| There are a lot of people in the United States that | | | | do some types of exercise. Some people also find |
| suffer from arthritis. Arthritis can be painful and greatly | | | | that heat packs or ice packs can help to reduce |
| limit a persons' mobility. There are many types of | | | | stiffness and pain. There are also several different |
| arthritis, but it generally involves joint inflammation. One | | | | types of medicines available that reduce swelling and |
| of the most common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis, | | | | inflammation. Many over the counter drugs like |
| which is often called degenerative joint disease. | | | | ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also |
| Under normal conditions there is a layer of cartilage | | | | reduce pain, but you should consult a doctor to find out |
| that surrounds the bones in a joint. The cartilage acts | | | | the best one for you. |
| as a sort of pad for the bones and allows them to | | | | Protecting your joints and minimizing their use is one of |
| move easily and freely. In people that suffer from | | | | the best ways to control and combat osteoarthritis. |
| osteoarthritis, the cartilage will begin to wear away and | | | | Things like electric can openers and electric knives |
| breakdown. Eventually the bones of the joint may | | | | should be used when possible. You should also |
| directly rub against each other, which can be very | | | | consider buying tools and kitchen utensils that have |
| painful. | | | | larger handles and you can wrap things like pens in |
| Many are affected by degenerative joint disease, but it | | | | fabric or foam to make them easier to handle. Another |
| is very commonly found in those who are older. This is | | | | device that can be used is a lift chair. Lift chairs are like |
| in large part do to the fact that they have been using | | | | recliners, but the base of the chair rises to make |
| their joints for a long time. Athletes, those who are | | | | standing and sitting much easier. They are controlled |
| overweight, and people who have had joint injury are | | | | by a remote control and some come with built in heat |
| also frequently affected by osteoarthritis. The exact | | | | pads. A lift chair will greatly reduce the amount of |
| cause, however, is unknown, but it is thought to be at | | | | wear that you put on your joints and can greatly |
| least partially genetic and just using your joints alone | | | | reduce the pain of standing and sitting. There are |
| will not cause osteoarthritis. | | | | many other devices that can be used. |
| There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but there | | | | For those that live with osteoarthritis, many everyday |
| are many things that can be done to help control its | | | | tasks, like standing and sitting, walking, and using tools |
| advance and the pain associated with it. One of the | | | | and kitchen utensils, can become very difficult. It is very |
| most important things to do is to protect your joints | | | | important to reduce the amount of strain that you put |
| whenever possible. This means using devices like | | | | on your joints. Devices like automatic can openers and |
| canes or rollators. A rollator is a rolling walker that has | | | | lift chairs can be used to affectively reduce the |
| two handlebars and doubles as a seat. It is also | | | | amount of strain that you put on your joints. |
| important to avoid lifting heavy objects and you should | | | | |