Gifts That Help Your Hands

Make it easier to live with arthritis. By Virginia Taft, owner Coeur d’Alene Hand Therapy and Healing Center.

Whether you have arthritis, have overused your hands or have another hand or upper body condition, daily tasks may be slower and more difficult. Stiffness, pain and numbness often increase with the weather and seasonal tasks like snow shoveling, or even wrapping packages. Rather than giving the same old gifts, there are many simple and inexpensive gifts that will be used and remembered throughout the year.

HEAT - Helps to relieve stiffness and increase blood flow. There are a variety of warming mitts and heating pads available. Hot cold packs are reasonable in price. Paraffin units coat the hand to hold in heat and needed moisture. They are available at department stores or on line.

GLOVES - Yes you do need to wear them! There are many varieties available that have insulation, some that have warming packs or even batteries. Be sure gloves fit well and that they are non-slip. Especially for weak hands, too tight of a grip can cause additional pain and damage to joints.

LARGE HANDLES - Larger grips are a way of “saving” your hands. Using a steering wheel cover can make your steering wheel larger, warmer and easier to grip for comfort and safety. Limiting forceful or extra tight grip and forceful pinch and twist movements, as with a standard can opener, is critical. Look for larger and ergonomic handles on kitchen utensils, snow shovels, pens and other tools.

TOOLS - Many people do more cooking during the holidays. Using electric food choppers, mixers and can openers can help. However you want to find ones that are easy to operate – these are not all equal so these should be tried out. Jar openers are a good stocking stuffer and are available many places. One simple and inexpensive tool is a spring loaded scissors – the self sharpening ones are best. Kept in the kitchen these can be used to open packages (which is often a challenge). Holding the bowl still when mixing can be as simple as putting a damp towel under it, or using a nonslip piece of matting. Also there is nothing better than a truly sharp, easy to use knife with a handle that feels good in your hand. It is far better to have one really great knife than a large variety. Many chefs use only a medium size knife, paring knife, cleaver and a bread knife. Swedish knives, often used by meat cutters, have a vertical handle so you don’t have to bend your wrist.

Just being aware of these tips can open your eyes to other possibilities. You can Google adaptive equipment for hands, arthritis etc. If you are having continued pain in your hands or body, physical and occupational therapy can help by providing you with treatment specific to your needs and goals.

#health