Every home owner knows that those home maintenance projects never end. If you have arthritis, however, the pain and stiffness involved in completing those projects may cause them to become overwhelming. Here are some techniques to use so you can keep up with those basic home maintenance jobs without putting strain on your joints.

First, make sure your joints are loosened up and in shape for a project before attempting it. This is especially important if you are planning on beginning a task first thing in the morning, as your joints may take an hour or longer to loosen up after you get out of bed. Before you start a task, make sure you have taken your medication, completed your stretching exercises, eaten breakfast, or done whatever it is you do to get yourself in shape for the day.

Next, be sure to follow work simplification and energy conservation principles as you work. Take frequent short rest breaks before you get tired. This will allow you to pace yourself through larger jobs and let you get more done. Gather all the tools you need for a job before you begin to eliminate running back and forth, causing you to expend extra energy. Sit to work when possible to conserve energy. Push or pull heavy objects when possible instead of lifting them, using a wheeled cart if you have access to one. These are just a few examples of work simplification and energy conservation principles. Please refer to my articles, Arthritis and Work Simplification and Arthritis and Energy Conservation for more information about these techniques.

Joint protection is the next important principle to follow during home maintenance tasks. Be sure to keep your joints in neutral positions as you work whenever possible. When you do need to turn or twist your body to complete a task, do not hold that position for a long time, as this places strain on the joint involved.

When working on home maintenance projects, make sure to keep your back straight and in line. Bend at your knees when lifting heavy objects, keeping your back straight. If you must carry a heavy load, hold the heavy load close to your body with your forearms under the load. Spread your fingers out to distribute the weight across the joints of your hands. By using this lifting and carrying technique, the strain of the work is distributed across many joints, decreasing the overall strain and reducing pain and swelling after the job is done.

Using hand tools can also place strain on joints. When using long handled tools, make sure to protect your back by keeping it straight and using your knees to bend. When using smaller tools, keep your wrist in neutral when possible (thumb pointed up). If you need to use a twisting motion, try to twist toward your thumb. If you are using hand tools to dig or work on flooring, place a pad under your knees.

Ergonomic tools are a great way to protect your joints while working on home maintenance projects. These tools are designed to keep your joints in line as you work, reducing the strain on your body. You don't have to think about your body position as much because the tool is designed to do it for your. Ergonomically designed hand tools, power tools, garden tools, contractor tools, even snow shovels are readily available through larger home and garden centers. If you do not know what ergonomically designed tools look like, read the labels on tools and look for words like "ergonomic handle", "ergonomically designed", "shock reduction", and "antivibe" (reduces vibrations from impact).

Finally, if a home maintenance project is just too large, don't be too proud to ask for help. If you don't have family or friends you can rely on to assist you with heavier work, contact your local school, church, or community organizations. These places may be able to put you in contact with individuals willing to volunteer to assist you with home maintenance projects. It is much better to ask for a little help then to permanently injure yourself attempting a job that is too large for one person.

Therefore, while keeping a home maintained can be cumbersome when you have arthritis, by following these techniques to protect your joints and simplify your tasks, you can manage these jobs. By following these principles you will get more done throughout your day.