National Geographic | Our picks of the week

National Geographic

10 TOOLS FOR ARTHRITIC HANDS

Living with arthritis can make everyday tasks painful and stressful. Finding the right tools to help you button your shirt or open a door can go a long way toward boosting your independence, your confidence, and your mental health. We asked our writer Christie Dietz to find the best products for people with arthritic hands—here are 10 of her picks.

By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.*

COMPRESSION GLOVES

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

IMAK Arthritis Gloves

These open-fingered Imak Compression Arthritis Gloves apply gentle pressure to the joints, increasing circulation and warmth, and reducing stiffness, aches and swelling. Made from soft elasticated cotton, they’re breathable, washable and comfortable enough to wear during the day or night.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

CanDo Theraputty

This therapeutic exercise putty can be used for hand exercises like pinching, squeezing, and rolling, which are great for developing finger, hand, and wrist strength, as well as range of motion. CanDo Theraputty is color-coded according to consistency, from extra soft to firm, so users can choose the right resistance level for their strength and flexibility.

AUTOMATIC CAN OPENER

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener

The Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener is simple to use and requires minimal hand function, making it a great choice for home cooks with limited dexterity. Tap the large button on top to turn it on, and once the blade has traveled around the can, tap it again to turn it off. The tilted blade cuts along the side of the lid, leaving a smooth edge and no sharp edges to cut yourself on.

DOOR KNOB GRIPS

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Able Life EZ Door Knob Grips

An affordable alternative to replacing doorknobs, these stretchy, non-slip silicone Able Life EZ Door Knob Grips fit over any round door handle without obscuring keyholes. Their wing tip design means you can easily turn doorknobs using your elbow or finger. We love the removable glow-in-the-dark inserts that make doorknobs easy to find at night—just keep in mind the grips require strength and dexterity to fit.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Oxo Good Grips Button Hook Dressing Aid

This sturdy Oxo Good Grips Button Hook Dressing Aid uses a wire loop to grasp buttons and pull them through buttonholes, which may make buttoning clothes less painful and frustrating. Its wide, cushioned handle is covered with soft, non-slip ribbing that’s easy to grip, reducing stress on joints—and it's small and light enough to pack, or take to the office or gym.

GRABBER/REACHER TOOL

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

RMS 34” Extra Long Folding Grabber Reacher

The lightweight RMS 34” Extra Long Folding Grabber Reacher extends your reach by 32 inches, making it useful for those with limited range of movement. Its grabbing jaw has an anti-slip coating, and rotates and locks at 90 degrees so you can pick up objects off the ground or high shelves, or from behind furniture. It also has a padded ergonomic handle and soft grip trigger—and it folds in half, making it travel friendly and easy to store.

VEGETABLE CHOPPER

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Fullstar Vegetable Chopper

This 4-in-1 Fullstar Vegetable Chopper kitchen tool for arthritic hands is great for those who find slicing and chopping painful and difficult. The four heavy duty blades manage large and small dicing, along with spiral and ribbon cutting. Insert your chosen blade, place fruit or vegetables on top, press down on the hinged lid, and the chopped pieces fall into the catch tray below. The handle and base are both anti-slip for stability.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Keywing Key Turner

Specifically designed for hands that find standard door keys difficult to grasp and turn, this robust Keywing Key Turner reduces the amount of strength required to grip and twist them. Each key turner in this three-pack is a different, vibrant color, making keys easy to locate and identify, and the dimpled dome surface provides grip.

ERGONOMIC MOUSE

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Logitech MX Master 3S

This wireless Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is shaped to naturally fit your palm and fingers, providing comfort and support, and minimizing hand movement. Angled to position your forearm in a natural posture, there’s a curved thumb rest to cradle your hand. We’re impressed by this mouse’s battery life and minimal click noise, and like that its textured surface provides grip for better control.

FOAM TUBING GRIPS

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Vive Foam Grip Tubing

Vive Foam Grip Tubing gives everyday objects such as toothbrushes, pens, or gardening utensils a secure, comfortable grip, giving users with arthritis increased stability and control. Each piece of 12-inch tubing comes in three diameters to fit a variety of objects, can be cut to any length, and is flexible to fit curved items. We love that this tubing can be reused with multiple objects and is dishwasher safe.

For our full list of recommended products, see The best products for arthritic hands.

MORE ON ARTHRITIS AND INFLAMMATION

PHOTOGRAPH BY GILES PRICE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION

These are the foods that really can help reduce inflammation

PHOTOGRAPH BY DOMINIK BUTZMANN, LAIF/REDUX

Why stormy weather is often linked to joint pain and migraines

IS THE LINK REAL?

See more coverage from our health team:

•

Can gum infections trigger arthritis symptoms? There's growing evidence of a link.

•

Why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases

•

The end of inflammation? New approach could treat dozens of diseases.

•

Can ending inflammation help win our battle against depression?

*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

Manage all email preferences with the Walt Disney Family of Companies.

© 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.