5 Natural Methods for Arthritis Treatment at Home
Instead of representing a single condition, arthritis is actually a term used to describe a group of over 100 different conditions that cause joint inflammation and pain. If you thought arthritis only exists in older people, think again. These conditions affect over 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States, showing that people of any age may experience it. In fact, July has been officially deemed Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.
While medical treatments may help, there are also natural methods for arthritis treatment at home and lifestyle changes that may be effective at alleviating symptoms. Today, we’re taking a look at 5 options for natural arthritis treatment at home to help people of all ages get back to pain-free living.
Natural Arthritis Treatment at Home
Any type of arthritis can cause pain and potentially result in lasting damage to the joints if left untreated. Not just part of typically age-related diseases, arthritis can affect people of any age and lifestyle. Learning a few arthritis home treatment options may help alleviate symptoms, letting you get back to being pain-free and improving your overall quality of life.
As with any kind of medical condition, consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment plans to ensure it’s safe for you to do so.
A few natural methods for arthritis treatment at home include:
- Aquatic exercises in a pool
- Low-impact exercises like yoga or tai chi
- Massage for arthritis
- Cold and heat therapy
- Mindfulness meditation
Water Exercises for Arthritis
Kicking off our list of natural methods for arthritis treatment at home are water exercises. During those hot summer months, getting into the pool can serve more purposes than just cooling off. In fact, aquatic exercises have been shown to relax muscles, relieve stress, reduce muscle stiffness, and increase strength while facilitating improved mobility and flexibility.
The water in the pool provides resistance without being high-impact. This lets muscles work themselves out gently without the excess wear and tear that could make symptoms of arthritis worse. Experts have agreed that spending 40-60 minutes in a pool three times a week could have potential benefits as an arthritis home treatment method.
Low-Impact Exercises Like Yoga or Tai Chi
Continuing the trend of low-impact exercises as a natural method for arthritis treatment at home, exercises like yoga and tai chi can be immensely beneficial.
Yoga is a position-based set of exercises that aligns the body and helps fight inflammation. There are all kinds of yoga exercises easy to do at any fitness level, even chair yoga exercises you can do from home! Chair yoga exercises give you the opportunity to combine multiple natural methods for arthritis treatment at home if you’re using a luxury zero gravity chair. Two potentially effective treatment methods in one? Yes, please!
Tai chi is another low-impact exercise that has been shown to be beneficial as an arthritis home treatment. It uses slow, gentle movements to increase flexibility, muscle strength, and balance. The consistent movement during tai chi lets your muscles loosen up gradually and stay in constant motion to avoid seizing up.
Massage for Arthritis
Next up on our list of natural methods for arthritis treatment at home is getting a massage. According to the Arthritis Foundation, regularly massaging muscles and joints can help soothe pain resulting from arthritis. That said, scheduling regular massage appointments can be difficult to fit in and become very expensive.
Instead of going out for a massage, consider ways to experience massage at home! This is another example of how owning a zero gravity chair could help. A zero gravity chair with massage features will not only be able to help you relax, but also serves to potentially enhance how the body heals itself, promote better blood circulation to fight inflammation, and keep your joints healthy.
Different models may offer different types of massage like vibration or air pressure massage (also known as air cell massage). These massage zero gravity chairs provide comfort, support, and a range of other bonus features of zero gravity luxury recliners that all come together to get you back to being pain-free as quickly as possible.
Cold and Heat Therapy
Cold and heat therapy treatments are two different ends of the spectrum but both serve as potentially effective options for arthritis treatment at home.
Cold therapy restricts blood vessels, which slows circulation, reduces swelling, and numbs pain. People living with arthritis pain should limit cold therapy treatments to 20 minutes at a time to avoid stiffness. Additionally, always wrap a cold compress or ice pack in a towel first to avoid direct contact with the skin, which could cause damage to surface tissue.
Where cold therapy slows circulation, heat therapy boosts circulation throughout the body and can alleviate stiff joints and aching muscles. There are two types of heat therapy: moist and dry. Moist heat therapy refers to activities like taking a warm bath or shower, which are great for starting off your day.
Dry heat therapy can refer to methods like applying a heating pad. What about those people commonly living with arthritis pain in various points of the body, however? Taking this a step further, we’ve arrived back at the health benefits of zero gravity chairs. Heated zero gravity chairs enhance your overall experience in these recliners, increasing poor blood circulation that could be exacerbating arthritis pain and providing you with pain relief all over.
Safe for adults and children alike, the benefits of zero gravity chairs for all ages make them ideal for arthritis treatment at home.
Mindfulness Meditation for Arthritis Pain Relief
While there are endless types of ways to learn how to meditate at home, mindfulness meditation holds a special place on our list for arthritis home treatment methods. Mindfulness meditation techniques are meant to center your mind and focus your attention on living in the present moment. It doesn’t mean emptying your mind of all thoughts, but rather acknowledging your thoughts without judgment.
Studies have shown the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques for people of all ages living with arthritis pain. This form of meditation may help boost your immune system and help alleviate symptoms of arthritis through bodily relaxation.
As we move into Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, we’re considering natural methods for arthritis treatment at home that people of all ages may practice. With a few simple lifestyle adjustments, adults and children living with arthritis may be able to get back to being pain-free as quickly as possible! As with any medical condition, speak to a medical professional before beginning any form of new treatment routines. Once given the go ahead, try methods like swimming, yoga, or choosing a zero gravity chair for home and see what works best for you!
Want to learn more about the potential health benefits of zero gravity chairs? Check out these resources:
- How Modern Zero Gravity Recliners Work (And May Boost Your Health)
- Spine Health Tips You Should Be Practicing
- Top Health Tips for Summer Wellness
- 5 Best Recovery Tools for Athletes
- How Are Zero Gravity Chairs Good For You?
