(ARA) – Autumn’s approach means plenty of time outdoors prepping your landscape for winter’s impending arrival, or partaking in seasonal fun like pumpkin carving or cookie baking. Hand injuries may be the last thing on your mind during this busy, happy season, but experts caution that many fall activities require repetitive motions that may lead to injury, or irritate existing conditions.

Whether hand pain is caused by a serious condition such as arthritis of the hands or is simply the result of overusing and overtaxing muscles, joints and tendons, it can prevent you from performing even the most basic tasks. Repetitive motion injuries are among the most common types of hand injuries, costing American companies more than $20 billion a year in worker’s compensation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports.

What’s more, one in five American adults has received a diagnosis of arthritis from a doctor, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And, by 2030, 67 million people 18 and older will have been diagnosed with arthritis, the CDC estimates.

You can take steps to prevent repetitive motion injuries this autumn, and to achieve pain relief if you overdo it, or suffer from arthritis of the hands.

Simple steps toward prevention

For activities that require fine motor skills and hand strength, it will also be important to take a break. Taking breaks during tasks that require repetitive motion is an important way to help avoid hand pain and possibly injury. It’s worth putting off some chores – like raking leaves – for as long as possible. Instead of raking every week (or even every day), use your lawn mower’s mulching setting to chop fallen leaves into fine particles. The natural mulch will be good for your lawn, and the exercise of walking behind a mower will be healthier than the possible back and hand strain that raking can cause.

If you already have a condition like carpal tunnel or arthritis, it’s important to relieve wrist pain or hand discomfort before you embark on a task that could make it worse. A variety of helpful braces, like the SmartGlove by Imak, are available to help provide wrist support while doing repetitive motions. You can learn more at www.imakproducts.com.

Keep pain relief at your fingertips

If you’ve already been diagnosed with arthritis, carpal tunnel or another hand disorder, or if you simply overdid it, it’s important to find simple, speedy ways to achieve pain relief. Hand pain can hinder everyday tasks, from opening a jar to driving a car. Assistive devices can help relieve hand pain, and many easy-to-use options are available.

On its website, www.arthritis.org, the Arthritis Foundation rates and lists products that are user-friendly or have packaging that is easy to open for people with hand or wrist pain. Products like SmartGloves or Arthritis Gloves by Imak earn the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation for being comfortable, effective and easy to use. An independent lab — experienced in design and evaluation of products for people with functional limitations – reviews the products on behalf of the foundation.

With some caution and preventative measures, it’s possible to enjoy all that autumn has to offer – free of pain and injuries.