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If you have osteoarthritis, your joints may need extra care. There are many devices that take stress off your joints and guard them from pain and injury. They include:
- Shock-absorbing shoe inserts or orthopedic shoes reduce some of the strain of daily activities and even casual exercise.
- Splints and braces keep your joints lined up right and help support your weight. They are most often used for wrists, knees, ankles, hands, and feet. They are usually made of light materials. They should be custom-fitted by a physical therapist or other specialist.
- Elastic supports can protect your knees and wrists. You can buy these over-the-counter. But talk with your doctor before wearing one.
- Neck braces and collars can ease pain from neck arthritis. But long-term use of neck braces and collars can weaken the muscles that support the head.
- Canes, crutches, and walkers can help you if advanced osteoarthritis makes it hard to get around.
- Firm mattresses or air mattresses may help if you have spine osteoarthritis. Try a few options to see which kind of mattress works best for you.
Also of Interest
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Mary and Pat discuss the devices they use to make life with osteoarthritis easier. |
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