Gardening with Arthritis: 5 Habits to Avoid Pain and Joint Strain

From creakyjoints.org

Gardening is often recommended as healthy physical activity for those with arthritis, but it’s important to avoid joint strain and injury

Working in your garden can be a great way to stay active if you’re living with arthritis. You may also find it helps you connect with friends and neighbours who also have green thumbs.

“Gardening is not only enjoyable; it is also a good form of exercise that conditions your muscles and helps with arthritis,” says David Felson, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and a rheumatologist at Boston Medical Centre. “You just need to be careful to do it in a way that doesn’t cause damage.”

In some cases, gardening can exacerbate arthritis pain, so take time to determine which gardening strategies work best for you.

When you’re gardening, remember to take regular breaks, even if it doesn’t feel like work to you. You may need to take more frequent or longer rest breaks when your arthritis is more active to avoid placing too much stress on your joints, according to UW Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Pay close attention to any pain signals: If you have pain that increases during or after a gardening task, take it as a sign that you’ve done too much. In that case, try to shorten your bouts of gardening next time.

Everybody’s garden is unique based on where it’s located, which plants you’re growing, and your own abilities for tending to it, but there are five general ways you can make gardening easier and safer when you have arthritis.

1. Be mindful of carrying tools and soil

Whenever possible, avoid lifting heavy items. This might be a great opportunity to recruit your partner, kids, or a friend to help. Try to stock up on smaller bags of soil or compost, rather than one large bag that is difficult to lift.

If you do need to lift a heavy gardening item, keep it close to your body to reduce stress, per UW Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. If you’re picking something off the ground, bend your knees and lift by straightening your legs, while trying to keep your back straight.

“When you get a bag of soil, put it right up against your stomach — don’t hold it out, don’t toss it over your shoulder, and don’t lean with it and try to drag it,” says Shawna Coronado, author of The Wellness Garden and a gardening expert with her own experience dealing with severe degenerative osteoarthritis and chronic pain. “When you’re ready to put it down, don’t bend over. Just let it drop to the ground, because anything else is forcing your back, arms, and hands to hold an uncomfortable position.”

When possible, use your body weight to push heavy items. For instance, pushing tools or bags of compost in a wheelbarrow may be easier than carrying them by hand, says Dr. Felson.
You can also rest items like a tray of seedlings on your forearms, keeping your elbows tucked near your waist to reduce the strain on your shoulders and elbows. This prevents stress on fragile finger joints, per Versus Arthritis, an arthritis charity in the United Kingdom.

2. Use elevated flower beds

Bending, stooping, and kneeling are likely to cause pain if you have arthritis. Bringing plants closer to you is one way to avoid this.

“Building elevated beds is one of the most significant things you can do,” says Coronado. “They should be about waist-high or higher, because even if your elevated bed is knee-height, you’ll still have to bend over.”

If you can’t build elevated flower beds, it can be helpful to use a stool to sit while you garden. Doing so lessens the load on your weight-bearing joints compared to standing or kneeling.
“With a stool, your knees don’t have to bend quite as much, which is good because that squatting position isn’t the healthiest thing for them,” says Dr. Felson.

Some gardening stools come with locking wheels. These rolling stools can be helpful because they prevent you from needing to sit and stand repeatedly, according to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

3. Choose tools that are gentle on your joints

Tools that have extendable handles can help you easily garden while you’re standing or using a stool. A rubber sleeve over the handles or wearing a pair of gardening gloves can reduce strain on your fingers by improving your grip.

“One of the short-handled tools I use is an ergonomic cultivator, which has a curved handle,” says Coronado. “It offers you a handshake grip instead of a twisted grip like most short-handled tools, so it’s a lot less strain on your joints.”

While you might typically find it easiest to work with lightweight tools (say, a lightweight rake), Coronado says she’s found certain tools like hoes actually do more of the gardening work for you if they’re sturdy.

“If you have a super lightweight hoe, you have to use your back, arms, and hands to really slam it into the ground and push or pull,” says Coronado. “But if you use a heavier hoe, it instantly drops into the ground and lightens the load on your joints because it’s doing the work for you.”

When you use a tool like a hoe, Coronado recommends pulling it from side to side like you’re sweeping a broom (rather than pulling front to back) to avoid unnecessary bending.

A few more gardening tools recommended for those with arthritis, per Versus Arthritis, include:

• A ratchet pruner: This makes it easier to cut through twigs by taking several smaller squeezes to make a cut rather than one big squeeze, which reduces knuckle strain.
• A two-handed lopper: Used for pruning trees and shrubs, you’ll get great leverage without much effort with a two-handed lopper, and you can hold it lightly in your palms to protect your fingers.
• English trimming shears: Best used for light trimming, these require very little finger movement to squeeze the blades together and can be operated with one hand.

It can also be helpful to gently stretch before you start gardening. This loosens joints and can help prevent injury. One simple stretch: Reach forward as far as possible with your arms straight in front of you, advises the West Virginia University Centre for Excellence in Disabilities.

4. Prepare the soil

Digging can require quite a bit of force, depending on the soil you’re working with. One way to avoid digging is to focus on container gardening, in which you grow plants only in containers rather than directly in the ground.

“Container gardening is gentler on your joints and body than digging into the soil, because it offers you loose soil,” says Coronado. “It also allows you to change out your garden design annually so it’s attractive as well.”

If you do need to dig into the ground, look for digging tools with extra-long handles. Adding an extra handle part-way down the shaft of a spade or fork may keep you from bending too far, and helps keep your lower hand comfortable and untwisted, per Versus Arthritis.

If weeding tends to be a regularly high-maintenance task for you, consider covering the affected soil with a two-inch layer of shredded bark, which blocks light from the soil and makes it more difficult for weeds to grow. When you do need to weed, a push-pull hoe may be particularly effective at cutting weeds at ground level without much work.

You can also try to weed the garden after rain or irrigation, since it’s easier to pull weeds out of wet soil, says the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

5. Create low-maintenance gardens

Choose plants that can thrive on their own, in case you experience an arthritis flare or simply don’t feel comfortable enough to garden for a while. The best way to do this is to select plants native to your region — but don’t worry, that doesn’t mean they need to look like weeds.

“Native plants can be quite beautiful, and in all regions of the United States we have native plants that grow flowers and are attractive,” says Coronado. “Native plants require no fertilization, and they don’t require as much water. You can get them started by watering the first couple of weeks, and after that, you often don’t have to touch them again.”

https://creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/gardening-with-arthritis/

Let's Talk About the Signs and Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis

From healthcentral.com

Given its name, it’s natural to assume that everyone who develops psoriatic arthritis (PsA) also has the uncomfortable skin plaques caused by psoriasis. While that’s usually the case, it is possible for joint pain and swelling to be the first sign. What’s more, by the time you make a doctor’s appointment for one achy joint, the pain may have moved on to different one altogether. Because the symptoms of PsA can be sneaky and similar to other inflammatory conditions, it’s important to have yours evaluated by a rheumatologist who can pinpoint the source and get you on a treatment plan. And the sooner the better: With early detection and the right medication, the majority of people with psoriatic arthritis will reach remission and become symptom-free.

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis Again?

Let’s make one thing clear: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis are two related—but separate—systemic autoimmune conditions, both of which are driven by an out-of-whack inflammatory response. In psoriasis, your skin is the primary target, which leads to those uncomfortable, itchy rashes. In PsA, the immune system mistakenly zeroes in on the joints, ligaments, and tendons, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. If left untreated, PsA can permanently damage the joints, seriously interfering with your ability to move or function normally.

About 30% of people with psoriasis will go on to develop PsA, and while we don’t know the exact cause, scientists believe genetic susceptibility, an overactive immune system, and environmental factors (the things you’re exposed to) all play a role.

What Are the Early Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis?

Each PsA case is unique. Some people may feel only mild symptoms that come on slowly; others may experience severe symptoms that take hold very quickly. Delaying treatment by as little as six months can result in permanent joint damage, so if you notice any of the follow symptoms, have them checked out ASAP.

Psoriasis. Most people with psoriatic arthritis first have psoriasis and its associated skin symptoms. While psoriatic arthritis usually starts about 10 years after psoriasis begins, it is possible to develop psoriatic arthritis without having the tell-tale skin symptoms.

Joint pain and swelling. According to Arthritis Research and Therapy, 88% of those living with psoriatic arthritis have ongoing joint pain or soreness, and 60% report the pain affects more than four joints. Common locations for joint pain include:

• knee (41% of people with PsA experience joint pain here)
• finger (26%)
• hip (19%)
• ankle (19%)
• back (18%)
• wrist (16%)

Notice how we stuck to the singular in our list above. That’s because PsA typically strikes asymmetrically, meaning only one knee (or ankle or index finger) is affected at a time. Another tricky part of PsA is that the pain, stiffness, and swelling can come and go—affecting different parts with each flare.

Reduced range of motion. When your joints are inflamed, they just can’t move as well. Stiffness may be especially noticeable after sitting or sleeping. You may even feel like the joint is stuck. Walking up and down stairs or getting in and out of a car may become suddenly or increasingly difficult.
While some people with PsA may feel only mild discomfort, others can develop severe stiffness that prevents them from performing simple tasks. Sometimes the joint pain improves once you get going and moving, but other times it can stay sore throughout the day, depending on the level of inflammation.

Tenderness in tendons. Along with your joints, the tendons that attach to your bones can also become inflamed, causing tendonitis. This symptom can easily be attributed to an injury or overuse, so it’s important to pay attention to other signs that may be cropping up. One specific type of tendonitis tightly associated with psoriatic arthritis is a sudden swelling in the fingers and toes known as dactylitis. Your affected digits will look like little sausages.

Fatigue. The feeling wiped out not matter how much you’ve rested is one of the most troubling symptoms of PsA, impacting about half of those living with the disease. While there may be multiple causes for fatigue, the inflammation associated with PsA can be at least partially to blame. The proteins that are released during an inflammatory response play a role. (It’s hard work for your body to keep fighting inflammation.)

Living with the stress of chronic pain can also cause poor sleep and depression, both of which contribute to fatigue. There may also be co-existing conditions such as fibromyalgia, which makes almost everyone feel tired. Fatigue by itself can be a difficult symptom to pin on psoriatic arthritis, but if you are feeling more tired than usual, and experiencing some other symptoms, telling your doctor about your exhaustion may help connect the PsA dots.

Nail problems. PsA affects fingernails and toenails in at least half of those living with psoriatic arthritis. You may notice small pits on the surface of your nail, it might separate from your nail bed, or it might turn a colour that’s different from usual.

Eye problems. The inflammation that PsA creates throughout your body can impact your eyes and cause a range of symptoms that include:

• blurred vision
• floaters
• eye pain
• redness
• itchiness
• light sensitivity
• burning sensation
• dryness

How Is PsA Different From RA?

Both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are types of inflammatory arthritis so there are similarities. However, there are also differences.

• Most people with PsA will also have psoriasis.
• RA doesn’t affect your skin.
• RA often shows up as swelling in both joints, like two knees, where PsA will present in a more asymmetrical pattern, like a right hip and left knee being sore.
• Dactylitis, the swelling of a finger or toe, is also more common in PsA than in RA.
• Bloodwork can indicate RA, but there is not yet a blood test for PsA.

We don’t know as much about what causes PsA flare-ups as we do with RA. PsA flares can be sudden and make things worse, or they can also be persistently low-grade.

For example, whenever you go for a walk, you need to ice a joint afterwards. With a big flare, it might be suddenly difficult to go for a walk, period. Or you may have no serious flares over the course of a year, but regularly have annoying joint symptoms. Staying in close contact with your doctor can help you adjust your treatment until you find the best fit for your PsA.

What Happens If PsA Goes Untreated?

Psoriatic arthritis was once thought to be a mild, non-progressive form of arthritis. We now know that PsA is a chronic and progressive disease. If it goes untreated, it will worsen and may cause permanent damage to your body, particularly your joints.

Half of those with PsA will develop joint erosions within two years without treatment, according the Journal of Arthritis and Therapy. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause your joint space to narrow, leading to more pain and stiffness, and it can lead to bone deformities (think crooked fingers).
More than half of those living with psoriatic disease have at least one comorbidity (a second disorder), and at least 40% have three or more comorbid conditions according to the Arthritis Foundation. The most common comorbidities related to psoriatic arthritis include:

• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• obesity
• depression
• anxiety
• inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers have found several causes for the coexistence of these disorders with PsA, and no surprise, high levels of inflammation is top of the list.

How Is Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosed?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to immediately diagnose PsA. Your doctor will perform a physical exam that will include taking your medical history to determine if psoriasis or PsA runs in your family. He or she will also check your skin for signs of psoriasis, which may appear as red or dry scaly patches, examine your joints for symptoms like swelling or tenderness, and check your fingernails for tell-tale pitting and flaking.

Your doctor will press or probe the soles of your feet and around your heels, checking for tenderness. He or she may also run lab tests to rule out other causes of joint pain like rheumatoid arthritis or gout. These include:

Blood tests. While there is no a simple blood test to detect PsA, running a blood test while you are experiencing symptoms will help with a diagnosis. If it reveals that you are carrying a rheumatoid factor (RF), your symptoms are most likely related to rheumatoid arthritis instead of psoriatic arthritis. People with PsA are almost always RF negative. Your doctor will also pay close attention to your C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, which rise when a condition is causing inflammation in the body.

Joint fluid tests. Drawing fluid from a swollen joint can help your doctor rule out gout, a condition that may look similar to PsA. Our joints are surrounded by synovial fluid, a thick liquid that helps your joints move smoothly. A disorder like gout or an infection can change the way the synovial fluid looks and feels. If the joint fluid analysis comes back and the results show you have a high uric acid level, this could indicate gout instead of PsA.

X-rays. While x-rays may not be useful in the early part of PsA before any changes to the bones have occurred, they may be helpful once the disease has progressed. X-ray results can show the type of joint damage that has occurred or if the bones are changing shape. Aging and other types of arthritis can also cause changes to the bones, so this information is just one piece to consider. Since X-rays are less expensive than other types of imaging, they are often ordered first.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI scan can provide a detailed image of both hard and soft tissue. Because one of the hallmark symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is inflammation of the joint tissue, an MRI can provide the doctor with specific information about if and where you have inflammation.

Unlike many other diseases, no one sign or symptom will determine if you have PsA. Some detective work is required to fit all the pieces together in a possible psoriatic arthritis diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions: Psoriatic Arthritis

Signs and Symptoms

Is it possible that you can have more than one type of arthritis?

Yes. It is common to have both PsA and osteoarthritis, especially if you are over 60. The majority of people over the age of 60 have osteoarthritis, which develops from the accumulation of everyday wear and tear on joints. The symptoms of PsA can also be similar to RA, but if the blood tests for RA come back positive, then your arthritis would be called rheumatoid arthritis.

Can children get psoriatic arthritis?

Yes. According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 300,000 children are affected by some type of paediatric arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis. Children are more likely than adults to experience the onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at the same time.

Is it possible that something else is causing my joints to ache?

Absolutely. Lyme disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus can all cause joint symptoms and will need to be ruled out before a PsA diagnosis can be made.

Can you still be active if you have psoriatic arthritis?

Yes, in fact, if you have been diagnosed with PsA, it is important to remain active and develop a regular exercise routine. If you are feeling too sore to exercise, it may be helpful to work with a physical therapist to help you find a routine that will work for you.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriatic-arthritis-signs-and-symptoms

How a Low Calorie Diet Can Help Arthritis Symptoms

From healthblog.uofmhealth.org

Two Michigan Medicine pain management experts offer diet tips, and a sample recipe, for managing arthritis symptoms

As we age, joints start to ache. Knees hurt getting out of a car or knuckles swell until it’s difficult to open a jar. Joint pain and swelling like this can be signs of arthritis and by 2040, it’s estimated 78 million Americans 18 years or older will have a form of the condition.

One of the most common forms is osteoarthritis, where the smooth cartilage joint surface wears out in an isolated joint. It’s a “wear and tear” arthritis, meaning it can be caused by overuse over time, like knee bending. Another common type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States, according to Aaron Stubbs, M.D., a rheumatology fellow at Michigan Medicine. In fact, 1.3 million Americans have the condition.

“Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where cells that deal with infections start attacking the body and joints,” Stubbs says. He adds that although both types of arthritis damage joints, there are a few differences that discern the two.

Osteoarthritis versus rheumatoid arthritis

“Unlike osteoarthritis where you may feel discomfort accumulate after a long day, rheumatoid arthritis often causes more stiffness in the morning,” Stubbs says.

The location of symptoms can be different too, according to Stubbs. In rheumatoid arthritis, the pain will usually start in the hands and feet, only later moving to the knees and other larger joints. This is why many rheumatoid arthritis patients can’t ball their hands into fists, and those with osteoarthritis may not experience that difficulty.

Finally, there are differences in how these types of arthritis cause abnormal blood tests. If someone has rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory markers in the blood will be elevated because it’s part of a systemic inflammatory response. In osteoarthritis, inflammatory markers will be normal or minimally elevated.

The two conditions present differently but both can strike people at any age and have similar risk factors, like smoking and obesity.

Diet and arthritis

“Your weight can play a role in acquiring arthritis, and it most definitely can exacerbate hallmark arthritis symptoms, like joint pain, stiffness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating,” says Andrew Schrepf. Ph.D., a research investigator at Michigan Medicine’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Centre.

There’s a well-established relationship between obesity and pain, so diet plays a key part in preventing and managing arthritis symptoms. “A low-calorie Mediterranean diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids and low in Omega-6 fatty acids, specifically,” Schrepf says. “Because even when a new drug does a great job controlling inflammation, it doesn’t mean all the other arthritis features get better.”

He notes that when surveying patients, Schrepf found that the most frustrating symptom of arthritis wasn’t actually the joint pain. It was the chronic fatigue. This led him to believe that there’s an aspect of the disease researchers haven’t figured out yet, and it inspired a study with Amy Rothberg, M.D., Ph.D., director of Michigan Medicine’s Weight Management Program.

The study found that obesity is inherently inflammatory because fat attracts a specific white blood cell from the immune system, and that blood cell releases a pro-inflammatory molecule. These molecules trigger the immune system, which sends a signal to the brain and makes us feel pain.

When obese patients lost 10% or more of their body weight in the Weight Management Program, they had an improvement of pain all over the body, not just the joints. They reported relief in typical symptoms, like having fewer migraines, improved concentration, less abdominal pain and better sleep. Those that had a blood test before and after the program showed a dramatic increase in an anti-inflammatory molecule.

“This is why, aside from exercising, a low calorie diet can help manage arthritis pains,” Schrepf says. “Eating fewer calories can actually change your cells and induce changes in the immune system and combat pain.”

To improve your arthritis symptoms or help prevent the development of rheumatoid arthritis in the first place, try this vegetarian, low calorie, Mediterranean breakfast grab-and-go recipe.

Greek Muffin-Tin Omelettes with Feta & Peppers

What you’ll need

• Cooking spray 
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 
• 3/4 cup diced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
• 8 large eggs
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup low fat milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives

Directions

1. Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and half of your salt and cook/stir until soft (about three minutes).
3. Add the bell pepper and oregano and cook/stir until the vegetables are tender and starting to brown (about four to five minutes more). Remove the skillet from the heat and let it cool.
4. Whisk the eggs, feta, milk, pepper and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. Then, stir in the spinach, olives and vegetable mixture before dividing among the prepared muffin cups.
5. Bake until firm to the touch (about 25 minutes). Let the muffin-tin cool before removing from the oven.
6. Eat two mini-omelettes per serving for the perfect 226 calorie breakfast!
7. 
   
8. https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/how-a-low-calorie-diet-can-help-arthritis-symptoms

Soothing Arthritis Pain Through Nutrition

By Bonnie R Giller

Arthritis is a painful condition where one or more joints of the body become inflamed; it typically worsens with age. With over one hundred different types of arthritis, the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While the different types have different causes, most often the body's immune system begins to attack its own tissues, thus breaking them down.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are several common treatments that can help to manage the condition and the associated pain. These treatments include plenty of rest, physical therapy, medication, exercise, and sometimes surgery.

Nutrition can help treat arthritis pain as well. Certain foods can help to improve the pain while others may worsen it. Understanding which foods to choose can make all the difference in your body's experience with arthritis.

Foods that Help Arthritis Pain:

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Once ingested, omega-3 fatty acids convert into compounds that are much more potent than the original fatty acids themselves. One important type of compound, called resolvin, is effective in signalling the inflammatory response to end. In arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, an overactive immune system causes degradation of body tissues. Resolvins flip the "inflammation switch" to the off position. For best results, food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, like fatty fish salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines, walnuts, walnut oil, flaxseed and flaxseed oil are preferred over supplements.
  • Fibre: Consuming adequate amounts of fibre appears to lower a protein in the blood called C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation. When blood levels of CRP are high, it is a strong indicator that something is causing an inflammatory response in the body. While it can't be officially said that high fibre foods will treat arthritis specifically, lowering CRP levels may be helpful.
  
  
  
  • Strawberries: These juicy red berries have the same effect on blood levels of CRP as fibre does. A study conducted at Harvard University found that women who ate 16 or more strawberries each week were 14% less likely to have elevated CRP levels compared to those who did not eat strawberries.
  
  
  
  • Cruciferous Vegetables: Foods like broccoli or kale contain chemical components that can help to decrease the inflammation seen in arthritis. As a result, the symptoms associated with arthritis often decrease too.
  Foods that Hurt Arthritis Pain:
• 
  
  • Omega-6 Fatty Acids: This type of fatty acid is prevalent in all types of snack foods, deep fried foods, and margarine-like spreads. Coincidentally, overindulging in processed snack foods has been linked with enhancing joint inflammation and obesity. Obesity and arthritis are further associated with one another because fat cells can produce cytokines, a type of protein that promotes inflammation.
  
  
  
  • Processed Foods: Packaged foods are often high in sodium, oils, and sugars, none of which is good for managing arthritis. These ingredients encourage the progression of arthritis and do little to help.
  
  
  
  • Alcohol: Alcohol increases inflammation in the body and puts your body at risk for several different health complications. It's best to avoid alcohol completely or consume it in amounts that are sparing.
  Hopefully this information can be of practical use to your or a loved one dealing with arthritis. If you find a food causing an increase in your pain levels, consider eating less of that food to see if your experience improves. The goal of arthritis treatment is to prevent the condition from getting worse and to manage painful symptoms. Eating healthfully can do just that.
  
  https://ezinearticles.com/?Soothing-Arthritis-Pain-Through-Nutrition&id=10305163

Car Features That Ease Arthritis Pain Behind the Wheel

From thenewswheel.com

A car that offers systems such as Remote Keyless Entry, Keyless Open and Keyless Start like the compact 2020 Chevrolet Trax means no key fumbling or painful key twisting in the door lock or ignition. You just need to push a button for entry and for starting up the car. Under proper conditions, your key fob doesn’t even have to be in your hand to activate these convenient, pain-free systems.

The perfect seat position can make a huge difference in your driving comfort. But, pulling levers and manually shimmying the seat forward or backward can be taxing, not to mention annoying, when arthritis pain flairs up. That’s why a power-adjustable seat is a must-have feature. The 2020 Chevy Equinox offers an available 8-way power driver seat to help you find the perfect seat position every time you get in to drive.

Arthritis pain can be crippling and interfere with daily activities, including driving. If you’re struggling with arthritis pain, there are several car features and accessories available to ease your suffering behind the wheel

A backup camera is a blessing for most drivers, even drivers who don’t suffer from arthritis. Why? Because it’s hard to see what’s behind you when you’re backing up, especially when you’re reversing out of a tight parking space or your driveway into traffic. For drivers with arthritis, though, backing up without a camera poses significant risks.
“It can be very difficult for a person with arthritis to turn their head to back up. Using the rear view and side mirrors gives some perspective but that doesn’t assure a clear view of what’s behind the car,” according to VeryWellHealth writer Carol Eustice.

Opening the trunk or gaining access to the cargo area is practically effortless with a power programmable liftgate, a feature available on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer.

Other features you should consider to make driving with arthritis less strenuous are cruise control and an infotainment system equipped with navigational assistance. Cruise control is a game-changer for long drives on the highway while a navigation system will help keep you moving in the right direction.

Arthritis is a serious condition, but tech advancements like the above systems can help make your time behind the wheel more comfortable. Seek out systems and accessories to improve your driving experience.

https://thenewswheel.com/car-features-that-ease-arthritis-pain-behind-the-wheel/

Why It’s So Crucial to Stay Active with Rheumatoid Arthritis

From womenshealthmag.com

Three women on why regular movement can work miracles

When you have an inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), what you do every day can majorly impact your joints and your level of pain.

While treatment and medications will vary from patient to patient, doctors typically tell people living with RA to get regular activity since it’s been shown to reduce arthritis-related joint pain and delay disability. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically recommends that RA patients strength train twice a week and do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio (think: fast walking, swimming, and running) weekly.

But let’s be real: It’s one thing to hear that exercise can help, and another to actually do it when you’re not feeling your best. To help you stick to a routine, we asked three women living with RA how they stay active on the regular.

Find movement you enjoy, and do what you can.

Rheumatoid arthritis advocate Eileen Davidson, who blogs at ChronicEileen.com, says she makes working out at home a priority to help combat her RA symptoms. She tends to use an elliptical, but also likes going for brisk, long walks and doing pilates and yoga videos on YouTube. “I just do the moves I can do.” Davidson says.

Davidson said she “started small” with working out and saw benefits from exercising and her medication, like less pain in her joints. “The important thing was that I started and stayed consistent,” she says. “Now, when I am feeling crummy, I know that moving my body a little will help me feel better.”

Listen to your body.

Linda Luckmann, who identifies herself on Instagram as a “rheumatoid arthritis warrior,” discovered after her diagnosis that she loves Zumba and taking long walks. “It hurts sometimes—my joints don't feel great—but being active definitely helps keep me feeling good,” she says.

Still, Luckmann says there are some days when she needs to rest. “I have to know how much energy I can spend doing things each day because you don’t want to completely drain yourself,” she says, pointing out that she’s still not pain-free. “Every day there is discomfort, but you kind of get used to it and learn to appreciate the days you feel less crappy,” she says.

Work out where you feel comfortable.

Davidson says she does all her strength training at home because she feels more comfortable and motivated when she has privacy. “My balance is off, and I need to break things up,” she says.

Keep an open mind about new exercises.

Chronic illness advocate Mariah Zebrowski Leach, who runs a blog about her life with RA called From This Point. Forward., was playing college water polo when she was initially diagnosed with RA. She eventually had to quit the team after her symptoms—which included pain, severely swollen joints, and low energy—got to be too much. Now, she’s found different ways to stay active.

“Living with RA has actually encouraged me to try things I might not have done otherwise,” she says. Leach’s husband did a fundraising 525-mile bike ride, which inspired her to take up cycling. “I had never been on a road bike before, but I bought one and started riding it,” she said. She eventually ended up doing the same 525-mile bike ride as her husband. “It’s funny to me that one of the greatest athletic achievements of my life happened because of my RA diagnosis,” she says.

Try to find activity in the day-to-day.

Leach now has three kids, and says she largely stays active by doing walks and bike rides with them. “I wore my third baby [in a baby carrier] a lot while trying to keep up with her very active brothers,” she says, noting that it helped take the strain off of her hands and wrists, and made her core stronger.

If your MD gives you the okay, don’t be afraid of exercise.

Leach was a snowboarder before she had RA, and says she stopped doing the sport for five years after she was diagnosed. “Even when we found a treatment plan that was effective, for a long while I was still afraid to get back on my snowboard because I was worried about injuring myself,” she says. “It took a few more years for me to understand my new body well enough to try snowboarding again.”

Now, Leach says she snowboards “at a very different pace than I used to,” adding, “it’s more about getting out on the beautiful mountain and enjoying a few runs and fresh air than shredding all day long or doing double black diamonds.”

Regular activity can help combat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but everyone is different. If you’re struggling with symptoms of RA, check in with your doctor. They should be able to provide personalized guidance to help.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a32416922/how-to-stay-active-with-rheumatoid-arthritisand/

A strong voice for young people with arthritis

From thelancet.com

We all do it. Make assumptions and judgements, based on our own experiences and personalities, or because we just don't know or understand. Children with juvenile arthritis know what that can feel like: after all, surely arthritis is connected to ageing, or at least people over the age of 60?

Adam Hooda's symptoms started at age 7, his parents becoming aware of a difference in his range of mobility and gait, mainly during his much loved dance classes. Imagine, a 7-year-old suddenly struggling to get up off the floor, or shuffling up the stairs grasping the bannister rails for assistance. For 7 years Adam and his family hoped for a diagnosis that could explain this change, and his discomfort and pain. Diagnoses ranged from growing pains to vitamin deficiencies and sports injuries. Not only were the social and physical developmental stages of Adam's childhood affected—limitations in peer-interaction or missing out on simple play—there were also years of uncertainty around Adam's health, and no one could tell them why.

“The big thing about not knowing was how much stress it put on myself and my parents. Though being diagnosed with arthritis is not a good thing, it's better knowing what's actually wrong so you can make steps to better educate yourself or do something about it. As such, despite whatever doctors were saying we kept trying to get second opinions with other consultants and GPs”.

So finally, aged 14, Adam had an MRI and received a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). That must have offered some relief? “Yes, but in the first few years I was on methotrexate, and the toxicities caused me to have migraines. Because my arthritis was polyarticular, the pain spread to all my joints; my knees were the worst, but it also affected my shoulders, my feet, and my wrists. I really needed something to control the pain as it was interfering with my education.”

Adam is charming, engaging, and seemingly grounded (even more so than the average 21-year-old) and I am surprised meeting him how this immediately comes across, with no trace of resentment, or social awkwardness from his formative years of being different or excluded. Even now Adam's chronic pain and fatigue have not disappeared, although it's better controlled with the biologic, etanercept, administered subcutaneously once a week for the last 4 years.

“I have had pain for most of my life so I have learnt how to accommodate my mobility, or avoid positions and activities that cause the most pain”, for example, he says, sitting in a lecture theatre in the same position for too long. So Adam has had to come up with many workarounds. He mentions this because he was regularly in lecture theatres up until the coronavirus lockdown, studying biochemistry at Kings College London, UK: “It is because of my own experience that I was interested in immunology and epidemiology”, he says. Adam is in his final year, but his exams haven't been cancelled or postponed; instead Adam faces more disruption and change as he will now be examined online. “This is very different to what we have been preparing for. As I am in the high-risk group on immunosuppressants, I can't leave the house, I'm shielding. Everyone else can go out once a day. I do have anxiety about getting infected—I can't dwell on it—it's just something I have to deal with, like my condition”.

How is he feeling about the restrictions? “I studied viruses so I understand about transmission. Anyone can get it, it's not only those who are at risk. But I have to stay at home because it is more dangerous for me”. His outlook is rational, but he is exercising self-care—Adam has come to terms with his limitations, but he doesn't allow himself to be limited by JIA. We both agree that the governmental message could be stronger, with more of a human angle; I suggest Adam's story could reach the younger generation, particularly in creating awareness around a less visible, at-risk group during the coronavirus pandemic.

That is exactly what he is doing with the UK charity Versus Arthritis. Adam has recently joined the Patient Insight Partners network—comprising a group of volunteers all living with a musculoskeletal condition—who are instrumental in bringing a patient perspective to the charity's research decision making. “As a young person with arthritis I feel I need to be ambassadorial. JIA is still unknown, but not rare. It is, however, still seen as an elderly disease. If I can, and I can, I should be talking about it and giving my support”. He is looking forward to working with Versus Arthritis to review research proposals: “I am in science now and I want this field to progress”. Adam seems to look for silver linings, and overall his attitude is impressively mature and self-aware—“It is sometimes easier said than done but feeling sorry for myself doesn't help me. I have a great network, including a very supportive family around me and I have always had someone to hold my hand.”

“I make a conscious effort not to allow this illness to destroy my spirit. It doesn't define me, and I am now happy with where I am at”. I feel proud of Adam, and I have only just met him, so I know his family and friends must feel this too. What next for Adam? Of course, he knows where he is going: “I want to work in health care and economic policy, in humanitarian environments, not the lab. Firstly, work experience and then a Masters”. No doubt in my mind that's where he will be.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(20)30182-X/fulltext

Weight loss from adolescence to midlife curbs arthritis risk

From healio.com

Losing weight from young adulthood into midlife is associated with a substantially reduced risk for arthritis, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

“In addition to increases in the overall prevalence of obesity, recent U.S. birth cohorts are becoming obese earlier in life and, thus, spending greater portions of their lives with excess weight,” Kaitlyn M. Berry, MPH, of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and colleagues wrote. “The effects of these weight shifts on the risk of arthritis are largely unknown. Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study, one recent study estimated that weight gain from early to mid-adulthood of 2.5-10 kg, 10-20 kg, or more than 20 kg was associated with a 20%, 31%, and 40% increase in the likelihood of osteoarthritis-related total hip replacement.”

“However, the study did not investigate the risk of other types of arthritis or the effects of weight loss,” they added. “If the effects of obesity on arthritis conditions are cumulative, those who lose weight may experience residual risk due to irreversible pathologic processes from carrying excess weight earlier in life. Additionally, although some studies have demonstrated how weight change modifies risk of arthritis conditions at the individual-level, the aggregate effect of population-level weight loss or obesity prevention remains uncertain.”

To analyse the link between weight change from adolescence to midlife and the risk for arthritis, Berry and colleagues studied data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). According to the researchers, NHANES is a nationally representative survey of adults in the United States with information on demographic characteristics, weight history and health behaviours and conditions. For their study, Berry and colleagues combined cross-sectional data from NHANES III, conducted form 1988-1994, with repeat information from NHANES “continuous waves,” collected in two-year cycles between 1999 and 2016.

The researchers examined a sample of 13,669 adults aged 40 to 69 years at their midlife weight measure. Berry and colleagues grouped these participants into weight change categories based on participants’ recalled weight during adolescence and midlife. Investigators then used Cox models to estimate the association between weight change and arthritis over 10 years. Findings were extrapolated to the entire U.S. population to then analyse the proportion of incident arthritis cases that could be averted if the nation’s population maintained a normal BMI in young adulthood and midlife.

According to the researchers, 3,603 of the included participants developed arthritis. Compared with adults who maintained a normal BMI in both adolescence and midlife, those who transitioned from normal to overweight, normal to obese and overweight to obese, plus those who remained obese throughout, demonstrated a significantly higher risk for incident arthritis conditions. However, those who shifted from obese to overweight still had a lower risk for arthritis than with those who remained obese throughout, and had a comparable risk to those who remained overweight.

In their extrapolation, the researchers estimated that nearly one-quarter of arthritis cases, representing 2.7 million patients, could have been avoided had all individuals maintained normal weight from young adulthood to midlife.

“Those who lost weight had a risk comparable to those who maintained a lower weight, suggesting there may not be residual risk associated with having previously been heavier,” Berry and colleagues wrote. “Extrapolating to the population-level, we estimate that a substantial portion of incident arthritis cases could be avoided through effective weight loss strategies for individuals and population-level policies that encourage primary prevention of overweight/obesity.”

The researchers added that their “findings highlight the critical need to expand obesity treatment and prevention activities in order to achieve meaningful reductions in the burden of arthritis in the U.S. population.” – by Jason Laday

https://www.healio.com/news/rheumatology/20200529/weight-loss-from-adolescence-to-midlife-curbs-arthritis-risk