For some people, a weak grip can be strengthened through the use of specialized equipment, such as grip strengtheners, forearm rollers and even a simple towel. However, some individuals are unable to strengthen their grip due to an injury or other underlying condition.
Arthritis, a painful joint inflammation disorder, is one of the most common such conditions. Fortunately, individuals who suffer from arthritis, poor grip or related conditions need not resign themselves to avoiding all activities that require some level of grip strength; they can find equipment available that will make virtually almost any common gripping-related task easy.
Jar Openers
Opening food jars with stuck or sealed lids is a common hassle for individuals with grip problems. Specifically designed jar openers can make this problem significantly less difficult. Specific styles of jar openers range from gloves with rubber sticky pads in the palms to more complex gadgets with gripping prongs and automatic releases built in to the handle. The price of such products normally ranges from about $5 to about $30, depending on the style. Check out more of the available kitchen aids.
- Rubber Non Skid Jar Openers – Requires the use of two hands but can make opening those jars a lot easier with that extra friction. It is like opening jars with sticky pads but with none of the residue. Affordable, great for someone with poor grip but not the best for someone with arthritis.
- Manual Jar Openers – Once installed on a platform, you can use one hand to open a jar. Lock the jar into place and twist. Great reviews for this product.
Electric Jar and Can Openers – Open jars and cans without exerting any strength. The machine will grip onto the jar cap and do the twisting and turning for you. This electric opener does it all.- One Handed Manual Can Openers – With the power of a few squeezes, you can be able to open a can with one hand. The end of this can opener is magnetic so when the lid is removed, the lid sticks on.
Door Knob Turners
Individuals with severe grip disorders may also need assistance with opening doorknobs, especially on heavy or stiff exterior doors. Door knob turners are designed to virtually remove grip strength from the equation for the person opening a door. For example, some styles simply add a long, extended lever to a typical round doorknob, allowing users to press down on the lever to open the door; therefore, there is no need for the person to grip the doorknob or handle.
Other styles of door knob assist turners do not contain a lever; instead, they simply surround the round doorknob with a unique, rubber-like polymer; the result is that the doorknob takes almost no grip strength to turn. These door grips generally cost between $6 and $10 a piece. Buy door knob assist grippers here. There are also automatic door openers that cost a bit more but requires no physical turning of any knobs; only needs a press of a button.
More Grip Equipment Suggestions
There are many other equipment to help with poor grip that are designed specifically for an individual’s daily needs. These products range from simple household products like nail clippers or hair brushes with unique long handles and slip less grips, to kitchen products like knives and spatulas that require little strength to operate due to their incorporation of the principles of leverage into their design. Or, for the person who needs a little grip strength assistance in a variety of different tasks, there are unique gloves with small, convenient grip pads built into them. Thanks to modern technology, grip disorders no longer have to be a major handicap.