Things to help manage your Arthritis

There are many things out there which can either relieve the symptoms of Arthritis or help you manage them:

1. Fischer handles canes with orthopedically shaped handles which distribute pressure evenly across the hand, ideal for people who have difficulty gripping and are unsteady on their feet. 
2. Elastic shoe laces which enable you to slip your foot into your shoe and you won’t have to keep tying your shoe laces.
3. Large handled cutlery are much easier and more comfortable to grip. There is a choice of shape, weighted or non-weighted as well as different handle material such as foam or rubber.
4. Jar/bottle/tin openers to help with opening containers, aids such as anti-slip discs which help with gripping jars; electric can openers as well as an “easy squeeze” can opener.
5. Kettle tippers reduce the strain on the wrists dramatically and the worry of spilling hot water down you as you aren’t having to pick up the weight of the kettle. You just have to fill the kettle up using a small jug then use the kettle tipper to pour your boiling water out.
6. Pill poppers can be used instead of having to fiddle with blister packs and dropping your medication, the medication is collected in the tube and can be poured out into a hand or container..
7. Pen/pencil grips that go over your pens and pencils and give your something larger and softer to grip onto making it easier and more comfortable to write.
8. Biofreeze is a topical gel pain reliever of aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with arthritis without the use of prescription drugs.

If you have any questions or would like to order any of these products you can:
Call us on: 01420 549481
Email us: info@outandabout-uk.com
Or visit our showroom at: 25 Southview Rise, Alton, Hants, GU34 2AB.
Website: http://outandabout-uk.com

What is Arthritis?

The 14th – 21st May is Arthritis Care Week 2016 and the aim is to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with arthritis. This can be done by sharing your story and getting involved using the hashtag #ArthritisMatters

Around 10 million people in the UK have arthritis and you can have arthritis at any age. Currently there are around 12,000 children in the UK with arthritis and approximately 27,000 people under the age of 25. And a staggering one in five adults in the UK has arthritis!

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints, and there are over 200 types. Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It’s more common in women and can happen at any age but it occurs more often in older people. Osteoarthritis causes joint pain and stiffness because of changes to the cartilage in joints, and it usually develops gradually over time. Different joints can be affected for different people but it’s most seen in the hands, knees, hips, feet and the spine.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, mainly affecting joints and tendons. Like osteoarthritis it’s more common in women and can happen at any age, however it’s most common between the ages of 30 and 50 years and certain genes may trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The disease usually starts in the wrists, hands or feet, and can then spread to other joints and other parts of the body.

Depending on the type and severity of your arthritis there are things that can help:

• Medications
• Exercises
• Splints and supports
• Massages
• Daily living aids

If you would like more information about arthritis and how to manage it you can visit https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/ and there will be more posts from us later in the week.

If you have any questions you can:
Call us on: 01420 549481
Email us: info@outandabout-uk.com
Or visit our showroom at: 25 Southview Rise, Alton, Hants, GU34 2AB.
Website: http://outandabout-uk.com