Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAssistive DevicesIn the BedroomIn the BathroomIn the KitchenIn the Home OfficeHouse-Wide AdjustmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Assistive Devices
In the Bedroom
In the Bathroom
In the Kitchen
In the Home Office
House-Wide Adjustments
Frequently Asked Questions
Home upgrades and assistive devices can make daily life easier when you haveankylosing spondylitis(AS). These can include canes, walkers, specialized car mirrors, and shower handles.
Ankylosing spondylitisis a type of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis of the spine (spinal spondylitis). With ankylosing spondylitis, vertebrae (bones of the spine) and joints connecting the spine and hips become stiff and painful due to a mistaken immune reaction that causes inflammation.
People with AS can experience back and hip pain and limited mobility. Shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, and joints in the hands and feet can also be affected.Treating AS can include physical therapy, medications, and, in rare cases, spinal surgery.
This article discusses devices and home upgrades that can help manage ankylosing spondylitis.
Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images
Assistive Devices for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Assistive devices for ankylosing spondylitis can help with monitoring symptoms, managing and preventing pain, and performing activities of daily living.
Caution: Getting Help With Assistive DevicesBefore purchasing or renting assistive devices or modifying your home, speak to a healthcare provider about the best aids for you and your AS symptoms. In addition, your insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid office can provide information on cost savings for both home modifications and medically assisted devices.
Caution: Getting Help With Assistive Devices
Before purchasing or renting assistive devices or modifying your home, speak to a healthcare provider about the best aids for you and your AS symptoms. In addition, your insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid office can provide information on cost savings for both home modifications and medically assisted devices.
Medical Devices
Medical devices to help with AS-related hip, back, and joint pain might include:
Pain-Management Devices
Devices that can help manage AS pain during and after daily activities include:
Reachers
Reachers aremobility devicesthat can help with grabbing objects without bending, stretching, or twisting to retrieve them. They help extend reach and range of motion for people with AS while easing pressure on the joints. Reachers are usually lightweight and operate with a handle for the user to press, which then causes a grabber on the other end to grip and release items.
Grips
Grips make it easier to open jars and bottles. They ease pressure on joints in the hand, which can help prevent pain.
Bedroom Modifications
Joint pain can make getting a good night’s sleep and getting ready for the day difficult for people with spinal arthritis. Here are modifications and devices that can help.
Supportive Sleep Setup
It’s advised to avoid devices that limit sleeping to one position, which can increase joint pain from AS. But there are methods of finding comfort in apreferred sleeping position. These include:
Dressing Devices
Several devices and products can help people with AS get dressed, including:
Bathroom Upgrades
Upgrading your bathroom can be important when living with AS, considering the risk of slipping. Bathroom devices can also help with bathing and other tasks. Here are some suggestions:
Kitchen Tools and Arrangements
Making adjustments in the kitchen, including adding easy-to-use tools, can make cooking safer and simpler.
Kitchen upgrades that can help people with arthritis include:
Kitchen tools that might be useful to someone with joint pain include:
Home Office Tips
For navigating a home office, it might help someone managing joint pain to add the following totheir work life:
For general mobility around their home, someone with AS might consider the following.
Handrails
Handrails and grab bars can be added throughout the home to limit strain for people with joint pain, including in or around:
Raised Seats
People with AS might have difficulty switching between sitting and standing or remaining comfortable in seats. Raising seats to limit motion or having electronic adjustable seats could help, including with:
Nonslip Mats
Nonslip mats can be used throughout a home to keep people with AS safe from slips and falls. This can include mats in the bath, kitchen, office, and well-trafficked areas.
Modifying Room and Item Locations
Consider these changes:
Added Convenience
These changes may add convenience:
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a spinal arthritis that causes inflammation in the vertebrae (spinal bones) and hips, along with other joints in the body. In addition to medication, there are ways to manage daily life with AS with home modifications, assistive devices, and other tools.
Reachers, grips, nonslip mats, raised or electronic seats, grab rails, and extension cords can be implemented throughout a home to help people with AS. Voice-activated and touch technology, such as Google Voice or touch lamps, can also help with preventing AS-related joint pain, while personal alarm systems could send out alerts in case of a fall.
Using a sturdy mattress and pillows for knees in the bedroom, long-handled brushes and shower benches in the bathroom, and placing most-used dishes and kitchen tools on the counter are also examples of home modifications that can assist with managing AS.
In the home office, foam supports for your wrists, placing monitors at eye level, props for reading phones and tablets, and larger pens can help people with AS continue their working lives.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Spondylitis Association of America recommends four types of exercises for people with AS: range of motion and stretching (moving joints through complete motions), cardiovascular (exercises that increase heart rate three to five times a week for at least 25 minutes a day), strengthening (strengthening your core and weight lifting), and balance (focusing on stability while moving or staying still for at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week).Learn MoreHow to Exercise When You Have ArthritisAccording to the Arthritis Foundation, while a brace could prevent bending or reaching, it might not be practical. Maintaining straight posture, sleeping on a flat back without a pillow, and exercising can all help with back pain or mobility issues related to AS. A physical therapist can determine the best exercises for you.Learn More8 Back StretchesHealth insurance, including Medicare, can cover some medically-necessary devices and home modifications. These include walkers, canes, custom orthotics (like insoles), grab bars, ramps, door openers and doorbells, bathtub changes, faucet modifications, workstation changes, or cabinet modifications. Benefits and coverage can depend on your state’s insurance rules and your plan.Learn MoreMobility Aids - What People With Arthritis Need to Know
The Spondylitis Association of America recommends four types of exercises for people with AS: range of motion and stretching (moving joints through complete motions), cardiovascular (exercises that increase heart rate three to five times a week for at least 25 minutes a day), strengthening (strengthening your core and weight lifting), and balance (focusing on stability while moving or staying still for at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week).Learn MoreHow to Exercise When You Have Arthritis
The Spondylitis Association of America recommends four types of exercises for people with AS: range of motion and stretching (moving joints through complete motions), cardiovascular (exercises that increase heart rate three to five times a week for at least 25 minutes a day), strengthening (strengthening your core and weight lifting), and balance (focusing on stability while moving or staying still for at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week).
Learn MoreHow to Exercise When You Have Arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation, while a brace could prevent bending or reaching, it might not be practical. Maintaining straight posture, sleeping on a flat back without a pillow, and exercising can all help with back pain or mobility issues related to AS. A physical therapist can determine the best exercises for you.Learn More8 Back Stretches
According to the Arthritis Foundation, while a brace could prevent bending or reaching, it might not be practical. Maintaining straight posture, sleeping on a flat back without a pillow, and exercising can all help with back pain or mobility issues related to AS. A physical therapist can determine the best exercises for you.
Learn More8 Back Stretches
Health insurance, including Medicare, can cover some medically-necessary devices and home modifications. These include walkers, canes, custom orthotics (like insoles), grab bars, ramps, door openers and doorbells, bathtub changes, faucet modifications, workstation changes, or cabinet modifications. Benefits and coverage can depend on your state’s insurance rules and your plan.Learn MoreMobility Aids - What People With Arthritis Need to Know
Health insurance, including Medicare, can cover some medically-necessary devices and home modifications. These include walkers, canes, custom orthotics (like insoles), grab bars, ramps, door openers and doorbells, bathtub changes, faucet modifications, workstation changes, or cabinet modifications. Benefits and coverage can depend on your state’s insurance rules and your plan.
Learn MoreMobility Aids - What People With Arthritis Need to Know
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Spondylitis Association of America.Overview of ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Axial spondyloarthritis.MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Medicare.gov.Walkers.NHS.Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.Medicare.gov.Canes.Lipton JA, Mitchell LJ.Orthotic correction of postural unleveling in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(2):125-128. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2014.026Arthritis Foundation.Heat therapy helps relax stiff joints.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.Spondylitis Association of America.Complementary treatments.CreakyJoints.Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for arthritis pain: Does it help?Arthritis Society Canada.Kitchen.Arthritis Foundation.Self-help arthritis devices.Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.Spondylitis Association of America.Tips for sleeping better with spondyloarthritis.Versus Arthritis.Gadgets and equipment for your home.Arthritis Foundation.Adapting your house when you have arthritis.Spondylitis Association of America.Exercise.Arthritis Foundation.Expert Q&A: Brace for AS?New York State Department of Health.Environmental modifications services (E-mods).
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Spondylitis Association of America.Overview of ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Axial spondyloarthritis.MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Medicare.gov.Walkers.NHS.Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.Medicare.gov.Canes.Lipton JA, Mitchell LJ.Orthotic correction of postural unleveling in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(2):125-128. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2014.026Arthritis Foundation.Heat therapy helps relax stiff joints.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.Spondylitis Association of America.Complementary treatments.CreakyJoints.Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for arthritis pain: Does it help?Arthritis Society Canada.Kitchen.Arthritis Foundation.Self-help arthritis devices.Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.Spondylitis Association of America.Tips for sleeping better with spondyloarthritis.Versus Arthritis.Gadgets and equipment for your home.Arthritis Foundation.Adapting your house when you have arthritis.Spondylitis Association of America.Exercise.Arthritis Foundation.Expert Q&A: Brace for AS?New York State Department of Health.Environmental modifications services (E-mods).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Spondylitis Association of America.Overview of ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Axial spondyloarthritis.MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Medicare.gov.Walkers.NHS.Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.Medicare.gov.Canes.Lipton JA, Mitchell LJ.Orthotic correction of postural unleveling in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(2):125-128. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2014.026Arthritis Foundation.Heat therapy helps relax stiff joints.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.Spondylitis Association of America.Complementary treatments.CreakyJoints.Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for arthritis pain: Does it help?Arthritis Society Canada.Kitchen.Arthritis Foundation.Self-help arthritis devices.Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.Spondylitis Association of America.Tips for sleeping better with spondyloarthritis.Versus Arthritis.Gadgets and equipment for your home.Arthritis Foundation.Adapting your house when you have arthritis.Spondylitis Association of America.Exercise.Arthritis Foundation.Expert Q&A: Brace for AS?New York State Department of Health.Environmental modifications services (E-mods).
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Spondylitis Association of America.Overview of ankylosing spondylitis.
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Medicare.gov.Walkers.
NHS.Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Medicare.gov.Canes.
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Arthritis Foundation.Heat therapy helps relax stiff joints.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.
Spondylitis Association of America.Complementary treatments.
CreakyJoints.Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for arthritis pain: Does it help?
Arthritis Society Canada.Kitchen.
Arthritis Foundation.Self-help arthritis devices.
Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.
Spondylitis Association of America.Tips for sleeping better with spondyloarthritis.
Versus Arthritis.Gadgets and equipment for your home.
Arthritis Foundation.Adapting your house when you have arthritis.
Spondylitis Association of America.Exercise.
Arthritis Foundation.Expert Q&A: Brace for AS?
New York State Department of Health.Environmental modifications services (E-mods).
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