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Founded in 1942, Arthritis Action is the UK charity offering an integrated self-management approach, to help address the physical and mental health symptoms of living with arthritis.
Living with a long-term condition like arthritis can be emotionally taxing. Coping with symptoms that impact daily life, and facing frequent pain can be difficult to accept, taking a toll on the mental wellbeing of an individual, and potentially leading to low mood and stress.
Looking after your health should mean that you manage both your physical and mental health, to enable you to live a fuller life.
Hobbies can help us to distract from the pain of arthritis by holding our attention on something else. It doesn’t matter what the activity is, as long as it is something you find interesting and fun. Doing something you enjoy is a great way of creating Endorphins, which are natural ‘feel good’ hormones which help lift your mood and improve how you’re feeling.
Sometimes it feels like arthritis defines us or takes over our lives. Having a Men’s Shed to go to means you can connect with other people based on your shared interest.
Exercise does not have to be very vigorous to produce benefits. Even gentle stretching or Tai Chi can improve balance and help keep the joints moving, and simple walking can dramatically improve fitness and reduce joint pain, as we work the muscles that support and protect our joints.
In a report entitled “The impact of community Men’s Sheds on the physical health of their users”, based on a 2019 study of 62 Shedders in Sheds from Scotland, Dr Danielle Kelly and Dr Artur Steiner found that due to most members being over 60 years old, Shedders found that being able to attend a local Shed and increase their movement helped to ease aches and pains from physical health issues, such as arthritis.
Many of those members reported that attending a Shed and taking part in activities gave them a welcome distraction from their symptoms of illness and pain, and a break from thinking about medical treatment.
Taking part in practical Shed activities and moving about the Shed was also felt to increase member’s mobility where they may have previously lost movement due to illness or injury.
‘If I didn’t come here I feel as if all my bones and ankles stiffen up and you can’t move …. Your hands stiffen up, but the mere fact you’re working with tools in here, they’re quite slack. Tuesday we’re not in here and I feel as though my legs stiffen up, my hands stiffen up. You come in here and you’re working about, they loosen up because you’re using them all the time.’
If you have a story about how Men’s Sheds have helped with your Arthritis, please contact us at newsletter@ukmsa.org.uk or call 0300 772 9626