Arthrogryposis is a medical condition that affects joint movement and muscle development. Individuals with this condition have stiff and often malformed joints, making it difficult to perform activities of daily living.
Stretching and gentle exercise can help an individual become stronger and complete daily activities, but there are also many adaptive devices available to help those with arthrogryposis live with more independence!
In this blog post, we’ll explore seven adaptive tools that can help those with arthrogryposis.
1. Hair/Grooming: Long-Handled Hair Brush
Long-handled hair brushes are low-tech adaptive devices that help individuals with upper extremity limitations reach their head for grooming with ease.
Individuals with joint contractures in the elbows or shoulders can have difficulty lifting their arms up to reach their head, so using a traditional hair brush or comb may be difficult.
Individuals with arthrogryposis of the upper body can benefit from long-handled hair brushes to allow for easy grooming and hygiene.
Learn more about long-handled hair brushes here.
2. Eating: Obi
Obi is an adaptive eating device that is ideal for individuals with severe arthrogryposis. Through the use of customizable switches, Obi allows users to control what they eat and when!
Easy and simple self-initiated feeding is possible with this adaptive eating tool! With Obi, users are able to relax and enjoy the dining experience with friends and family without relying on a caregiver to feed them.
Obi is an excellent tool for anyone with arthrogryposis impacting their upper body who desires to eat with independence.
3. Cosmetic Application: HAPTA Assistive Grip
In January 2023, L’Oreal released a first look at a mini robotic device called HAPTA that will help individuals with upper extremity limitations apply cosmetics such as lipstick and mascara with ease.
Although this device is still under development, we think it’s a tool worth highlighting because it will certainly help many individuals with arthrogryposis.
Learn more about HAPTA here.
4. Multi-Use: Reacher
Reachers are devices that help people with limited reach or mobility to pick up objects from the ground or high shelves. They are useful for people with arthrogryposis who may have difficulty bending down or reaching.
Some reachers have a trigger grip that allows the user to pick up objects without having to grip them tightly. Others have a suction cup or magnet on the end which can be used to pick up small objects such as keys or paper clips.`
Learn more about reachers here.
5. Shoes: Nike Go FlyEase
This is not an adaptive tool, but these shoes are so awesome we had to share! For those with arthrogryposis, bending down to lace up shoes may be a difficult task.
Nike currently offers a line of adaptive shoes that allow users to take shoes on and off without using their hands. The Nike Go FlyEase shoe pivots at the sole, which opens up the shoe for an easy step-in entry.
These shoes are wonderful for those with limited mobility.
Learn more about the Nike Go FlyEase here!
6. Writing: Pencil Grips
There are a range of adapted pencil grips that specifically cater to individuals with arthrogryposis.
Contractures in the wrist and finger joints can be painful and limiting, which prevents someone from being able to write, type, and do other fine motor tasks.
Some pencil grips are more traditional and have cushioned grooves for the fingers to easily grasp and rest upon. These are more ideal for someone with minor contractures. A person with more severe arthrogryposis might have difficulty bending all joints in their fingers, making writing nearly impossible. For these individuals, there are larger, egg-shaped pencil grips that allow the joints in the hand to remain in neutral while still controlling a writing utensil.
This type of positioning allows for easy writing and also prevents one’s hand from getting injured due to improper positioning.
Learn more about pencil grips here!
7. Home Access: Rubber Handle Extension
Grabbing, twisting and pulling may be difficult movements for those with arthrogryposis affecting their hands. Rubber handle extensions are low-tech products that can make opening and closing doors easier for those who have trouble with standard door knobs.
A rubber handle extension adds extra surface area to a doorknob so that a user only has to push down on the extension to open or close a door.
Learn more about rubber handle extensions here!
