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By Dr. Karen Becker:    Osteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a condition in which there is inflammation of the synovium, which is a thin layer of tissue that lines the joints and tendon sheaths. Cells within the synovium secrete fluids that lubricate the joints. OA is characterized by progressive, long-term, and permanent deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints. Arthritis is the term used for inflammation of the joints; osteoarthritis describes chronic joint inflammation caused by deterioration of the joint cartilage. Primary osteoarthritis typically doesn’t have an identifiable cause. However, there are many causes for secondary...

Arthritis is a condition that is characterized by pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. There are various types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In severe cases, paralysis may result. Arthritis treatment is available to help one manage the disease but most times that is as far as it goes; there is no known cure for arthritis. Apart from medication, there are also ways that can be used to control arthritis.

Most of these ways include lifestyle changes in terms of diet, physical activities and mind set.

Hands and arthritis

When arthritis affects the hand joints, it makes the hands painful, making it hard for the patients to perform tasks with their hands. This is because it exploits all the strength from the hands leaving them weak, such that one can’t perform even the simplest of tasks. There is also the pain discourages one even the more. By improving the flexibility of the joints, one can be able to restore the lost strength. There are a number of hand exercises that can be used to ease hand pain that results from arthritis. The good news is they are easy to perform and don’t require too much strength. They include:

1. Bend the fingers

Arthritis and joint pain go together. Joint pain is one of the signs of arthritis. This exercise is used to reduce stiffness in the knuckles. Simply, hold up straight your right hand. Bend the thumb towards the palm of your hand. Let it stay in that position for a couple of second then release. Bend the index finger in the same manner and let it stay that way for a while. Release and repeat the same procedures with all the fingers in your right hand and the left one.

2. Lifting fingers

To perform this exercise, ensure you have a flat table with you or a flat raised place where you can place your hands with much ease. With the palm facing down, place your right hand on table. Lift the index finger off the table. Do this slowly and hold on for some few seconds. Repeat the same procedure for all other fingers for both hands.

3. Vertical Bend

With the same table, vertically place your right hand on it with the thumb facing upwards. Let the thumb remain in the same position then bend all the other fingers towards the wrist. Bend them in such a way that they make an “L” shape. Hold then in that position for a few seconds then release. Repeat 10 times then do the same thing with the left hand.

4. Wrist Exercise

The wrist may also get painful and stiff. To ease this, you will need to exercise it. Hold out your right arm with the palm facing the ground. Using the left hand, gently press down the right hand until you feel a stretch in the wrist. Hold for 5 seconds then release. Repeat ten times then shift to the other hand.

5. Bending the Thumb

To exercise the thumb, hold your right hand straight. Bend the thumb toward the palm. Move it towards the pinky finger. Don’t worry if you can reach this finger but go as far as you can. Hold in for a while then release. Repeat for ten times and perform the same procedure with the left hand.

6. Make a Fist

Whenever your hand feels stiff, perform this exercise. Hold up your right hand and make a fist with the thumb outside. Hold the fist in this position for sometime then release until all the fingers are in a straight position. Repeat for ten times then shift to the left hand.

Conclusion: The above exercise will help you perform with much ease some tasks that require the use of hands. Don’t forget to exercise the entire body for much more relief. Some techniques such as yoga and meditation will also help you get relief both physically and mentally. A positive mindset is especially important when you are dealing with this condition. It will help you respond to treatment better and face the condition in a healthier way. Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for more information about hand exercises if you have arthritis.

Author Bio: Shawn Clark is a Health and Fitness Advisor. For the past 5 years, he is providing nutrition counseling, fitness training and health advice all over Phoenix, Arizona. Specializes on beauty, male sexual health, female sexual health, weight loss, detox & dietary supplements. Currently writing a review on Iceland Health Joint Relief. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and on Google+.

Diet, exercise, weight loss, physical therapy are just a few of the ways arthritis sufferers can fight back. If one follows simple ideas in day-to-day life and maintains a healthy lifestyle, then long-term goals of treating arthritis are possible. So, in a bid to make arthritis a little easier for you, today Dr. Shekhar Agarwal, Executive Director and Chief Surgeon at Delhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics gives us the 5 ways to ease arthritis pain. Dietary modification. This includes liberal portions of healthy food. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats in diet, as these lead to weight gain; thus...

This is a fascinating article from the U.K. about a potential new treatment for arthritis using microvesicles in the body's cells to help regenerate cartilage in the joints.   Osteoarthritis affects about eight million people in the UK, and rheumatoid arthritis a further half a million. Unfortunately, there is no cure. The most advanced treatments available today offer only limited relief from joint pain and swelling. A key feature of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis – and the main cause of disability – is cartilage erosion. There are no therapies to treat this aspect of the disease but our research may...

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attacks or strokes [ 7-9-2015 ] Safety Announcement The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is strengthening an existing label warning that non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke. Based on our comprehensive review of new safety information, we are requiring updates to the drug labels of all prescription NSAIDs. As is the case with current prescription NSAID labels, the Drug Facts labels of over-the-counter (OTC) non-aspirin NSAIDs already contain information on heart attack and stroke risk....