i
Aids and Equipment
Functional Aids for
Osteoarthritis of the Thumb
Contents
steoarthritis of the thumb
O
2
Aids and equipment
2
Opening jars, cans and bottles
2
Gardening3
Preparing and cooking food
3
Around the house
6
Dressing7
Handwriting and cutting
7
Sources 8
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Author: Megan Whitfield
Role: Occupational Therapist
Date written: April 2012
Last reviewed: February 2015
Review date: February 2018
Version: 1.1
Code: PI0960
Wessex Rehabilitation Centre
01722 336262 ext 2370
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Osteoarthritis of the thumb
The base of the thumb is one of the most common joints in the hand to be affected by
osteoarthritis. Signs and symptoms include pain and stiffness in the thumb and wrist, especially
in the morning. It may be that you lose some of the strength and movement in your thumb. As
a result you may notice that many daily activities become very difficult, such as tasks involving
tight gripping, pinching or twisting, or heavy lifting.
Aids and equipment
Many household activities are repetitive and can put strain on the joints, such as preparing
vegetables, opening jars and pulling plugs. Some tasks may be easier if you use special aids
and equipment. Tools that make tasks easier are widely available in supermarkets, household/
DIY stores and cookshops. They may also enable you to continue to use your hand more easily
and with less pain.
This leaflet contains information about the different aids available to help with some of the dayto-day activities that can become difficult following wearing to the joint at the base of the thumb.
These products have been recommended by patients who have had difficulties using their hand
normally in everyday activities because of their thumb pain. They have enabled them to continue
doing tasks independently and without the pain and restriction previously experienced.
The contact details for where to get these items is also included.
Opening jars, cans and bottles
Dycem jar opener (illustrated again below right)
Non-slip, handy opener for jar tops. Simply place over lid for a firmer
grip to make opening easier.
Sources: Lakeland Jar grip
Dinghams Jar grip
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Dycem bottle opener
Non-slip, handy opener for bottle tops. Simply place over lid for a firmer
grip.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Dycem non-slip mat
Ideal for all around the home. Use to reduce the risk of accidents and
spillages by adding extra non-slip stability to everyday tasks. Ideal for use
at the dinner table, kitchen worktops, trolleys, over bed tables, desks and
for opening jars. Tough, hard-wearing and long lasting.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Baby boa jar opener
Baby boa grips most objects of any shape or size. Slips over
jar or bottle lids, taps or medicine bottles to loosen or tighten.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
One-touch can opener
One-touch battery operated can opener automatically opens tins without
the need to manually turn, therefore eliminating any wrist strain. Effortless
to use.
Sources: Tesco
Robert Dyas
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
A one-touch jar opener is also available. This makes opening a jar easier
than ever. Simply place it on top of the jar and press the button. It can be
used on a variety of jar sizes. No effort needed.
Sources Tesco
Robert Dyas
Ring-pull can lever
Slides underneath those tricky ring pulls on cans to help you
open more easily. Use of lever reduces strain on wrist.
Source:
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Lakeland
Gardening
Garden kneeler and seat
Getting up and down to those garden chores can be quite a strain on both your back and knees,
especially in wet weather. A raised, soft, comfortable kneeling platform can help, with arms that
are just the right height to assist getting back up without back strain. And for those jobs where
you need a little height, the kneeler can be turned over for a comfy seat. Ideal for gardens, DIY
jobs etc.
Sources: Argos
Robert Dyas
Preparing and cooking food
Good grips cutlery
Designed for those with weak or limited hand grip. Large cushioned
handles with soft flexible ribbing at top. Comfortable to hold even
when wet. Adaptable to any grip. Spoon or fork stem can bend to
any angle to suit your needs. Suitable for left or right handed use.
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Rocker knife requires only minimal strength for cutting.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Foam Tubing
For better grip in holding cutlery, pens and utensils. Lightweight foam is
great for fine motor skills and improving grip, but does not last for very
long.
Abiligrips
A set of 12 more durable grips for those with a weakened grip. So
light that even the weakest hand can control them. Grips hold pencils,
paintbrushes, utensils and more without slippage.
Source: Nottingham Rehab Supplies
Saw-type kitchen knife
Lightweight kitchen knife. Ergonomically shaped handle ensures the
wrist is kept in a comfortable position when in use to minimise the
effort required. Stainless steel with soft finish on handles.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Good Grips Y peeler
Large rubber easy-to-hold handle makes peeler comfortable to use. Even with
wet hands the handle ensures a secure hold. The blade swivels and requires
minimal range of motion of the wrist with it’s horizontal blade.
Sources: Robert Dyas
Dinghams
Lakeland
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Palm peeler
Fits comfortably into palm for easy grip when peeling.
Source: Dinghams
Peeler with hole in the middle
Wider grip in palm of hand makes peeling easier.
Sources: Lakeland peeler
Dinghams Stainless steel peeler
Silicone oven mit
For easier and more secure grip on oven trays and hot
plates.
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Source: Dinghams
Silicone pan handle covers for better grip of saucepans are also available from Dinghams.
Cooking basket
Features easy grip, flame retardant moulded handle. Reduces the
transfer weight of the contents of the saucepan by draining water,
which reduces the strain on the hand.
Sources: Dinghams
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
TIP – using 2-handled saucepans also makes lifting heavy pans easier.
Food processor
Makes food preparation much easier, able to cut through nuts,
herbs, cheese meats and fish with a simple one-touch operation.
Source: Lakeland, Waitrose & many other outlets
Blender
Whisking, whipping and blending by hand can be hard work, but
using a blender takes the toil out of the task. Making purées, soups, milkshakes, smoothies and
mayonnaise will be quicker and easier.
Source: Lakeland, Waitrose & many other outlets
Other useful kitchen tools for use in food preparation include:
Mandoline slicers and vegetable choppers with comfortable non-slip handles make cutting food
easier, reducing strain on the hand.
Mandoline slicer
Sources: Robert Dyas
Lakeland
Dinghams
Waitrose
Good Grips vegetable chopper
Source: Dinghams
Good Grips vegetable brush
Nylon bristles are great for cleaning carrots and potatoes, broccoli, and more thoroughly.
Ergonomically designed to fit the palm comfortably and softly.
Sources: Lakeland
Dinghams
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Salad Spinner
Dries salad and veg in seconds with a few spins. Easy, one-handed operation.
Source: Dinghams
Dycem non-slip roll
Cut to any size. Provides immense grip on dry slippery surfaces
such as worktops, jars, door handles and cutlery. Tough enough
to withstand years of use, and easy to wash in warm soapy water.
Source: Amazon
Around the house
Easy-turn tap levers
Ideal solution for tricky to turn taps. Easy to fit and adjustable to suit
almost any size of crystal or crosshead tap. Long shaped handle offers
plenty of leverage and is pivoted for easy use. For bathroom or kitchen.
Supplied as a pair.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Key turners
Turning keys is easy with this lightweight plastic key turner. Simply
attaches to your key to provide extra leverage and grip when opening
doors. Provides a comfortable and secure grip, even with wet hands.
Key folds away into handle when not in use. Useful for those with weak
hands and poor dexterity.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Plug pullers
Standard three pin plug base with lopped handle allows plug to be
retrieved from a socket easily. Ideal for those with poor grip; four fingers
can fit in the handle to give an improved leverage.
Sources: Lakeland
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Soap dispensing washing up brush
Makes light work of washing dishes. A great hand-held dish brush,
which fits comfortably in the palm and dispenses washing up liquid
as you wash the dishes. The black plastic top is removable so the
handle can be filled. Pressing the button on top releases a small
amount of soap.
Source: Dinghams
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Dressing
Button hook
Easy grip handle fastens and opens buttons. The built-up
handle is made of a rubber-like material and features flexible
ribbing that adapts to any grip. Guide the metal eye through
the button hole, hook it around the button, and pull back
through the hole.
Sources: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Alternatively, a crotchet hook, available from sewing shops, may be used for the same purpose.
Elasticated shoe laces
Convert lace-up shoes to slip-ons. Supplied in packs of 3 pairs.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Handwriting and cutting
Writing Grip Aids
Pen and pencil spongy pads provide a comfortable, nonslip grip when placed onto standard size pens and pencils.
Source: Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Special grip pens also provide a good grip for making writing easier.
Source: Ryman Stabilo easy-grip pen, Supergrip pencil
Or alternatively elastic bands, Coban, Dycem or plasticine may be wrapped around pens/pencils
for better grip.
In picture - left to right: elastic bands, pencil grips, easy grip pen and plasticine.
Sprung scissors
Fiskars softouch scissors have an easy-action spring and long
blades for an effortless long clean cutting action. Ideal for (thick
and multiple layers of) fabric and paper cutting.
Source: Amazon
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Sources
Please find below a list of suppliers in the local area, however, many other stockists are available
in the area and online.
Aids for Daily Living Booklet
Robert Dyas
Nottingham Rehab Supplies
The Maltings
0845 606 0911
Salisbury, SP1 1BD
www.nrs-uk.co.uk
01722 332631
www.robertdyas.co.uk
Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk
Ryman
17 Queen Street
Argos
Salisbury Fisherton Street
Salisbury, SP1 1EY
01722 412148
www.ryman.co.uk
1 Fisherton Street
Salisbury, SP2 7SU
www.argos.co.uk
Tesco Extra
Salisbury Bourne Centre
Dinghams
Southampton Road
Salisbury, SP1 2NY
28 Market Place
0845 6779592
Salisbury, SP1 1TL
www.tesco.com
01722 506045
www.dinghams.co.uk
Waitrose
Churchill Way West, Salisbury, SP2 7TS
Lakeland
www.johnlewis.com
3-4 Market Walk
Salisbury, SP1 1BT
01722 338769
www.lakeland.co.uk
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk