When painful joints interfere with hobbies
MORE than 28million adults in the UK are thought to be living with chronic pain, which in many cases can be debilitating. It is often hard for others to understand how it feels, which recently led University College London to publish visual representations of chronic pain to help improve the dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals. Drug-free topical gels that provide targeted care for joint wear and tear are available. One manufacturer has undertaken a study looking at the impact pain caused by osteoarthritis has on quality of life. Pharmacist Matt Courtney-Smith says: ‘The study shows that the right approach to pain management can reduce the dependency on pain relief and improve mobility, which has longer-term benefits for health and quality of life.’ The month-long study of 55 people found that limited movement in the joints interfered with hobbies such as gardening, swimming, golf and family time. More than half struggled with walking, which is known to build stronger bones and muscles, reduce pain and protect the cartilage. Following daily use of a natural gel, four in five felt it had improved their joint mobility, while the average steps participants took daily increased by more than 600. At least half also felt they depended less on family and carers. Two in three said they no longer had constant or regular discomfort. And for more than one in three, their quality of sleep had improved. Such gels contain deeppenetrating ingredients in formulas designed to be applied twice daily to help support lubrication in the joints.