| e who thinks arthritis affects only little old ladies who | | | | Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the painful |
| wear bifocals and sensible shoes, raise your hand if | | | | joint for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. If you do |
| you can. Can’t lift your hand without flinching? | | | | not have an ice pack, use a bag of frozen peas. |
| You have lots of company. About 40 million of us | | | | Remove the ice for 10 to 20 minutes between |
| have some form of arthritis, and the pain of this | | | | applications. |
| condition can range from conditional twinges to bona | | | | 4.Blanket Sore Muscles With Heat |
| fide aches. More women develop the condition than | | | | While heat should not be applied to inflamed joints, it |
| men. Arthritis means joint inflammation. It is an umbrella | | | | can soothe achy muscles and overall stiffness. Apply |
| term for more than 100 different disorders. Generally | | | | heat in the form of hot-water bottle every 2 to 3 |
| speaking, there are two kinds of arthritis, osteoarthritis | | | | hours. Moist heat is especially soothing first thing in the |
| and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the type that | | | | morning if you are stiff. |
| most people get, causes pain, swelling, and limited | | | | 5.Flex, Flex, Flex |
| movement in joints and connective tissue. Rheumatoid | | | | Put a painful joint through its full range of motion two or |
| arthritis, a more serious form of the disease, is caused | | | | three times a day. Flex the joint as far as you can in |
| by a breakdown in the body’s immune system. | | | | one direction, then in the other. When you feel |
| There is no cure for arthritis, at least not yet. However, | | | | discomfort, try to move the joint farther. If you feel |
| here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to | | | | pain, stop. |
| relieve arthritis pain. | | | | 6.Try To Stay Active |
| 1.Take A Wax Dip | | | | Regular exercise can help keep your joints flexible and |
| If your hands or feet hurt, try a paraffin dip. Buy a | | | | your muscles strong. Try working out in a warm pool, if |
| paraffin bath at a medical supply store. This device | | | | possible. The buoyancy of the water reduces the |
| heats the wax and keeps it at a therapeutic | | | | impact on your joints. Check with your local Y for an |
| temperature. The wax adheres to your skin and stays | | | | Arthritis Foundation/YMCA aquatic program. Or ask |
| warm for some time. When the wax cools, you peel it | | | | your doctor to recommend an exercise routine that is |
| off and return it to the container for reuse. | | | | right for you. |
| 2.Anoint The Ache With Ointment | | | | 7.Limber Up With Yoga |
| Rub aching joints with an arthritis ointment that contains | | | | Tight, tense muscles can cause your wear and tear |
| capsaicin, the ingredient that gives chilli peppers their | | | | on the joints. A gentle regimen of yoga can help keep |
| heat. There is evidence that capsaicin is helpful. You | | | | the muscles supple and flexible. If you are just getting |
| may also try Tiger Balm, a traditional Chinese salve | | | | started, consult a physical therapist or massage |
| sold in health food stores. Rub it on the affected area | | | | therapist who has been trained in yoga. Or look in the |
| before you go to sleep. | | | | Yellow Pages under “Yoga Instruction. |
| 3.Give Arthritis The Cold Treatment | | | | |