10 Cooking Tips for People With Arthritis

Tip 10 of 10 - Make Kitchen Shelves Accessible

Your kitchen shelves should be easily accessible so you don't strain your muscles and hurt painful joints when trying to reach dishes or cookware. The best design is pullout shelves which allow you to access kitchen items stored in the back with ease. If you don't have that option, at least make sure you have your shelves set up conveniently. Have your most commonly used items closest to where you use them. Have infrequently used items stored farther away or higher on the shelves. Make sure kitchen items are not stacked precariously so that they can easily fall as you reach for them. Set up your kitchen with safety in mind and convenience too.

• How to Organize Your Kitchen if You Have Arthritis

_{Photo by TSchon (iStockphoto)}

_{Source: 250 Tips For Making Life With Arthritis Easier, Arthritis Foundation, 1997}