Top Assistive Devices for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Make simple tasks easier on your joints — and maintain your independence — with a little help from these tools.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that commonly affects the joints in your hands, wrists, and knees. Symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and even fatigue can make it difficult to do everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, and recreational activities. The good news? Certain assistive devices can help you get through your day with less pain and maintain your independence. These tools can make almost every activity in your day easier, whether you need to open tightly closed jars, get a better grip on your keys, or go up and down stairs safely. When should you consider using assistive devices? “Everyone comes to this decision in their own time, and many people prefer to keep doing their activities without any aids for as long as possible,” says Gayle Lang, an occupational therapy clinical specialist in the department of rehabilitation services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “But when a certain task becomes too painful or difficult to perform due to joint pain or weakness, the right assistive device might help you retain your independence and quality of life.” For people with RA, the most difficult activities are often those that involve resistance, weight, or pressure on the joints. “Assistive devices can compensate for decreased grip strength and joint mobility, minimize stress on painful joints, and increase function with everyday tasks,” says Lang. A variety of aids combined with changes to how you move can make it easier to accomplish daily tasks. RELATED: 9 of the Best Gadgets for People With RA

Read about other life hacks that other people swear by for managing RA. Get them on Tippi!

Assistive Devices in the Kitchen

• Small appliances A food processor can make chopping, grating, and assembling ingredients during food preparation much easier for people with RA.
• Manual jar-opening devices If you need to be mindful of expenses, any device that can be attached to jar lids to give you a better grip will be an affordable solution. “Or you can invest in an electric jar and can opener,” says Lang.
• Adaptive utensils Upgrade your cutlery to knives with long or adaptive handles, or try specialized tools, such as rocker knives.
• Handles and knobs Replace small knobs on cabinets and drawers with larger handles that are easier to grip. “Larger handles help decrease stress on your hand joints,” says Lang. “You can also replace kitchen faucets and doorknobs with level handles, which are easier to turn.”
• Step stools and reachers These can help you reach higher-up items without too much effort. Choose a step stool that is well balanced and lightweight, so you can move it around easily.
• Lightweight cookware Replace heavy pots, pans, and tableware with lighter-weight versions to help make both cooking and cleanup easier on your joints, recommends Lang.

Assistive Devices in the Bathroom

In the bathroom, you want to make tasks like bending and standing easier. You can make small changes to your bathroom routine and update the products you use to make bathing and grooming safer. Start with these tips.

• Install grab bars and railings. Consider adding a grab bar to help you get in and out of the tub safely, and add one near the toilet as well — or even an arm rest. “These can help you maintain your independence and safety in the bathroom,” says Lang.
• Look for easy-to-open medicine bottles and toiletries. Replace kid-safe lids that can cause trouble for stiff joints. Some manufacturers offer packaging geared toward people with arthritis.
• Upgrade grooming supplies. Electric toothbrushes can help keep your teeth and gums healthy without hurting your hand and wrist. “Individual plastic tooth flossers are also easier on the hands than old-fashioned floss,” says Lang. Electric razors can make grooming easier. And easy-grip nail clippers are larger and gentler to squeeze, adds Lang.
• Sit down. Since fatigue is a big issue for people with RA, and because grooming activities take time, consider installing a bathtub stool or a stool near the sink. That gives you a place to rest should you get tired while washing your face, shaving, or showering.

Assistive Devices for Everyday Living

From dressing, driving, and working to hobbies and household chores, these devices and small adjustments can make each activity more RA friendly.

• Getting dressed No need to retire your favorite blouses, shirts, or pants because you’re having trouble fastening them. You can buy buttoning aids, such as a button hook, and zipper pulls to help you get dressed. To get your shoes on, try a long-handled shoehorn.
• In the car Turning a small key to unlock and start your car can be difficult on your hands. You can get wide key holders to make it easier to maneuver. Newer models often have keyless entry and a push-button start, and some have remote starters. Other helpful features to look for are heated seats to keep joints warm and a backup camera so you don't have to crane your neck.
• At work Ask if you can get a hands-free headset for phone use and a chair and workstation that have adjustable heights.
• In the garden Look for a foam kneeling pad or short gardening stool to avoid stress on your knees. Choose ergonomic gardening trowels, weeders, and shears. Opt for a lightweight hose, or install a sprinkler system so you don’t have to worry about carrying around a watering can.
• Crafting Choose spring-loaded scissors and hands-free frames to stabilize quilting and embroidery projects you’re working on.
• Playing cards Use card holders and automatic shufflers to reduce stress on your hands.
• Cleaning up Use a wheeled cart to transport your laundry to the washer and dryer. Buy a lightweight vacuum that’s easy to push. Use a long-handled dustpan when sweeping.

Practice Better Body Mechanics

You can help yourself the most by learning to move in easier ways. Before you start household chores, walk around first to limber up. Be conscious of how you bend, reach, and kneel.

• Protect your back. Before you reach for that laundry basket on the floor, consider how you are bending. Bend with your hips and knees, not at your waist. To straighten up, bend your knees a little, and make sure your back is arched. And always use two hands when lifting heavy objects, adds Lang. When you’re standing for long periods, keep one foot on an elevated surface, such as a low step stool, to take the pressure off your back. When removing laundry from the dryer, if you’re reaching with your right arm, kick back your left leg; if you’re reaching with your left arm, kick back your right leg.
• Don’t stretch to reach. Bring the object to you, either by standing on a step stool or using poles and wands with extended handles. The point is to keep your arms close so you don’t strain your shoulders.
• Kneel correctly. Don’t kneel on both knees simultaneously. Kneel on one, and switch often. This will spread out and minimize pressure on your knees. Also, wear knee pads or cushion your knees with a pillow or article of clothing.
• Ask for help. If you’re having trouble, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Do Your Research

“Adaptive devices are not ‘one size fits all,’” says Lang. “Each person’s arthritis is different, and not everyone has difficulty performing the same tasks. Think about your daily routines and which tasks are really bothering you. Then take the time to explore your options before making a purchase.”

You can find many of the tools to help make tasks easier online. The Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Products list highlights specific items that prevent joint strain. Before you make a purchase, you can call and talk to a customer service representative or read the reviews carefully to make sure the item will be useful to you. You can also talk to other people with RA and ask what products they recommend. “You may also consider asking your MD for a referral to an occupational therapist (OT),” adds Lang. “An OT can evaluate your specific needs and guide you to the right devices, tools, and compensatory strategies that will best fit your lifestyle.”

Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer

Beth Biggee, MD, is a practicing healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. With twenty years of experience in rheumatology, she has special interest in helping those with autoimmune, inflammatory, gut, and musculoskeletal issues achieve wellness and optimal health. Board-certified in integrative, lifestyle, and ayurvedic practices, Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness, rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Biggee graduated cum laude with her bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School, magna cum laude. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University) and ward attending for medical students and Family Practice Residency at Bassett. She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "Introduction to Clinical Medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency. She currently is on staff at Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital in Massachusetts.

Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

Connie Brichford

Author

Connie is Boston-based freelance writer who focuses on science and current events. Her interests include child development, science literacy for children and adults and the intersections of feminism and pop culture.