Little Wins, Big Victories

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Little Wins is a campaign developed by Janssen Immunology, that aims to equip and empower people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), among other musculoskeletal conditions, to shout about the small steps (or ‘Little Wins’) they take to overcome the daily challenges of living with arthritis.

Little Wins are the small steps that people can take to overcome some of the challenges that their conditions present to them. For example, taking a pair of scissors to a restaurant to open packets of condiments, or using an elastic band to open a jar. People with arthritis come up with all sorts of ingenious ways of adapting their lifestyles to enable them to do tasks which those without arthritis take for granted. It’s often these clever ways of working that can really help to make a huge difference to people’s independence, but we don’t really document these in one place, and we often only come across these ‘Little Wins’ by accident when we start chatting to other people living with arthritis.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, no two days are the same. Even when you’re having a good day, you’re preparing for the bad ones. So I have come up with some Little Wins that help me make sure that RA doesn’t get in the way of the things I want to do with my family.” Ericka
With the help of patients and their families, the campaign has come up with four groups of ‘Little Wins’:
  1. Household
  2. Out and about
  3. Cooking
  4. Exercise
Here are some examples that have been suggested by people living with arthritis:
  1. Household: Put ice cream in the freezer in a plastic bag, so that it is easier and softer to scoop out.
  2. Out and about: Wear gloves when driving, it helps grip the wheel and means less stain on hands, wrists and shoulders.
  3. Cooking: Mixing salads by hand can be tough on the joints. Salad spinners can take the strain out of meal-prep!
  4. Exercise: Use a ball thrower when out walking the dog – it means more fun for your pet and it’s easier on the joints!
Ultimately, it is hoped that the campaign will encourage people with RA, PsA and other musculoskeletal conditions to take control and demand more in their fight against these conditions.
Arthritis isn’t just about the medical side of things. It’s the everyday things that we want to do. Going to school, working, and having a social life. It’s often the Little Wins in life that allow me to really take control of my condition.” Simon
What to get involved? Join the Little Wins movement on Facebook. Don’t forget to share your own ‘Little Wins’ to help build the collection! I consulted with Janssen during the development of the Little Wins campaign.