Arthritis Care for Seniors: Best Practices and Exercises
Elderly people are prone to suffer from this problem due to their advanced age and therefore need good arthritis care to prevent this pain from escalating.
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main rheumatic diseases are joint pain and stiffness, which usually worsen with age.
There are two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The difference is that arthritis causes the cartilage, the hard, slippery tissue that covers the bones, to break down, while rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints.
These are some reasons why older adults need optimal arthritis care because the more this problem progresses, the more likely they will reach a point where picking up a cup or any object will be the most painful.
Best Practices for Arthritis Care
It is important to know that there is some arthritis care that will control and, in the best case, decrease the pain considerably. Some of these practices can be done at home, while others will need the help of a professional to avoid any kind of risk. Some of these practices are:
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Diet and Nutrition:
Some foods strengthen areas such as the immune system, provide energy, and help treat arthritis.
Sweet potatoes are an essential and primordial food for treating arthritis because they contain high amounts of beta-carotene, an antioxidant.
Other important foods for arthritis care are fruits, such as bananas which are high in potassium, or mangoes and apples, with high vitamin A and other components that provide health benefits.
Green tea is also part of the treatment for arthritis, as it contains high amounts of flavonoids with antioxidant characteristics. It also includes specific substances that directly affect inflammation levels in the body.
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Medication and Treatment Options:
Medications are recurrent when seeking arthritis care, and for good reasons. Some of these over-the-counter medications are pain relievers, which are very effective in relieving this and other types of pain.
Other unique treatments, such as injections or certain supplements, perform the same function.
However, these types of treatments can only be performed by a professional in the field, so these types of options are not available for free sale.
Thus, as mentioned above, you must first go to a professional to authorize this arthritis care and get effective treatment.
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Lifestyle Changes:
A very important point about arthritis care is that changing some daily habits can complement all of the above.
It is advisable, above all, to perform physical activation and certain types of exercises that provide a good treatment for arthritis.
This type of exercise has as a priority the mobility in the areas where arthritis affects more, so they should not be exercises that generate some kind of exhaustion or require too much effort.
Some of these exercises could be walking or yoga, which greatly strengthen mobility and flexibility without increasing the severity of arthritis.
Arthritis Exercises for Seniors
The amplitude exercises are perfect for arthritis care, divided depending on which area you want to exercise.
Some neck, shoulders, and arm exercises could be the inclination of the neck to the sides until touching the shoulder. There is a combination of forward or backward rotating movements for the arms and shoulders, as this type of movement can relieve pain in these two areas.
For the hands and wrist, there is a flexion exercise that consists of flexing the fingers of the hand with force. Once the fist is closed, the hand should be flexed up and down. The wrist should be held down for a few seconds, and the elbow should be bent, bringing it to the armpit.
For the area of the legs, it is highly recommended to perform exercises such as squats or a stationary bike, as this allows the knees, legs, ankles, and feet to move uniformly.
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Strengthening Exercises:
As the name implies, strengthening exercises aim to strengthen the lower and upper body areas, such as the chest and the other regions where joints may be affected.
The abdominal area, for example, also known as the trunk, is important to strengthen as it will allow for greater flexibility. Planks or bridge exercises are highly effective and do not require too much effort.
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Cardiovascular Exercises:
Swimming, running, or riding a bike are aerobic exercises that are part of cardiovascular exercises since the arms, legs, and, in general, the whole body is constantly moving.
However, the key is not in the amount of exercise but in achieving greater endurance and prioritizing arthritis care. These exercises can also improve joint function and a person’s mood.
How Does Senior Care Placement Benefit an Older Adult With Arthritis?
Retirement homes are an excellent option for people with arthritis. This is because they have everything necessary to care for the elderly, such as round-the-clock attention throughout the year.
At Casa de Retiro El Mirador, we know that suffering from arthritis at an advanced age can be a great inconvenience and impediment to performing any activity.
That is why we have at your disposal a senior care placement with a care service in Mexico focused on the well-being of the elderly, guided by our values of respect, love, and fraternity.
Our staff has the necessary training and commitment to offer personalized treatment to meet the needs of each of our seniors.