Tag Archives: arthritis life hacks

arthritis-friendly gardening hacks

Gardening Hacks

Love fall gardening, but find it painful with arthritis? Try these hacks to avoid straining joints.

If You Can’t Crouch Down

Hack: Go vertical. Wall gardens are easy to tend while you’re standing or sitting up. Buy one ready-made or make your own by hanging plastic pots on a wall. “Keep the plants between waist and shoulder height,” says Julia Henderson-Kalb, an occupational therapist at Saint Louis University in Missouri. 

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joint friendly grocery shopping

5 Ways to Make Shopping Easier

Having arthritis can seriously affect your daily errands and plans. Here are some tips to help make shopping less painful and stressful.

Plan Ahead

Before you leave for the store, prioritize what you need to accomplish. If you have multiple errands to run, rank the importance of each stop in case pain sets in and you need to head home. You can also map out your route, from the farthest to closest stop to your home. Remember to consider time of day and traffic patterns. This can help you to keep the time and stress of being on the road and standing in lines to a minimum.

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pain free jewelry hacks

Pain-Free Jewelry Lets You Shine

A pretty piece of jewelry makes a thoughtful Mother’s Day or anytime gift. However, “the pinching motion also puts pressure on your finger joints, which can lead to pain,” says Jacqueline F. Lawrence, an occupational therapist at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston. But you don’t need to give up your love for sparkle. Tell your partner and kids about these options: 

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cleaning tips for arthritis

Spring into Home Repairs With These Handy Tricks

Spring cleaning often brings to attention those small repairs that you’ve been meaning to get around to. Stuck drawers, clogged drains, torn window screens – small household repairs can be an ordeal if you have painful hands from arthritis and a shortage of tools. But they don’t have to be. Nancy Ryan, an occupational therapist in New York City, suggests these simple shortcuts for doing common jobs with less pain and effort and with items you probably have on hand.

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