Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the education of a client with osteoarthritis?
"Take frequent breaks during activities to rest your affected joints."
"Avoid using assistive devices to prevent dependency on them."
"Perform high-impact exercises regularly to strengthen your joints."
"Apply a heating pad for at least 1 hour to alleviate joint pain."
The Correct Answer is A
Instructing the client to take frequent breaks during activities to rest the affected joints helps reduce stress and prevent worsening of symptoms. Avoiding the use of assistive devices can lead to increased joint strain and pain, so it is essential to encourage their appropriate use. Performing high-impact exercises is not recommended, as they can worsen joint pain and damage. Applying a heating pad for an extended period is not advisable, as it can cause burns and skin irritation.
b. "Avoid using assistive devices to prevent dependency on them." Encouraging the appropriate use of assistive devices is important for clients with osteoarthritis to reduce joint stress during daily activities.
c. "Perform high-impact exercises regularly to strengthen your joints." High-impact exercises can exacerbate joint pain and damage in clients with osteoarthritis. Low-impact exercises are recommended instead.
d. "Apply a heating pad for at least 1 hour to alleviate joint pain." Applying a heating pad for an extended period can cause burns and skin irritation. Using a heating pad for short intervals is appropriate for pain relief.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
High-impact exercises can exacerbate joint pain and damage in clients with osteoarthritis. Low-impact exercises are recommended to improve joint flexibility and reduce pain. The other options demonstrate appropriate understanding of osteoarthritis self-management.
a. "I will try to avoid activities that put stress on my affected joints." This statement shows appropriate understanding, as avoiding stress on affected joints is beneficial for clients with osteoarthritis.
b. "I should take my prescribed medications even if my symptoms improve." This statement demonstrates adherence to the prescribed treatment plan, which is important for managing osteoarthritis symptoms.
c. "I will use a heating pad to relieve pain and inflammation in my joints." This statement indicates a correct understanding of using heat therapy to alleviate pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The presence of Heberden's nodes, which are bony enlargements at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, is a characteristic clinical manifestation of osteoarthritis. These nodes are a result of cartilage degeneration in the affected joints.
a. Joint pain that worsens with rest is more indicative of inflammatory arthritis conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, not osteoarthritis.
b. Joint pain that improves with activity is not typical of osteoarthritis, which tends to worsen with weight-bearing activities.
d. Warm and erythematous joints are signs of inflammation and are more commonly seen in inflammatory arthritis conditions, not osteoarthritis.
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