The term arthritis encompasses over 200 different conditions within the body. At present, there are over 10 million people in the UK living with arthritis, but surprisingly 15,000 of those are young people and children. Premiere Healthcare has created a helpful guide including symptoms, how to improve quality of life and how we can help support patients living with arthritis.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint. Symptoms tend to appear over time however in some cases they can be brought on suddenly. Inflammation is a key part to the body’s healing process, however, with arthritis, it results in an immune system attack. There are many causes which can bring on the onset of arthritis which include injury, family history, age or an infection.

Early symptoms

Joint Stiffness
Tiredness
Mild fever
Skin rash
A general feeling of being unwell

If any of the above starts to affect your everyday life or cause ongoing pain and discomfort, it is important you visit your GP as soon as possible as early intervention can help.

HydroFlex chair

The good news is there are important changes you can make to your lifestyle to help improve the symptoms and increase your wellbeing.

Rest and exercise – Whilst the joint is inflamed rest for a short while to bring the swelling down. Once this has improved, start doing gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to keep the joints supple.

Healthy Diet- A balanced and nutritious diet with a maintained weight programme is important. Avoid eating lots of meat and opt for plenty of fruit and vegetables full of vitamins and minerals.

Stress – Having arthritis can be exhausting and painful. There are plenty of support available and simple relaxation techniques will help combat stress and ease muscle aches.

How Premiere can help

At Premiere we specialise in chairs for the elderly. Arthritis alongside side other degenerative diseases requires the right support to ensure our patients are comfortable in their home or at a hospital. We recommend you take one of our FREE seating assessments initially to help gain an understanding of your preferences and comfort requirements.

To find out more about how Premiere Healthcare can support you, please get in touch.