While gout is best controlled with weight loss and changes in diet and lifestyle, occupational therapy can also help. The therapies recommended for people with gout include regular stretching and exercise to help prevent flare-ups and aids like braces and crutches to ease pressure on joints during a gout attack.
Regular Exercise
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that's the case with gout. In addition to avoiding foods that lead to the buildup of uric acid in joints, which causes the pain and inflammation of gout, you should also exercise. Regular exercise improves blood flow, keeps joints flexible and helps control weight (overweight people are most susceptible to gout). One of the best exercises is swimming in a heated pool or any water-based exercise, since it is low impact and reduces pressure on joints that could be effected by gout. Walking and cycling are also good alternatives.
Assistive Devices
When you have a gout flare-up, the key is to reduce pressure on the affected joints. Since the most common site of gout attacks is the big toe, it could be a good idea to use a cane, a brace or crutches during a gout flare-up. Putting less pressure on a joint will help it heal faster and speed your recovery from a flare-up. Also wear loose-fitting clothing or footwear to keep pressure off the afflicted area. And if the area around your big toe is swollen and painful, consider wearing a steel-toed boot to protect if from being stepped on if you're going out and expect to be in a crowd. The same approach can be taken to protect swollen joints in other areas of the body with padding.
Stretching Exercises
Another way to preempt gout attacks and make them more bearable when they occur is to stretch regularly. Simple stretches like knee bends and bending down to touch your toes can loosen up joints and keep them stronger and more flexible. The same can be said for range of motion exercises like yoga, pilates or tai chi, which stretch muscles and help relieve stress. Stretching is particularly effective if gout affects large joints like the knee, elbow or ankle. And always incorporate a proper diet into any exercise regime that restricts foods with purines (red meat and most shellfish) and keeps alcohol to a minimum, especially beer.
Tags: during gout, gout attacks, gout best, gout flare-up, like knee