An Occupational Therapist Can Help You Prepare for Your Trip
You may already have figured out some helpful methods and tools to help manage RA pain and other symptoms in your day-to-day life. But you may need a different set of aids for when you’re traveling. A good place to start is to consult an occupational therapist (OT) who works with patients who have rheumatoid arthritis or has other RA experience. They can help you figure out what might help you the most and make recommendations to suit your needs.
“If you want the best advice for your individual situation, you have to talk to somebody who can look at your individual situation and offer guidance for you,” says Schold Davis.
An OT can provide you with a comprehensive plan tailored to your trip. For instance, they can teach you how to conserve energy during active portions of your travel, or share basic joint protection strategies for situations you might not be planning for. These tips can be as simple as having a pencil with an eraser in your bag to help you push an elevator button to avoid repetitive stress on your joints.
“Some of these things sound so obvious, but the clarity of the recommendation helps us use our common sense better,” notes Schold Davis.
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