your joints as well as helping to prevent possible problems in the future.
Listening to Your Body
How many of us are guilty of pushing through the pain at some point in our lives? When it comes to arthritis, doing this can only make matters worse. Pushing through the pain can increase joint stress, fatigue, and overall joint damage.
Listen to your body. If there is pain, stop, and give yourself the time to relax and adjust to how the task should be completed.
Don’t be afraid to give up something you truly enjoy. It is better to carry on with your activities a little at a time with plenty of rest stops rather than giving up completely.
Pacing Yourself
Just like athletes, you need to pace yourself.
It can help to plan your activities/household chores so that you can make the most of your energy. When carrying out tasks around the home, make sure you take a break before you get tired or sore.
Pacing yourself can help you finish the tasks without adding pain to the mix.
Remember: Don’t overdo things on your ‘’Good Days’’ and it can result in more pain and fatigue the days after.
Working Smarter, Not Harder
Remember the old saying?
Choose a lazy person to do a hard job because they will find an easy way to do it
Think of this when looking for new ways to complete tasks. Look into household aids you can get to make things easier on you. For example, you could slide objects across the counter instead of lifting them, use a rumba to sweep the floor instead of a sweeping brush, or even get a Uccello Kettle for making tea so that you don’t have to lift a heavy kettle.
Change is a Good Thing
Many may not like change, but by making small changes you could save yourself and time and energy.
Save yourself and unnecessary joint pain, carry out a task while sitting instead of standing? For those who have sore feet, knees, or hips, what about sitting while preparing food instead of standing.
Get Moving
Staying in the same position for too long isn’t good for anyone. It can lead to stiff muscles and joints.
You should really change positions or stretch every 20 minutes to avoid any joint pain.
Movement can help many, such as swimming, yoga, or even tai chi.
Of course, with all of the above, it is important to consult your Doctor. They will be able to point you in the right direction.
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