Living your best life with arthritis.
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Molly: I voted in the BC Election!

 

Molly, Arthritis Consumer Experts' Australian LabradoodleMolly, Arthritis Consumer Experts’ (ACE) own Australian labradoodle, expressed her joy in visiting a BC election polling station by showcasing an “I Voted” sticker.

The results are in and BC Liberals secure a majority government. Below is the response from the BC Liberal Party to ACE’s questionnaire. We could all take action to ensure arthritis remains a priority for our government. Visit JointHealth™: Taking Action for samples and tips.  Continue reading →

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AS it Goes – Men and Osteoporosis

Hip x-ray, joint replacement

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I recently was reminded about the frailty of joints weakened by arthritis and age. My 90-year old father slid off his chair and the 18-inch drop to the floor was enough to snap the ball off his hip joint. His bones were so brittle that the break was not the result of a nosedive down a set of stairs or a spectacular fall. Unfortunately, his experience is a common one for seniors who struggle with balance or mobility issues and often, also have undiagnosed osteoporosis. Continue reading →

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Hydrotherapy eases pain for Coco the arthritis cat

[The video above is a demonstration of aquatic exercises for people with arthritis courtesy of livestrong.com]

Coco the arthritis cat takes control of her arthritis pain. She is a 16-year-old black moggy who exercises weekly on a treadmill designed for dogs. Read more here.

Coco the arthritis cat

Photo credit: Caters News Agency

In her interview with Daily Mail, Coco’s vet Amie Horsie said that the hydrotherapy unit works rather like an underwater treadmill. It allows Coco to exercise and build muscle tone and strength. Most importantly, it empowers her to stay active and fit.

Hypdrotherapy is just as effective in humans. It helps people with rheumatoid arthritis relax. Body weight is reduced by 50% to 90% in water, making moving joints and exercising easier. The video above should help you get started.

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Cheryl Koehn of ACE takes golden opportunity to exercise

Golden sunset at Jericho Beach provides opportunity to exercise

Golden Sunset at Jericho Beach

Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) president, Cheryl Koehn, took advantage of last night’s golden opportunity to exercise by swimming as the sun set at Jericho Beach.

Cheryl swears by her regular therapeutic swims after work to help cope with shoulder pains from her rheumatoid arthritis. Also, it helps her to maintain muscle strength in an “arthritis friendly”, non-weight bearing fashion. She has inspired her staff at the ACE office to bike and walk to work.

How are you exercising in the sun? Here are a few more ideas in addition to swimming:

  • Bicycling
  • Walking
  • Playing tennis
  • Jogging
  • Running
  • Pilates
  • Yoga
  • Gardening

Try to make exercise a part of your arthritis treatment plan. Depending on your individual arthritis and diagnosis, the above ideas may or may not be suitable for your exercise plan. Please consult with your family doctor before starting a new exercise routine. This June 2011′s issue of JointHealth™ Monthly may help you get started.

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Six strategies for avoiding work disability

Strategies for avoiding work disability

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There are many ways people with arthritis can manage work and arthritis to prevent work disability. Here are some strategies you may find helpful:

  1. Attend appointments with your doctor and other health professionals, consistently take necessary medications, and practice a healthy lifestyle. If you live with arthritis, you may feel you are barely managing your work and family responsibilities. You may feel you do not have the time or energy to properly care for yourself. But if you don’t, your arthritis symptoms may worsen and make it harder for you to work. Try to take care of yourself because it is a good investment in your career.
  2. Use the resources available to you. Healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers and vocational rehabilitation counsellors may be able to help develop strategies for balancing arthritis and work or help you find a job or career that fits better with your arthritis.
  3. If possible, try to negotiate flexible work arrangements. The ability to work from home, or work part-time, or modify a work schedule allows you to plan your work while considering your arthritis. This may improve productivity and reduce sick days. People with greater flexibility and autonomy at work are less likely to stop working.
  4. Ask for an ergonomic assessment from a professional trained in arthritis issues. Simple modifications and proper equipment can make an enormous difference in creating a physical work environment that does not increase your arthritis pain. People who have ergonomic modifications at work more than double their chances of remaining employed.
  5. As much as you are comfortable, educate your coworkers and employers. Many people do not understand what it means to have inflammatory arthritis. Fatigue can be misinterpreted as laziness, unpredictable flares may be seen as a lack of reliability, and physical limitations can be ignored or resented by employers and coworkers. Only education can change these attitudes.
  6. Try to remember that it’s your arthritis, not you, that causes these challenges. Arthritis may diminish a person’s self image. People who have always seen themselves as reliable and diligent workers can experience blows to their self-esteem when faced with limitations caused by their arthritis. Try to remember that you are still the same hardworking person you have always been. It is arthritis that is unpredictable and unreliable, not you.