How to Adapt Your Car to Your Arthritis

Do you find yourself avoiding your car because of your arthritis? Is it hard to manage the hand controls, painful to get in and out, or uncomfortable to sit? These and other problems can be vastly improved by making simple changes to your current car - or looking for specific features in a new one.

Remember that comfort isn't the only issue. When a particular movement in the car is awkward or painful, or the stress of coping with arthritis and driving results in exhaustion - often a big problem with fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis - your reactions can be delayed. And that can lead to accidents.

Car Comfort Tune-Up

Here's how to make handling your car more comfortable, less tiring, and safer.

• For a surer grip and to give hand joints more cushioning, pad the steering wheel with a shearling cover.
• To make keys easier to hold and turn, buy some slip-on plastic key covers that enlarge the end you grip and make it less slippery.
• If you have neck, back, or hip problems, install a panoramic rear-view mirror to minimize twisting.
• In car seats that have a tilt adjuster, be sure it's set so that your knees are slightly higher than your buttocks; if they're lower, it can stress your back.
• For aid getting in and out, get a rotating portable pad that's kind of a lazy Susan device for your car.

Shopping for a New Car

Newer cars often have seats that can be adjusted in any direction and many have adjustable back supports. Here are some other helpful features to put on your sopping checklist:

• Seats that are flat enough to make sliding in and out easy because deep bucket seats can be troublesome;
• Controls that are all within comfortable reach and aren't manipulated by tiny knobs or stiff leavers;
• A central armrest to take weight off your shoulder - and extra padding to add height may also help;
• A telescoping wheel to make getting in and out less cumbersome;
• A four-door model because doors on two-door cars are often heavier and harder on hands, arms, and shoulders;
• Power everything - steering, brakes, windows, side mirrors, door-locking systems, and seat-adjusting controls;
• A trunk with a low lip so you don't have to heave things in and out.

But don't stop with what's available on the showroom floor. You may be able to have modifications made to a new car at the factory or, if you've recently bought a car, be reimbursed by the manufacturer for subsequent installations of helpful equipment. Options range from easier-to-reach seatbelts to a fold-up or slide-out entry step. Check manufacturer's Web sites to find out about the various modifications available.

---

posted 9/10/2002