It’s Orange Month and appeal time again!

Arthritis New Zealand will be holding its annual appeal week and needs your support.

More than half a million New Zealanders live with arthritis making it the greatest cause of disability in NZ.

The mission of Arthritis New Zealand is to improve the health and wellbeing of people who are affected. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many ways you can manage and relieve your symptoms to reduce the likelihood of it progressing.

One of the most important aspects of self management is exercise. Keeping joints moving increases flexibility and helps reduce pain. Exercise also helps improve muscle strength which will help support and protect painful joints. Walking, Tai Chi, swimming and gentle exercise classes all help.

One easy way to keep joints moving and manage pain was discovered by an Otaki woman some years ago when searching for a way to help her severely affected husband. She made him a soft exerciser which helped relieve his pain, increase his joint mobility, strengthened his legs and improved his balance and walking.

She called it an Aircycle and ever since, people have been using this soft, simple exerciser for both hands and feet.

For all Aircycle orders marked ‘‘Arthritis’’, Arthritis New Zealand receive $5.

Information and orders online www.aircycle.co.nz or through the Arthritis website www.arthritis.org.nz or phone 569 5013.

To donate to the appeal, call 0800 662 462. Aircycles are also in pharmacies