10 arthritis-friendly tools

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10 arthritis-friendly tools: Simple and smart ways to protect your joints.

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By Dee Van Dyk

Nearly 4.5 million Canadians suffer with arthritis and 100,000 people are

diagnosed with it every year, according to the Arthritis Society of Canada.

If you think you're predisposed to arthritis, if you've been diagnosed with

this joint disorder or know someone who has, read on for important ways to

ease daily living.

What is arthritis?

" Arthritis is really a family of diseases, " says Prowten, national

vice president of revenue development and marketing for the Arthritis

Society of Canada. " There are literally a hundred types of arthritis, with

the two primary types [that] people are familiar with being osteoarthritis

and inflammatory arthritis. "

Arthritis is a joint disorder that's characterized by inflammation; symptoms

include limited joint function and stiff joints and pain. The most common

form of arthritis -- osteoarthritis -- occurs when the cartilage that covers

and protects the ends of your bones breaks down. While many of us believe

arthritis is a disease of the aging, juvenile arthritis affects 1 in 1,000

Canadian children under the age of 16.

Tips

1. Your first tool: Early diagnosis

September is National Arthritis Month in Canada, with a focus on raising

awareness of this disease and related treatment. If you suspect you might

have arthritis, make an appointment to see your doctor today.

" If you notice joint pain or discomfort that's lasting more than four to six

weeks, it may be arthritis that's starting to flare on you, " says Prowten.

" It's important to get an early diagnosis, particularly with inflammatory

arthritis, because joint damage can happen early in the stage of the

disease. The faster you can get an accurate diagnosis, the more effective

the treatment plan. "

Arthritis can affect people because of joint pain, loss of movement or range

of movement, joint stiffness, and weakness during acute flares of

inflammatory arthritis, adds Philip Ambury, occupational therapist and

director of arthritis programs and services in Ontario. " It's part of my job

to try to give people tips on how to assess a product in a store to see if

it will work for them. "

2. Choose tools with fat handles.

Increasing the size or diameter of a tool makes it easier for your joints to

work with it and reduces strain on the small joints in your hands. Add

padding to garden tools and steering wheels and use foam tubing on kitchen

utensils to fatten handles.

3. Look for comfortable handles.

" Sometimes by changing the shape of the grip handle, you can make the job

easier, " says Ambury. " Any round-sized grip, the size of a baseball, is a

nice, neutral grip. "

Using small vegetable peelers and cutting with a conventional knife can

position your hand at an awkward angle. " There's a knife on the market,

called an L-shaped knife (the handle of the blade points up and angles

slightly toward the blade) that allows you to cut, but keeps your wrist and

fingers in a more comfortable position. "

4. Select non-slip grips.

To reduce the intensity of your grip and make items easier to hold, Ambury

recommends choosing items with non-slip and textured hand grips. Look for

ribbed covers for doorknobs, steering wheel covers with hand grips at the 10

and 2 o'clock positions, and plastic jar openers.

5. Use tools with levers.

" The purpose of the lever is to extend the length of the handles and reduce

the amount of effort required, " says Ambury, citing levered taps, levered

doors/windows and levered key holders as examples. " We also recommend trying

to limit the amount of twisting involved -- especially for those with

rheumatoid arthritis. That motion of twisting your keys in the car ignition

can be very stressful on finger and hand joints. "

6. Find tools that can hold objects in place for you.

Reading a book requires a tight grip and holding joints in place for a long

period of time poses issues for arthritis sufferers, says Ambury. " Things

like book rests, card holders, and putting a non-slip mat under a bowl so

you don't have to grip the bowl as tightly while you mix are all ways you

can give your hands a rest. "

7. Use implements that protect small, fragile joints.

To protect the small joints in your hands, use a light bag with a shoulder

strap rather than carry a purse with a handle.

8. Keep things within easy reach.

To reduce pressure and strain on your joints, put heavier items on the

counter or within easy grasp and make good use of lower shelves for everyday

items.

9. Eat healthy

Good health bodes well for those with arthritis. The Arthritis Society of

Canada recommends following Canada's Food Guide.

10. Stay active.

" We encourage people to be as active as possible, " says Ambury. " You might

need the aid of a cane or a walker, but exercise, whether it's recreational

or therapeutic, maintains your strength and flexibility. "

For more arthritis-friendly tips and tools, check out the Arthritis Society

of Canada's website and click on Arthritis Friendly Products Program.

" We're trying to encourage manufacturers to change their products so that

they're easier to use for people with arthritis, " says Prowten. Look for

products marked with the arthritis-friendly logo that features a blue bird

in the middle of a circle. It brands products that have been designed with

comfort and effectiveness for the arthritis sufferer in mind.