Home Stretching and Joint Protection

Home Stretching Exercises

Many patients with rheumatism suffer from joint pain when moving, so they will reduce their exercise and use of their joints. However, long-term inactivity of the body's joints will lead to degeneration, stiffness and muscle weakness due to low usage, making the condition of the affected joints more and more serious.

The purpose and benefits of exercise

• Increase joint flexibility and improve range of motion

• Increase muscle endurance and strength

• Reduce pain caused by joint stiffness

• Improve overall mobility

• Improve blood circulation

Things to know about exercise

• Perform 1 to 2 times a day, preferably just after getting up and before going to bed. If individual joints have special needs, the frequency can be increased appropriately.

• Do it slowly at the beginning, avoid too fast and sudden movements to avoid spraining joints and muscles, and maintain the position where you feel muscle tension.

• Maintain normal breathing during exercise

• All stretching exercises should be held still for at least 5 seconds

• Repeat each action 5 to 10 times, and gradually increase the number after getting used to it.

• If pain occurs during exercise, do not endure it and reduce the speed, frequency or range of movements.

• Proper rest after exercise can relieve muscle fatigue and soreness caused by exercise

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joint protection

What does occupational therapy do?

Occupational therapy is one of the rehabilitation specialties and has a history of more than 60 years in Hong Kong. The public generally does not understand the difference between physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Occupational therapy mainly focuses on patients' daily self-care and life skills, so that patients can handle daily work independently, reorganize their lifestyle, reduce the difficulties caused by the disease, help patients return to their jobs in family, work and society, and improve their personal confidence. , and face your patients correctly.

The occupational therapist will train the patient to re-adapt to daily life according to the patient's ability, and teach the patient how to protect joints and use assistive devices. Some suitable braces will also be manufactured for them to rest, prevent and correct joint deformities.

The role of the occupational therapist

Educator: Educates patients about basic medical care and joint protection

Trainer: Trains patients to master the correct use of joints

Protector: protects the patient and their joints from injury

Problem solver: Solve the difficulties caused by the disease and make the patient's life easier

Occupational therapy rehabilitation programs mainly include the following:

• Teach ways to protect joints according to different diseases

• Teach the correct use of joints or working postures

• Provide different auxiliary tools to allow patients to handle procedures independently and protect joints

• Provides a brace to be worn during work and rest to protect and relieve joint pressure

• Provide suggestions for home modifications to make it easier for patients to use and overcome environmental barriers

joint protection method

The main purposes of applying joint protection method in daily life are:

1) Avoid permanent deformation of joints

2) Reduce joint pain during use

3) Provide alternative ways to deal with daily life needs

4) Reduce further damage to joints, resulting in loss of ability to take care of oneself and work