Arthritis Ireland's Exercise Book and DVD

Now I’m not claiming to be Paula Radcliffe, but prior to being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis I did a fair bit of exercise.  The year before last I took part in the Playtex Moonwalk - a 25 mile night walk around London, a year or so before that I took part in the MS Society’s 50 mile Big Foot Challenge.  We even have a treadmill.

However, since my arthritis took hold I have been nervous about exercising.  Will it make me worse?  How much (if any) pain should I put up with in the pursuit of a healthier, fitter me?  That’s why I’m pleased to tell you about a new product - Arthritis Ireland’s Exercise Book and DVD ‘Be Active with Arthritis’.  The programme has been designed in consultation with physios who specialise in arthritic conditions so you know you’re in safe hands.  Step by step instructions enable you to maintain and improve your mobility in the comfort of your own home - avoiding any horrible ‘gym moments’.  All proceeds from the sale of this exercise book and DVD go directly to Arthritis Ireland so your order will support a great charity too!

Christmas will soon be upon us, and for many this brings the dread of writing all those Christmas cards!  Pain when writing is a real problem for arthritis sufferers so we thought it was about time that we expanded the writing aids section of our site.  We’ve added two great new products which we feel sure that you’ll love.

The Original Pen Again

The Original Pen Again

The original pen again is a revolutionary no-grip solution to writing.  The body of the pen is shaped like a “Y” creating a cradle for the index finger to rest in, whilst the weight of the hand provides sufficient pressure to write.  An Ergo-Sof version is also available which has a rubber coating for even more comfort.

Dexball Writing Aid

Dexball Writing Aid

The Dexball writing aid was designed with arthritis sufferers in mind.  Made from high density foam, the spherical shape means no more painful gripping, whilst a special insert holds your pen or pencil in place.  Available in large or small dependent upon your grip strength or hand size.

Funky Arthur now have a great range of Switch Sticks at an introductory price of just £32.49.  With 12 different designs you’re certain to find a stick to match every occasion and outfit. 

The creative amongst you can even design your own Switch Stick.  Paint-your-own kits come with a silver aluminium shaft, a set of 4 Humbrol acrylic paints (red, blue, green and yellow) and 2 paintbrushes. The sticks have a brown handle and a rubber base with silver band.  The only thing limiting you is your imagination!

Wow it’s been a busy couple of weeks.  We’ve been working hard to expand our range of arthritis aids and have added a couple of new products which we think you’ll really love.

Functional Hand Splint

The first is the Functional Hand Splint.  This handy gadget has been designed by therapists to turn a whole range of implements into tools you can use without having to make a painful tight grip.  Use it for toothbrushes, cutlery, pens and pencils - whatever you can think of really.  It’s keeps your joints perfectly aligned, relieving presure and pain and we’re sure that you’ll love it.

Arthritic Crutch

The next new product for Funky Arthur is the Arthritic Crutch.  Feedback from our customers suggests that traditional walking sticks and canes can be difficult for painful hands and wrists.  This crutch is specifically designed for people with arthritis and, unlike normal crutches, body weight is supported through a cushioned forearm trough.

We’re always on the look out for great aids so if you find anything that you think we should stock then please let us know.

Angela - still trying to track down some pink Thermoskin Gloves…..

We are really excited to announce the latest addition to our ever expanding range of arthritis aids - Medical Grade Crocs!  If you haven’t tried them before then they are an absolute must.  Supremely comfortable and designed to absorb shock, they minimise the load on your feet, legs, knees, hips and back.

We are stocking two product lines - the Relief Crocs range  and the Silver Fox Crocs Range. 

The Relief range looks like the style of Crocs you have probably seen before, only these are especially designed to give relief to a range of feet problems including plantar fasciitis and bunions. 

The Silver Fox range are a more fashionable alternative with a Mary Jane style heel.  Both ranges have special footbednubs to stimulate circulation and both deliver the comfort you have come to expect from Crocs.

Firstly, I need to make a little confession.  I have never been a potato peeler type of girl, having always preferred to use my trusty vegetable knife for peeling.  However, recently I have been struggling with the arthritis in my wrist and the pressure needed for this most simple of tasks has become unbearable.  So I decided that it was time to road test the OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler.

The first thing that I noticed was how comfortable it is! The Y-peeler has a really wide, soft handle with grips to rest your thumb and fingers on - so no more tight grasping.  The second thing I noticed was how little pressure was needed to peel.  The blades are incredibly sharp (so be careful!) and literally glided across the potato I was testing on.  The blades also rotate meaning that you end up peeling the skin and not three centimetres of potato.

I really can’t recommend this product highly enough, both in terms of look and function - my not so trusty vegetable knife is soon to be consigned to the bin.

We’ve got a great deal on our beautiful height adjustable derby canes.  Reduced to just £16.80, and with a choice of 7 different designs, you’re certain to find a stick to match every occassion and outfit.  Hurry though because stocks are limited.

One of the great perks of my job is that I get to try out the arthritis aids that we sell, and whilst my arthritis is still in the early stages, there are a couple of arthritis aids that I simply can’t do without.  The first is my Etac Relieve Angled Carving Knife.  Don’t be put off by the name, I have used this great knife for all sorts of purposes from slicing bread to slicing cucumbers and it really is a godsend.  Unlike standard knives, the handle of this aid is angled which keeps your wrist in a strong, straight position - the so-called “powergrip” which reduces pressure on the wrist.  Similar great kitchen aids include the Standard Relieve Angled Cutting Knives and the Etac Relieve Cheese Slicer.

The second aid that I can’t do without is my purple wrist splint.  If like me you felt a little downhearted when you saw the splint provided by the NHS, then these brightly coloured wrist splints are ideal.  They look more like sports aids than medical devices but provide great support and, like the NHS splints, have an aluminium support which can be removed if desired.  Tension is provided by the D-Ring system and I find them a lot less sweaty than other similar splints - perfect in this hot weather!

Are there any arthritis aids that you can’t do without?  Do please let us know.

The all-terrain Trionic Rollator is a product that Funky Arthur is really proud to stock.  Not only does it look great, but it performs brilliantly, meaning that you can stop worrying and start enjoying the glorious outdoors.

Traditionally, rollators and walkers have sufferered from instability, getting up curbs was a real problem, especially for those with reduced grip strength.  The Trionic Walker solves this problem magnificently with it’s patented curb climbing system (13cm climbing capacity), air filled tyres and adjustable suspension system. 

The Trionic looks fantastic with a modern 3 wheel design which mimics that of modern baby buggies.  Transporting and storing the Trionic is a breeze too, the rollator comes with detachable wheels and is easily folded down.

For a limited time only, we have reduced the price of the Trionic from £799.99 to just £659.  If you would like to know more or are interested in a free home trial, simply contact us or call on 0121 270 6634 for more details.

If a picture tells a thousand words then we’re hoping that our brand new video product reviews will tell far more.   Starting this month, Funky Arthur will be producing a series of videos designed to demonstrate how arthritis aids work. We’ve uploaded our first one today for the Dycem Jar Opener - hopefully you’ll  find it informative yet informal. 

We’d love your feedback - which arthritis aids would you like to see reviewed?