Columbia Aged Care

There are 3.85 million people in Australia who are living with arthritis. Arthritis can make even the simplest of everyday tasks difficult and painful to complete, with many people unable to enjoy the best quality of life possible.

Bluesky Healthcare have provided several simple and practical tips to help relieve the pain of arthritis, keep you mobile and make daily activities easier so you can improve on your quality of life.

1. Keep Moving
Regular exercise is one of the most effective treatments of arthritis as it helps to strengthen your muscles and bones which increases flexibility and helps to reduce pain in muscles and joints.

Some great exercises for arthritis sufferers include:

• Warm water exercises such as aqua aerobics, aqua therapy or even simply swimming laps in a pool.
• Regular walks
• Chair-based exercise classes
• Tai Chi is a gentle exercise that involves smooth, flowing movements that helps reduce pain and stiffness

2. Pace yourself and rest when you need to
When living with arthritis it is important to work out a balance between work and rest.

Break larger tasks like cooking dinner into smaller steps and rest in between each step. Don’t set high expectations – enjoying exercise, time with family and leading a happy life is much more important that cooking a five star meal or maintaining a spotless house!

3. Enjoy a good night’s sleep
Sleep helps your body recover and repair itself and most people will feel much better after a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, arthritis can make it difficult to sleep and as less sleep lowers your pain threshold this can quickly become a vicious cycle.

Owning a bed with a supportive mattress can help to put an end to this cycle and can help you achieve a better night’s sleep.

Read the full article here.

Many elderly people suffer from pain, and in some instances, there is no easy solution to the problem. In particular, chronic pain often does not respond to routine medical treatment.

The National Ageing Research Institute has provided some tips on managing pain in order to optimise wellbeing and health.

• First, be sure that your pain is not a symptom of an acute illness. See your doctor and learn about your condition. Even if there is no easy fix, the knowledge will help to reduce anxiety.
• Use low dosage pain relieving medications. Taking these regularly may enable you to stay active and cheerful.
• Maintain healthy relationships with family and friends, and use the support that they provide.
• If you are having trouble sleeping, the exhaustion can make pain seem worse and cause you to be more upset. Take steps to ensure you have a good night’s sleep.
• Light exercise, in particular stretching, can relieve physical pain and improve your mood.
• Use aids such as a heat pack or a walking stick to relieve and manage pain.
• Try alternative medicines such as acupuncture or massage.

Take steps to manage chronic pain and you will optimise your quality of life by feeling better both physically and emotionally.

Read the full article HERE.