| A two year study conducted by a team of | | | | lower than similar toilet lifting systems and is easy to |
| researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in | | | | assemble and install. |
| Rotterdam, the Netherlands recently concluded that | | | | When arthritis of the hip begins to cause pain, |
| the use of glucosamine has no meaningful effect on | | | | enjoying a warm bath, or at least getting in and out |
| the pain in patients with arthritis of the hip, as posted | | | | of it, can be virtually impossible. Depending on the |
| in the Annals of Internal Medicine. | | | | setup of your bathroom and the severity of your |
| Dr. Rianne M. Rozendaal and colleagues randomly | | | | arthritis, there are two options available. The first |
| assigned 222 patients in the early stages of hip | | | | would be a bath lift, such as the Sterling 303. The |
| arthritis to either glucosamine or a placebo. The | | | | Sterling 303 is more affordable than most bath lifts |
| research team took careful precautions to ensure the | | | | that are advertised on television and in magazines, |
| integrity of their results, including requiring that the | | | | yet it has more features. In addition to the side flaps |
| supplier of the glucosamine double check that the | | | | that make transferring in and out of the tub much |
| tablets were of the correct dose. In spite of the | | | | easier, the Sterling 303 Bath Lift includes a sealed |
| carefully controlled conditions, the treatment had no | | | | rechargeable battery, a reclining backrest, and thick |
| significant effect on pain scores, stiffness, or physical | | | | covers over the seat and back for added comfort. |
| function. | | | | The Sterling Bath Lift can be folded for travel or |
| Many consumers have turned to glucosamine as a | | | | storage and features suction cups on the bottom for |
| way to treat hip arthritis pain as an alternative to | | | | stability and security without the need for a |
| pain medications. However, despite various studies, | | | | permanent installation. |
| definitive proof of glucosamine being effective as a | | | | For a more permanent solution to hip pain while |
| treatment for pain associated with arthritis of the hip | | | | bathing, the Safety Bath Walk-In Bathtub can be |
| is lacking. So that leaves consumers wishing to avoid | | | | installed in place of your current bathtub. The only |
| frequent use of pain medication with a big question: | | | | walk-in bathtub that features a "swing out" door |
| "If glucosamine does not help, then what does?" | | | | which will not leak, the Safety Bath comes with all of |
| If you wish to avoid unnecessary strain on your hip, | | | | the necessary plumbing fixtures. It uses your home's |
| and in doing so relieve hip pain, a variety of | | | | hot water as opposed to a separate water heater to |
| independent living products are available that allow | | | | save energy costs, uses less water than a standard |
| you to continue enjoying your usual lifestyle. Many | | | | bathtub, and eliminates the need to step over the |
| who suffer from hip arthritis are unaware that by | | | | edge of a tub. Those with arthritis of the hip will |
| making small adjustments to their everyday routine, | | | | benefit the most from the optional heated seat and |
| they can enjoy a relatively pain free lifestyle without | | | | 12 jet massager. The Safety Bath can be installed |
| the use of narcotics. | | | | with very little trouble by any qualified plumber. |
| Sitting and Standing in the Living Room and Kitchen | | | | Getting In and Out of Your Car |
| Arthritis of the hip can make sitting down and | | | | Whether you drive a compact car or a large SUV, |
| standing up a painful experience, and make standing | | | | arthritis of the hip can make getting out of your |
| for a long period of time virtually impossible. With the | | | | vehicle a painful experience. For starters, twisting in |
| correct products around the home, however, you | | | | your seat to find the proper position to stand up or |
| can go about your normal routine with very little | | | | situate yourself in your car can be excruciating. |
| change to the lifestyle you have grown accustomed | | | | However, a simple and inexpensive device such as |
| to. | | | | the Portable Swivel Seat Cushion eliminates the need |
| Standing up from a chair or couch can be especially | | | | to twist by allowing you to rotate easily. It features |
| difficult, especially if soft foam causes you to sink | | | | an attractive grey or camel-colored velour cover |
| low into the seat. Not every couch is "hip arthritis | | | | which can be easily removed for washing and a |
| friendly": couches rarely sit high off the ground and | | | | comfortable polyfoam padded seat. |
| often the armrests are not positioned in a way that | | | | Once you are in a position to stand up, the Handybar |
| makes them ideal for support when you stand up. | | | | 3 in 1 Car Aid provides a sturdy, conveniently-placed |
| The CouchCane is an easy to install solution that | | | | handle for you to lift yourself up with. Simply insert |
| provides you with a sturdy, comfortably positioned | | | | the smaller end into the striker on your car's door |
| handle that you can lift yourself up with. The weight | | | | pillar; the specially designed tip holds the Handybar |
| of your couch holds it in place while the rubber feet | | | | firmly in place while you stand up. The ergonomically |
| on its base prevent slipping and protect your floor. | | | | designed grip is easy on your hand and wrist. |
| The CouchCane features an adjustable height hand | | | | Pain Relief Through Far Infrared Heat Therapy |
| grip, quality steel components, and an adjustable base | | | | Heating pads are the oldest form of pain relief and |
| that fits either end of a variety of couch sizes and | | | | the most effective. Everyone from arthritis sufferers |
| styles. | | | | to athletes relies on heating pads to soothe muscle |
| If you lack hand and arm strength, or if you have | | | | and/or joint pain. While traditional electric heating pads |
| arthritis in your hand as well, a handle to lift yourself | | | | and microwave heating pads are still quite popular, |
| up will not be of much help. Pride Lift Chairs make an | | | | the most effective way to get deep, penetrating |
| attractive addition to any room's décor and | | | | heat to your muscles and joints is by using far |
| smoothly lift the user to an almost standing position. | | | | infrared heat therapy. |
| Available in a variety of styles, such as Casual Line, | | | | Infrared is a band of light that we perceive as heat. |
| Gentle Line, and Luxury Line, Pride Lift Chairs feature | | | | Divided into three segments (near, middle, and far), |
| an assortment of high quality fabrics in a wide range | | | | infrared heat makes up the majority of the sun's |
| of colors. The soft upholstery and comfortable arm | | | | energy output. Through a process called "conversion", |
| position make them comfortable enough to sleep in | | | | far infrared has the ability to heat objects such as |
| while the durable scissor-style mechanism and | | | | human tissue without heating the air in between. This |
| powerful motor ensure years of operation. The | | | | effect can be felt on a partly cloudy day; when a |
| Luxury Line lift chairs allow the user to adjust the | | | | cloud obscures the sun, you immediately feel cooler |
| angle of the backrest and ottoman separately for a | | | | even though the air temperature has not had enough |
| custom fit, which allows those with hip arthritis to | | | | time to change. The cloud blocked the far infrared |
| find the leg position that best works them. | | | | rays from penetrating your body. |
| Cooking, working at a counter, or washing dishes can | | | | Far infrared heat therapy has taken the traditional |
| require you to stand for long periods of time, which | | | | heating pad and made it even more effective as a |
| can be extremely painful for your arthritic hip. | | | | way to combat pain through heat. The Thermotex |
| Barstools can provide the necessary height for your | | | | Infrared Heating Pad combines far infrared heating |
| work, but typically have very uncomfortable seats | | | | elements with a soft, machine washable, nylon and |
| and have a tendency to leave your legs in | | | | cotton cover that features convenient velcro straps |
| uncomfortable positions. The Drive Adjustable Arms | | | | to help hold it in place. Unlike standard heating pads |
| All Purpose Stool is a cost effective alternative that | | | | that are limited in their heating ability without causing |
| gives you adjustable height, a soft padded seat, and | | | | discomfort, the Thermotex Infrared Heating Pad can |
| a seating angle that allows your feet to rest on the | | | | penetrate your body up to three inches while |
| ground. By keeping your feet on the ground as | | | | keeping the pad's surface temperature at less than |
| opposed to dangling, the all purpose stool takes the | | | | 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides being great for |
| pressure off of your hips and knees. It makes an | | | | arthritis and hip pain, the Thermotex Infrared Heating |
| attractive addition to your kitchen and is easily | | | | Pad is ideal for fibromyalgia, back pain, and tendonitis. |
| cleaned with a damp sponge. | | | | The most effective and most relaxing form of far |
| Bathroom Safety and Convenience | | | | infrared heat therapy is a far infrared sauna. Unlike |
| Because hip arthritis limits the use of your legs and | | | | conventional saunas that can reach temperatures in |
| makes standing or stepping very painful, the | | | | excess of 220 degrees Fahrenheit, far infrared |
| bathroom can be the most difficult room in your | | | | saunas stay below 150 degrees and stay ventilated |
| home to navigate. Getting in and out the bathtub, | | | | with fresh air as opposed to stale, humid air. This |
| standing up in the shower, and getting on and off | | | | allows for longer, more effective treatments and |
| the toilet are activities that put extra strain on your | | | | additional amenities such as a CD player and reading |
| hip joints. | | | | light (both included). Far infrared saunas use a fraction |
| The Pride Lift Chair is great for getting you on your | | | | of the electricity that a standard sauna. They are |
| feet in the living room, but don't you wish you had | | | | also much easier to assemble and heat up faster. The |
| something like that for the bathroom? The Ergonomic | | | | penetrating far infrared heat of this sauna not only |
| AirLift Bedside Commode is exactly what you are | | | | eases hip pain, but it also increases circulation and |
| looking for. Functioning as either a stand-alone | | | | removes toxins from your skin. |
| commode or a toilet-mounted seat, the AirLift | | | | Relief of Hip Pain Does Not Have to Come From Pills |
| features air powered struts that give the user an | | | | The recent study conducted at the Erasmus Medical |
| extra boost when standing up. The struts are | | | | Center further proves that taking pain relievers and |
| adjustable based upon the individual's weight. The | | | | supplements is not the only way to deal with arthritis |
| Ergonomic AirLift is also constructed with ergonomic | | | | of the hip. By making simple adjustments to your |
| armrests, a comfortable seating surface, and a | | | | lifestyle, which can benefit you in other ways, you |
| specially designed "Guest Seat" stand toilet seat that | | | | can reduce the strain on your hip joints and enjoy a |
| can be easily mounted in place of the AirLift when | | | | pleasant, independent, and less painful lifestyle. |
| company is expected. The AirLift is priced much | | | | |