Of all the disabilities that people suffer with as they age, arthritis is one of the most common. According to the NHS, one in ten people in the UK have some form of arthritic condition and this is not confined to old people, with around 15,000 children among the sufferers.
Nonetheless, age is a major factor for many in the problem, as the wear and tear on joints over time can make things worse, as can injuries sustained over the course of many years.
With the condition making joints painful to bend, the last thing anyone wants is to be in discomfort just because they are climbing into a bath. At the same time, however, nobody will want to be denied the pleasant benefits of a lovely hot soak, not just to get clean but to ease the pain in the muscles and joints.
If you are a sufferer, full length walk in baths could be a great solution, since this means getting into them is easy and you can stretch out and relax in them.
The most common form of the condition is osteoarthritis, which affects nine million Britons and tends to be suffered by those aged over 40. Rheumatoid arthritis is less common, with around 400,000 UK sufferers, with this again tending to set in during middle age.
Less common, but associated conditions include ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, gout and polymyalgia rheumatica, the last of which is confined almost exclusively to those age over 50.
Whatever the particular form of arthritis, it should never stop you from being able to use – and enjoy – your bathing time. But that does mean you will need to have a bathroom set up effectively to make this an easier thing to do.
Being able to walk in and out of the bath is one thing that can help, but so too can having a grab rail. Taps can also be adjusted with levers rather than knobs, so it is easier to turn the water on and off.
A particularly useful item to have is a non-slip mat, which is crucial when you step in or out of the bath, while you may even find having a seat in the shower or bath to take the weight off some joints can be very helpful.
Once in the bath, the warmth will do you loads of good, with extra relief coming from substances like Epsom salts, to help relax your muscles and ease your pains and strains due to their high magnesium content.
Such moments of joy and relief can be hugely enjoyable for sufferers and that is why you should always make sure you do all you can to have your bathroom prepared and set up to enable you to use it as easily as possible. If you need extra grant help from your local authority you should definitely seek it.
By doing this, you will be able to maintain a regular bathroom routine, gain some relief from your symptoms, and boost your quality of life.