Related topics: •  Arthritis Center •  Arthritis Tips, Part II •  Arthritis Tips, Part III

For Amanda Sullivan,* having arthritic fingers made opening a jar of pickles a supreme challenge. Sullivan has had arthritis for eight years, and used to find such everyday tasks difficult. Even talking on the telephone could be problematic: If she was on for too long, the joints in her arm and fingers would stiffen up, making it hard to put down the receiver.

But with the help of new tools -- like the rubber-handled tongs she inherited from her mother -- opening jars is far easier than it used to be. This simple tool helps her to pop open jars painlessly.

For many of the 46 million people in America with arthritis, housecleaning -- even everyday tasks like vacuuming, washing dishes, or caring for a pet -- is too painful for words. At least one survey found that 84 percent of people with arthritis say the pain keeps them from completing the simplest household chores.

Trying to prepare a meal with arthritic hands and wrists can tempt anyone to opt for fast food instead. Lifting heavy pots and pans, chopping vegetables, and stooping to reach cans or jars in low cabinets can all put stress on aching joints.

Seventy-nine-year-old Heli Silas of Oakland, California has had osteoarthritis for 20 years. She finds that a hot shower every morning, followed by a half hour of stretching, yogas, and gentle exercise prepares her body for the day ahead and keeps pain to a minimum. Silas also keeps an eye on her weight, noting the extra pounds put additional stress on joints.

Sullivan has found ways around painful hurdles as well: She uses only lightweight pans and measuring cups, buys chopped vegetables and premade salads, and passes up giant containers of pickles and condiments for smaller ones that are easier to handle.

Here are more tips to make chores easier in the kitchen and elsewhere around the house:

•Get a "grabber." Many hardware stores and even some supermarkets carry these long-handled tools that extend your reach. Use one to retrieve cans from cupboards or pick up laundry off the floor.

•Replace faucet handles that you twist on and off with levered handles, which are easier on the wrist and can be operated with one hand. Round doorknobs can also be replaced with levers.

•Keep cleaning supplies in several rooms throughout your home so you don't have to lug around materials when you use them.

•Take frequent breaks to avoid getting too tired out, especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue is a particular concern for people with rheumatoid arthritis because it can cause symptoms to flare up.

•Sit down on the job. Vary your position frequently to reduce stress on your joints. For example, sit down to fold laundry if you've been standing at the ironing board for a while.

•Don't sweat the small stuff. Prioritize your tasks so you get the most important ones done first. That way if you run out of steam or find yourself in too much pain, you can skip the less important chores.

•Trade heavy plates for lightweight plastic ones, and replace heavy cookware with newer lightweight models. Think about storing pots and pans on mounted hooks and racks so they're easy to reach.

•Use an electric can opener and other ergonomic devices to take the stress off your hands and fingers.

Whatever tasks you tackle, getting your muscles and joints limbered up beforehand can make a difference.

Finally, remember that some organizations have volunteers who can help people with arthritis do their household chores. Start by checking with your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.

Part II: What about gardening?

-- Nancy Montgomery is an associate editor at Consumer Health Interactive.

* Name has been changed.

References

First published September 26, 2002
Last updated September 17, 2007
Copyright © 2002 Consumer Health Interactive

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