Arthritis: Make Your Kitchen Your Ally

Having arthritis makes living a normal active life a bit more difficult. Even the most routine activities, such as cooking, can become a challenge. With swollen, tender and/or stiff joints, simple tasks, such as opening a jar, chopping vegetables or stirring a pot of sauce, can become painful.

It is important to make your kitchen user-friendly so you will enjoy cooking. There are a number of design tips and labor-saving devices that can be a big help to you.

Tips for an Easier Cooking Routine

Rest when tired.

Find good shoes to wear, if you are going to be standing. Supportive well fitting shoes will minimize foot swelling and tension.

Work in a sitting position if possible.

Limit lifting by moving frequently used items closer to your work area, put them in baskets or pockets of an apron.

Double cook and enjoy leftovers or use the extra portion as the basis for a whole

new meal the next day.

Supportive Aids for Cooking

Supportive aids or assistive devices can be any device that is designed, made, or adapted to assist a person with performing a particular task. In the kitchen particularly, assistive devices can make kitchen chores easier. In other areas of your life they can help increase your activity level or simply give additional support while doing activities.

here are some of the many assistive devices that can help you with your kitchen tasks and activities.

Automatic Can Openers

If arthritis affects the joints in the hands and knuckles, it is difficult to grasp a manual can opener. An automatic can opener placed under a cabinet within easy reach and with a push-down device to start the motor, makes this task much easier.

Cutting Boards with Corner Guards

Arthritis can make it difficult to grab, turn and hold things. A cutting board with corner guards can help anchor food items that you are working with. Suction feet anchor the board securely to the countertop. You can also add your own suction cups to your cutting board or to other bowls or dishes you want to secure.

Large-Handled Serving Utensils

Look for serving utensils with long handles with rubber grips on the end. The longer handle and lighter material helps alleviate pressure on stiff joints. The larger handle requires less physical exertion and is easier to grip.

Pans & Pots with Gripper Handles & Large Handles

Food preparation often puts pressure on the hands, the part of the body most frequently affected by arthritis making it difficult to carry a heavy pot.

Specially-designed pots and pans with larger, softer handles help arthritis sufferers geta better grip. Slip-on or clip-on handles can be attached to the pots and pans you already have. These devices will help an arthritis sufferer prepare a meal with more ease.

Baskets

Baskets can help alleviate a lot of strain when cooking. Steam vegetables and cook pasta, for example, in a wire basket placed within a pot or pan. Lifting the basket is much easier on joints than lifting a heavy pot of hot water and risking a burn.