The Christmas holidays can put a lot of stress on arthritis patients. Occupational therapist Jen discusses her patients who find that their symptoms become worse during the cold winter months.

Stories of being able to predict a change in the weather by an increase in joint pain and stiffness is not uncommon.  You could describe it as a human barometer! There are many theories, but little clinical evidence to say that there is a link between bad weather and exacerbation of arthritic symptoms.  However, this does not mean it is any less real for those people describing these changes in symptoms.

We can’t alter the British weather and moving to warmer climes isn’t always a practical or guaranteed solution so we need to have strategies available to minimise the joint pain.

Sometimes even the smallest of gadgets can be a big help. Using non-slip jar and bottle openers to help is a simple option.  The Dycem non-slip material enables jars and bottles to be opened by using less physical effort and therefore reducing the amount of pain caused.  The openers are not only useful in the kitchen, but also in the bathroom for pill bottles and cleaning materials.

They aren’t going to solve all problems, but they do make a huge difference to a lot of people.

With a little help from Dycem products, and the wide range of assistive products available on the market, we hope arthritis patients are able to enjoy the festive season with minimal joint pain.

What are your tips for getting through the winter season?