Today, arthritis is the chronic disease that affects most people in Denmark. About 700,000 suffer from arthritis in one form or another and there are more than 200 different conditions of arthritis. Common to these variations of the disease is that they affect our tendons, joints, muscles and bones. This results in stiffness, sore muscles, pain, fatigue and possible functional impairment.
Two of the most common forms of arthritis are arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthrosis – also called osteoarthritis is a chronic form of rheumatic disease in which the affected joints are broken down over time. You typically see that the disease is more represented in older people, but you don’t have an explanation here. Whether this is because the disease has been many years in the making, or whether it is due to the fact that older people have weaker joints and are more susceptible to the disease, is not known.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a malfunction in the body’s immune defense. It is an autoimmune disease, which causes the body’s white blood cells to attack healthy cells. Rheumatoid arthritis will typically cause pain, stiff joints and affect the body’s mobility. There is no explanation for why people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis, only conjecture and theories.
Arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis have in common that they share several symptoms and that there are no concrete explanations for these two diseases. They also share another important aspect: The way to relieve the pain in the long term is the same. It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You need to keep your body and joints going with regular exercise. Make sure to eat a healthy and varied diet, and avoid smoking.
These are also both forms of arthritis that can affect the hands and fingers. Because of this, it can be really difficult for many to cope with everyday chores without help. Fortunately, there are several assistive devices that can improve quality of life for people affected by theses diseases.
Handigood’s Easy-Up is a great assistive device for people with arthritis in the fingers. When Handigood was at the Health and Rehab fair in November 2021, we met Jette from the arthritis association, who had suffered from arthritis in her fingers for many years. Jette tried our Easy-Up, and for the first time in a long time, she was able to open a soda on her own.
In addition to Easy-Up being an excellent assistive device for arthritis, it can also help a wide range of people with other kinds of challenges and disabilities involving arms or hands, such as amputation, brain damage, muscle weakness, cramps, etc. With Handigood’s growing range of Easy-Up accessories, the assistive device can be used for much more than to open sodas. For example, it can be difficult to peel an egg with arthritis in the fingers, but with Easy-Egg (egg cup) it is much easier. Easy-Egg is an egg cup that is held fast through vacuum from the Easy-Up to make it easy to peel an egg with one hand.
After being selected and tested by the Danish Rheumatism Association’s experts in collaboration with people with arthritis, Easy-Up is now available on the Danish Rheumatism Association’s webshop.
The Danish Rheumatism Association works to improve the quality of life of people affected by arthritis. Research and improving treatment of arthritis are absolutely essential to achieving that goal. The Danish Rheumatism Association works to raise awareness about arthritis, by influencing decision-makers, and creating changes where needed to improve the conditions for people with arthritis. Approximately every 8th person in Denmark lives with disease in the joints, back or muscles.
The Danish Rheumatism Association’s webshop – At the Danish Rheumatism Association’s webshop you can find many types of aids all types of arthritis.
Fnug.dk – Fnug is a danish youth association for young people affected by arthritis.
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Portal – An information portal for people affected by rheumatoid arthritis.
Hmi basen.dk – At Hmi basen you can search through their database for many different kinds of assistive devices.
