Between 2013 and 2015, almost half of U.S. adults over the age of 64 were found to have arthritis. Around half of all arthritis sufferers experience constant pain and that can affect movement. Mobility can be impacted when arthritis hits the toes, ankles, knees, and hips.
Whether it’s your mom or dad dealing with arthritis pain, they mustn’t let it affect mobility. A sedentary lifestyle can make arthritis worse, and it increases the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Here are some of the recommended ways to manage arthritis.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Elder Care Glen Cove, NY: Arthritis Pain Management
A diet that focuses on anti-inflammatory foods and high levels of antioxidants can help. Some of the best are citrus fruits like oranges, garlic, whole grains, dried beans, cruciferous vegetables, berries and cherries, fatty fish like herring and salmon, and leafy green vegetables.
Low-Impact Activities
Exercises that are low-impact and don’t put a lot of strain on the joints help. Not only does it keep the joints moving, but it also helps improve the mood and lowers stress. Walking and riding a bicycle are two good exercises. Swimming is even better.
Swimming eases pressure on joints because the body is buoyant. Water aerobics, Water Zumba, swimming, or walking/jogging around the rim of a pool or in the shallow end is best.
Warm and Cold Compresses
Heating pads and cold compresses help ease joint pain. When the pain is severe, have your parents use cold to ease swelling and warmth to soothe the pain.
Pain Creams/Ointments and Massage
Massage may help ease some joint pain. It’s even better to rub sore joints with topical pain creams and ointments. Rubs like Aspercreme or Bengay are options. Lidocaine patches like Salonpas help some. Menthol oil also helps and is in products like Icy Hot.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen help ease inflammation and pain. Medications like acetaminophen and aspirin also ease the pain. All three can have side effects that people should talk to their doctor about before using regularly.
Weight Loss
Being overweight also impacts the joints by putting more pressure on them. Losing weight can help ease arthritis pain. Plus, weight loss techniques like avoiding foods that are high in sugar and saturated may also help ease the inflammation.
When arthritis pain is severe and impacts daily life, how do your parents manage daily activities? Talk to them about the benefits of having elder care aides to help with laundry, cleaning, transportation, and personal care/grooming. Call an elder care specialist to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elder Care in Glen Cove, NY please contact the caring staff at Brookville Homecare today. 516-802-7722
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm#