Arthritis has been around for a long time: in-fact, palaeontologists have found skeletons that suggest dinosaurs could have been suffering from septic arthritis 70 million years ago! References to arthritis can be found in texts dating back to 4500 BC, and it appears to have affected prehistoric people as well as being found in Egyptian mummies.
Today, arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people around the world. It causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the joints, making everyday tasks difficult and limiting mobility. Living with arthritis is certainly challenging, but modern technology has given us new ways to manage arthritis better than ever before. In this article, we will explore some of the smart devices and apps that can help people living with arthritis cope with their condition and improve their quality of life.
Smart Watches
One of the smart devices that can help people with arthritis is a smart watch. A smart watch is a wearable device that can track various aspects of your health and fitness, such as your heart rate, blood pressure, steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality and more. You can also use it to set reminders, alarms, timers and notifications for your appointments, medications and other important events.
A smart watch can help you manage your arthritis by:
-
Encouraging you to stay active and exercise regularly, which can reduce joint pain and stiffness, improve muscle strength and flexibility, and prevent weight gain and other health problems.
-
Helping you monitor your progress and achievements, which can boost your motivation and confidence.
-
Allowing you to customise your goals and activities according to your abilities and preferences, which can make exercise more enjoyable and sustainable.
-
Providing you with feedback and guidance on how to improve your performance and avoid injuries.
-
Connecting you with other people who have similar goals or challenges, which can provide you with support and inspiration.
Voice Activated Devices
Another type of smart device that can help people with arthritis is a voice activated device. A voice activated device contains a software program or hardware device that has the ability to understand the human voice and respond to your commands. You can use it to control other smart devices in your home, such as lights, thermostats, cameras, speakers and more. You can also use it to play music, ask it to type messages for you (the results are sometimes a bit hit and miss however) and so on.
A voice activated device can help you manage your arthritis by:
-
Reducing the need to use your hands or fingers to operate other devices or type on keyboards or touch screens, which can reduce the risk of pain and repetitive strain injury (RSI).
-
Making it easier to access information or entertainment without having to look at screens or read small print, which can strain your eyes or cause headaches.
-
Saving you time and energy by simplifying or automating tasks that would otherwise require more effort or steps.
-
Providing you with convenience and comfort by allowing you to control your environment or access services from anywhere in your home.
Smart Phones
A third type of smart device that can help people with arthritis is a smart phone. A smartphone is a device that combines the functions of a phone, a computer and a camera. You can use it to make calls, send messages, browse the web, take photos, play games and more. You can also use it to download and use various apps that can help you manage your arthritis or enhance your well-being.
A smartphone can help you manage your arthritis by:
-
Providing you with access to information and resources that can help you learn more about your condition, treatments, coping strategies and research opportunities.
-
Allowing you to track and record your symptoms, medications, activities, mood and other factors that affect your arthritis.
-
Offering you tools and guidance that can help you manage your pain, stress, sleep, diet and exercise.
-
Connecting you with other people who have arthritis or similar conditions, who can offer you support, advice, encouragement and friendship.
-
Enabling you to participate in online communities or groups that share your interests or hobbies, which can provide you with enjoyment, stimulation and social interaction.
-
Synchronise your smartphone to all manner of other devices as well and they can act as things like a doorbell camera. So if you’re in pain and there are relentless rings on the door you can immediately know which ones actually need you to answer, which you can ask to leave a parcel in a safe place and which you can outright ignore.
Here are some innovative apps which can make your life easier when you have arthritis
-
Pathways aims to empower people with pain conditions with techniques that can result in lasting pain relief. They offer a pain relief programme and wellbeing masterclasses as well as pain relief meditations and many exercise routines designed for all abilities.
-
If you have osteoarthritis, the Jointfully app can help you track your symptoms and learn better ways to manage your condition. It includes physical therapy tutorials and many tracking options so you can start to see what does and doesn’t work for you.
-
If you struggle with knee pain, Knee Pain Relieving Exercises does pretty much what the name suggests. The app has a range of specific exercises designed to strengthen the knee and surrounding muscles to improve mobility and reduce pain.
-
Yoga is great for strengthening, conditioning and increasing the mind-body connection to decrease anxiety and increase wellbeing. Down Dog is a highly customisable yoga app where you can choose the level, type of yoga, duration, specific areas to focus on, music and so on.
-
Did you know that you can use your smartphone to programme a kettle? All you need to do is fill the kettle with water and it uses voice recognition technology to save you using your hands.
-
You can now buy smart trainers with laces that can be controlled via an app, either manually or by using voice commands!
-
Make losing your keys a thing of the past with smart locks. These locks are controlled by your smartphone so you don’t need to use a key, which can be really helpful for people with arthritis in the wrist and hands. Some also come with voice recognition so you don’t have to use your hands at all. You can also use the app to check if your door is locked and to let other people in, which saves you the trouble of going up and down stairs or moving at all!
-
They may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but voice controlled bins, water faucets, smart window blinds, and even smart fridges that can online shop for you exist and can make your life easier.
Smart devices and apps can help us stay active, manage our pain, access information, connect with others and enjoy ourselves. By using these tools wisely and regularly, we can make living with arthritis easier and more fulfilling. Which smart devices do you use to manage your arthritis? Let us know on Facebook.
