Not all men are the same, but chances are that your father is interested in at least one of the many activities that are generally considered manly. Fishing, golfing, hunting and bowling are among the many activities every man is proudly entitled to enjoy, but they can be particularly difficult if your father is dealing with arthritis, the number one cause of disability in America according to the Arthritis Foundation. But arthritis should not stand in the way of your father being the manliest man he can be. In fact, medical experts and the arthritis community attest to the importance of stayi ..read more

If you suffer from arthritis pain, you know that sometimes your activities can be limited. This is true for many things around the house, such as cleaning. The good news is that there are several things that you can do to minimize joint pain as you are cleaning the house. Follow these tips for cleaning with arthritis pain and the task will be a lot easier! Pace yourself! Many of us like to dedicate a day to cleaning the house, but this can be too much work for someone with arthritis. A better solution is to clean one room each day. This way, you will not overexert yourself. Clean the high tra ..read more

Everyone needs their personal space. While most people have a social side, there is a time and a place for strictly personal functions. A warm bath or shower. Or dressing in the morning. Or drying one’s hair or clipping nails. Persons with arthritis often rely on caregivers to provide these personal services. But there are several problems with this. First is the issue of reliance. While it is all well and good to rely on a spouse, this care may not always be consistent if the spouse begins to experience medical problems. Most important is the basic human need to take care of personal functi ..read more

Many with arthritis and other hand and arm limitations find themselves using virtually one hand to feed themselves at the dinner table. Indeed, many have one good arm, while the other may be weaker. Using one hand to eat is harder than it looks, as dishes tend to slide uncontrollably on the tabletop. Even the food itself slips and slides across the plate, making it difficult to scoop or stick your dinner. When you can’t use your other hand to hold your dish in place, it makes everything tedious. Of course, we sell many adaptive products for use in the kitchen and dining room, but of particular ..read more

With summer in full swing, we hope you are finding ways to stay active despite your arthritis. We have several HOT or COLD THERAPY Packs that will help you get comfortable and relieve pain and stress before and after your favorite activities. Heat therapy versus cold therapy According to the University of Rochester Medical Center’s online Health Encyclopedia, hot and cold therapies are valuable alternative solutions to pain meds, which can become addictive. When to use heat therapy or cold therapy depends on your circumstance. Cold packs applied to the skin restrict blood flow and thus reduce ..read more

Being able to drive is a key part of being independent for most people. But if you suffer from arthritis, the pain, weakness and stiff joints can make it hard for you to get in and out of the car, and to use the controls. Sitting in the car also can lead to fatigue and backaches. Fortunately, there are some easy tips that you can keep in mind that will make driving a car with arthritis a good deal easier: One of the first things to keep in mind is the simple logistics of being in the car. How are you going to be able to get in and out of the car? Will you need extra help to do these things? T ..read more

(You Bet--With Specially Adapted Knives, Utensils, and Plates Just for Arthritics) The kitchen presents many obstacles to arthritis sufferers. The easiest tasks often become so difficult that arthritics end up cooking foods that they didn’t really want—only because these substitute meals were easier to fix. More often than not, packaging is the culprit. Turn-resistant caps and lids are notorious for putting roadblocks between an arthritic person and food or liquid. But often the food itself is the problem. Cutting, chopping, and slicing are tasks that many arthritis sufferers can only dream ab ..read more

Many people who suffer from arthritis find that it is hard to move about comfortably. They may need to use a mobility aid to move around better, such as a cane or wheelchair. Of course, many people find it hard to accept that they need assistance in moving. But a better way to look at it is that the mobility aid can enable you to live more easily from day to day, rather than seeing the aid as a sign of disability. Your occupational therapist can advise you on the most appropriate mobility aid for your physical needs. Some of the most common mobility aids for people with arthritis include: Wal ..read more

The philosopher Cicero once observed, “What more sacred … than a man’s own home.” Every man wants to be the king of his castle, and few things are more annoying than not feeling at home in your own house. This Father’s Day, don’t let your father’s arthritis intrude on his sacred realm. Give him the gift that will crown him king of his domain for years to come. A gift idea for the handyman Perhaps your father has a tool shed out back or is known for being a handyman. Working with tools as simple as pliers and wrenches can be problematic for those who have arthritic hands. Arthritis can cause pa ..read more

Because arthritis affects so many people, there are many misconceptions about effective treatments for this often debilitating condition. We would like to clear up a few misguided ideas about arthritis treatments, and hopefully pave the way to healthy solutions for persons who suffer from arthritis. Myth: Arthritis pain must be tolerated; there is no cure for arthritis. Fact: False. While it is true that there is currently no cure for arthritis, the pain associated with arthritis can indeed be managed effectively. One of the most common sources of pain is related to sitting or lying down--bot ..read more