May is Arthritis Awareness Month – also known as Arthritis Action Month! Hopefully, you’ve been doing your part to spread awareness all month long. As a reminder, here are the ABCs & 123s of Arthritis, to show how you can take action now against arthritis during the month of May….and always! May 1: ADVOCATE! Let your elected … Continue reading »
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The Inconvenient Truths About Life with Arthritis and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
I’ll admit it. I, like many of you, have, at times, grown weary of hearing, “You need to exercise. You need to eat well. You need to think positive thoughts. Sleep is important. You can’t give up,” and so on. But, I recently had a lot of health crises that led me to have a … Continue reading »
Practice Good Posture to Reduce Arthritis Pain and Promote Joint Health – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
“Sit up straight!” “Put your shoulders back!” Your elders likely critiqued your posture when you were a youngster, but turned out, posture is important even for those of us who aren’t walking the runway or attending a fancy tea party. If you have any form of chronic pain or arthritis, using good posture is essential … Continue reading »
The Importance of Range-of-Motion Exercises for Arthritis – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Sometimes, when arthritis is flaring, it is difficult for many of us to workout the way we’d like to. However, doing simple range-of-motion exercises is crucial for joint health. These types of stretches and exercises can be as gentle or as intense as you’d like them to be, and they are very important for keeping … Continue reading »
Self Esteem, Body Image, and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Many of us who live with chronic illness – especially rheumatic and autoimmune illnesses, or conditions that cause chronic pain – can get frustrated at our body at times for seemingly working against us. However, there are other body issues that can come along with being chronically ill. Many medications cause appearance-related side effects: skin … Continue reading »
Self-Defense with Arthritis or Disability – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Everyone is vulnerable to unexpected attacks or assault. Random acts of violence are committed all the time in our world, unfortunately, and so are home invasions and physical altercations. If we’re lucky, we’ll avoid these kinds of situations. However, it helps to be prepared in case of emergency. Are you a woman? Are you … Continue reading »
Music Therapy for Chronic Pain – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
With the Grammy awards upon us and Whitney Houston’s recent passing, it seems appropriate to discuss the physiological effects of music on our bodies. Can music positively affect our perception of pain? Sure, we all love to sing our favorite song in the shower, rock out in the car or as we work out, or … Continue reading »
Can Love Conquer All – Even Arthritis Pain? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Just in time for the steadfastly approaching Valentine’s Day, a recent Arthritis Today article claimed that love maybe can conquer all….even arthritis pain! But, how true is it? According to the article, “a study of 15 people (8 women and 7 men) in the first stages of romance found that love activates the same reward … Continue reading »
Advocate for Arthritis! Learn About the 2012 Advocacy Summit & E-Advocate Opportunities – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Ignoring arthritis is unacceptable. Right? Right! So, it’s time to let Congress know where you stand on arthritis and arthritis-related health issues. So take a stand, raise your voice, make a difference, and let the United States know that arthritis is unacceptable! The annual Advocacy Summit brings together advocates, young and old, from across the … Continue reading »
25 Ways to Stay Active Indoors – Even if you Have Arthritis! – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
It is often hard for people with arthritis to exercise as frequently as we want to — and it is even more difficult when we are confined indoors during these winter months, which, for many, are colder and with worse weather. But, have no worries, have no fear — here is a list of 25 … Continue reading »
