Seniors who experience pain due to arthritis often take prescription medication to relieve their aches. However, there are many popular natural treatments offering similar benefits without the side effects of medications. Here are a few ways elderly people can treat arthritis naturally.
Massage Therapy
According to research conducted by Tiffany Field at the University of Miami, seniors who regularly have their joints and muscles massaged by a licensed therapist can greatly reduce their pain. Field’s many studies on the effects of massage for arthritis indicated this simple treatment led to a substantial decrease in pain and increase in range of motion and grip strength.
Home caregivers can help seniors with daily tasks that are challenging because of arthritis pain. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable senior home care. Families trust Assisting Hands Home Care Westminster to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
Acupuncture
When carefully pricked with the tiny needles used in acupuncture, the body discharges endogenous opioids, which are natural painkillers. Scientists at the University of Maryland conducted a study that found people with knee arthritis decreased their pain by 40 percent after having acupuncture twice weekly for six months. After the initial study, the acupuncture treatments were reduced to once a month.
Swimming
High-impact exercises take a greater toll on the body and cause more pain, but low-impact forms of exercise like swimming can help seniors get into shape without putting additional pressure on their aching joints. If possible, swimming in a heated pool would be ideal because the warmth can relax the muscles. Swimming can lubricate the joints, reducing the friction between them, which is a wonderful bonus for seniors with arthritis.
Losing Weight
Your loved one’s weight can greatly impact how much pain he or she will have from arthritis. Extra weight puts added pressure on the joints, and reducing the stress on the joints by losing some weight can decrease pain, increase mobility, and stop further damage to the joints.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Westminster families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Meditate
Meditating for about 15 minutes each day can reduce the pain experienced because of arthritis. When seniors meditate, their breathing becomes slower and deeper, which relaxes their muscles and keeps their minds off their joint pain. Seniors can also sit with their eyes closed and listen to music to clear their thoughts and reduce their pain.
Chronic pain from arthritis or other conditions can make it difficult for seniors to accomplish important everyday tasks. Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Westminster seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. If your loved one needs professional care, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.