If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you know that many normally simple, ordinary tasks, like opening jars, tying your shoes and even getting dressed can present monumental, if not impossible, hurdles.
As toddlers, we begin to establish our independence by insisting on doing everything on our own, without help, and as adults, we’re really no different. No one likes to ask for help doing things that we’ve always been able to do without giving it any thought.
But the pain, joint disfigurement and decreased joint mobility that accompany RA can markedly decrease your fine motor skills to the point where you feel like you’re “all thumbs.” If this is the case, you have to either ask for help, or you can avail yourself of the many assistive devices that have been developed and configured especially to aid people with decreased dexterity.
[See: 7 Surprising Things That Age You.]
Among the resources offered for patients with dexterity and mobility issues, the Arthritis Foundation has a comprehensive list of the types of assistive devices that people with RA can access to make everyday tasks easily accomplished once again.
When cooking, the organization recommends a number of devices, starting with an electric can opener. This simple tool has been a boon for people with and without dexterity issues. For cutting, slicing and chopping food, the foundation recommends a food processor or mandolin, which can be especially helpful for people who have difficulty gripping a cutting knife.
“My favorite kitchen tool is a mezzaluna,” says Kimberly Steinbarger, a physical therapist and Director of Clinical Education at the Husson University School of Physical Therapy in Bangor, Maine. A mezzaluna is a type of curved, rocking knife with wooden knobs at each end for easing gripping.
The mezzaluna makes it easier and less painful to do any necessary cutting and chopping while cooking. “Cutting up vegetables is so painful using a regular kitchen knife,” says Steinbarger, who suffers from RA herself.
“I also love my stand mixer, because mixing batter is another thing that can be very painful,” she adds.
Steinbarger also recommends another simple, inexpensive change in the kitchen that can greatly benefit people with RA.
“Often, just using a lighter version of a product is just the trick! For example, I love to cook, and I use a lot of lightweight, melamine dishes and plastic cups.”
In addition, the Arthritis Foundation advocates the use of “reachers,” long-handled tools with a gripping mechanism that can be used to reach canned goods, jars and other items that are either stored up high out of reach, or low, where it can be difficult to bend down to retrieve them.
Ergonomic, curved forks, knives and spoons also make it easier to get food from the plate into one’s mouth, without having to flex the wrist.
[See: 12 ‘Unhealthy’ Foods With Health Benefits.]
The foundation recommends installing a fixed jar opener, or keeping a rubber jar opener in the kitchen.
In the bathroom, it’s important to install hand rails and tub bars to provide extra stability when getting in and out of the shower or bathtub. These are especially important if you have problems with balance.
Faucet levers and tap turners are also available if you have a weak grip, and raised toilet seats can make it easier to sit on and get up from the toilet.
When getting dressed, zipper pulls can make it much easier to use zippers. There are also buttoning aids that can help fasten and unfasten buttons, which can be especially problematic for people with RA.
Clothing and shoes with Velcro fasteners are another option for those with limited dexterity. They not only save time in getting dressed, but they provide secure closure. Long-handled shoe horns can extend your reach, helping you put on shoes without having to bend down.
RA is not just a problem at home. It can also affect your work life. Adjustments in the office can make it much easier to accomplish work tasks efficiently. For example, adjustable-height chairs and work surfaces can help you find the most comfortable position to do your work. Telephones with large push buttons and headsets can help. Large circumference pens with fatter grips can make it easier to hold a pen because you don’t have to close your hand as completely or tightly around the pen to maintain good control of the instrument.
In the car, wide key holders are available to make it easier to turn keys on and off. Seats that swivel can also make it easier to get in and out of the car, without having to twist the body, which can be painful. Gas cap openers are available to make it easier to remove and replace gas caps when filling your car.
And if you like to garden, a variety of self-help items are available, including light-weight hoses, padded portable benches and seats, and ergonomic trowels and transplanters. Ergonomic handles can also be fitted to regular clippers to aid in clipping flowers or doing necessary pruning.
“Effective adaptations don’t have to be expensive medical devices, which may or may not be covered by insurance,” says Steinbarger.
“But this is another area where a consult with a physical therapist or occupational therapist is a must,” she advises.
[See: How to Practice Yoga When You Have Arthritis or Another Chronic Condition.]
Occupational therapist Carole Dodge agrees. “Occupational therapists play a pivotal role in assisting patients with RA with functioning in the face of a disease that causes limitations and deformities. The occupational therapy evaluation process includes a detailed history, range of motion and strength assessment.” The OT also conducts test to determine how easily patients can open jars, turn a key and fasten clothing.
If necessary, an OT can fabricate a custom-made splint to meet specific patient needs, says Dodge, who is an occupational therapist in the Rheumatology Division at the University of Michigan.
“Everyone has day-to-day things that they have to do, but also hobbies and activities that they love to do. I like to think that I, and my patients, can live a life of adaptation, not restriction,” Steinbarger says. She also advocates giving assistive and adaptive devices as birthday or holiday gifts to friends and loved ones with arthritis.
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Assistive Devices Make Life Easier for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis originally appeared on usnews.com
