Reducing joint pain and improving mobility is possible thanks to appropriate gestures and objects. Thermes Adour Group occupational therapist, Samuel Lagraula, reveals which ones.
Opening a bottle, cutting bread, closing buttons… In case of osteoarthritis of the hands, these movements can be difficult to do. This is why patients suppress their desires, bully themselves and restrict themselves from doing what they could previously do without suffering pain and stiffness. However, it is possible to continue your daily activities by focusing on the joint economy.
This method corresponds to all the precautions which allow a gesture to be carried out with the least constraints. “This does not mean that we should not use the joints at all. We can continue to use them, but in a different way, optimizing the movements without being too in the red. To do this, we must choose the right time, the right procedure, the right rhythm to stay active and maintain your lifestyle habits”, explains Samuel Lagraula, occupational therapist at Thermes Adour Group.
Choose the right physiological axis
To avoid unnecessary effort, you should use your joints by adopting a correct position. To do this, the specialist recommends maintaining the physiological axis of the fingers and not making gestures that encourage lateral deviation. “To avoid pain or put less strain on your joints, you must position your middle finger in line with your forearm. As a reminder, you use your thumb for precise movements and your little finger for gestures that require effort. force. The so-called ‘rest’ position is similar to that performed on a bicycle or motorcycle where the hands are placed on top of the handlebars. he specifies. Another tip: always use two hands instead of just one when possible.
Enlarge the catch
Samuel Lagraula recommends paying attention to the size of the catch, more precisely to enlarge the catch. “This makes it possible to use the hand more evenly and efficiently and to stress the joints in a less restrictive position.” For example, patients may use utensils with large handles.
Increase friction
In order to better grip and open an object without difficulty, you must increase friction by using a cloth for example. “Some plastic bottles have a notched cap, this prevents it from slipping in the hand and makes it easier to open,” specifies the occupational therapist.
Use a lever arm
Using a large lever arm provides great ease of grip. “In hospitals, we sometimes see doors that have long handles for people with reduced mobility. These reduce the force needed to open the door.”
What objects can make life easier for people suffering from hand osteoarthritis?
Several simple tools can avoid daily pain and frustration. Among them, we find:
- A button threader, which allows you to fasten your buttons with one hand and thus be able to get dressed without waiting for help from a third person
- A long-handled brush, which helps wash the back of the body effortlessly
- A saw knife, which simplifies cutting food and reduces wrist movement
- A nutcracker or plumber’s pliers, which makes it easier to open a bottle using the correct physiological axis
- Two removable handles placed on each side of the pan to lift it easily and not strain your thumbs
