Why Joint Protection Matters
Protecting your hand joints is crucial, especially if you’re dealing with arthritis, hypermobility, or repetitive strain injuries. Struggles with opening containers, carrying heavy bags, or gripping a cellphone for long periods may have led you to this post. Fortunately, simple DIY hacks to everyday items can significantly reduce joint stress, prevent injury, and enhance hand function. Using basic materials like foam and tape, these strategies are easy to implement and can make a world of difference in your daily life. Read on to learn five simple DIY methods with practical examples to help safeguard your wrists and fingers, ensuring long-term comfort and mobility.
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1. Add Friction for Better Grip and Control
Why Friction Matters for Joint Protection
Friction is important for hand joint protection because it reduces the amount of force needed to grip objects. By increasing resistance between your hand and an object, you can secure your grip without slipping and with less effort. Look to add friction for tasks that require twisting or heavy force, like opening jars and using screwdrivers.
DIY Solutions to Enhance Grip and Control
- Smooth Non-Slip Materials: Place pieces of Dycem Non-Slip or Tenura products on surfaces like kitchen counters for desks to stabilize objects in use. You can also wrap pieces around handles of tools and utensils to stabilize your grip.
- Textured Shelf and Drawer Liner: Shelf and drawer liner is inexpensive and easy to obtain. The textured surfaces may improve comfort, a benefit over smooth non-slip products. Because they come in a roll, you can cut pieces to fit your needs. Large pieces placed under objects provide stability on counters and tables. Or cut narrow strips to wrap around lids, containers, and handles.
- Self-Adhering Bandage Wrap: Wrap layers of self-adhering bandage wrap like Coban Wrap around everyday objects like kitchen tools, pens, and lids. This adds friction and a bit of padding, making it easier to hold items securely and with less effort.
Variety of shelf liners for assistive technology projects
Non-skid surfaces increase stability, leverage, and grip
Handles can be built-up by wrapping several layers of self-adhering bandage wrap2. Utilize Custom Contoured Hand Grips for Ergonomic Support
The Importance of Ergonomic Grips
Contoured or ergonomic grips are vital to DIY solutions for hand use. These grips are designed to mimic the natural shape of the hand, distributing pressure more evenly and reducing the need for excessive force. Ergonomic designs minimize stress on the joints, making tasks less tiring and more efficient. DIY projects can incorporate materials like foam, rubber, or molded plastics to create custom grips that enhance hand function and support, tailoring solutions to individual needs and preferences.
DIY Solutions for Creating Contoured Grips
- DIY or Prefabricated Finger Grips: For fine motor tasks like writing, using a stylus, or crocheting, consider DIY or prefabricated finger grips. Check our our ideas for writing and touch screen stylus use.
- Moldable Materials Like Sugru or Air-Dry Clay: Create custom contoured grips by molding Sugru or air-dry clay around handles of tools, utensils, or pens. Shape the material to fit the contours of your hand, allowing it to harden into a comfortable, ergonomic grip. See more moldable material ideas.
- Customized Foam Grip Tubing: Cut pieces of foam grip tubing and slide them over the handles of everyday items like toothbrushes, utensils, or garden tools. Soft foam provides a softer surface that conforms to the hand, reducing joint strain. Learn more about foam grip tubing uses.
Pencil grip on a lip liner
A sample of moldable materials to create custom molded hand grips. Materials vary in their properties and skill level required. Pictured from left to right: Instamorph Moldable Plastic beds, FIMO Professional polymer clay, and Crayola Air dry clay.
More foam grip tubing modifications from left to right:1. Finger spacers to align fingers. Spacers are made out of self-adhering bandage wrap.
2. Hand cuff made out of duct tape and double-sided hook and loop to improve control and prevent the object from dropping.
3. Non-skid material made out of exercise band to increase friction and improve grip.
4. Thumb side stop block made out of self-adhering bandage wrap to prevent the hand from sliding off the tubing.
3. Incorporate Larger Grips to Protect Hand Joints
Why Built Up Grips are a Game-Changer
Larger, built-up grips are a common DIY solution to enhance comfort and reduce hand strain. By increasing the diameter of a handle, you can reduce the amount of force required to grasp an object. Built-up grips also help distribute pressure more evenly across the hand, reducing localized stress on joints and muscles. Interested in seeing examples? Check out Oxo Good Grips kitchen gadgets, which are famous for their ergonomic designs. Luckily, you can mimic the basic concepts with the following DIY ideas:
DIY Solutions for Building Up Handles
- Foam Grip Tubing: Place foam grip tubing over small handles like those on eating utensils, toothbrushes, or art supplies. This easy modification makes handles thicker and easier to grasp, reducing effort required by your hands.
- Self-Adhering Bandage Wrap: Wrap several layers of self-adhering bandage wrap around objects until the desired size is desired.
- Grip Tapes: Bicycle handlebar tape, tennis wrap tape, and other tacky tapes can be wrapped in several layers to achieve a built up effect. See our top tape recommendations.
Foam grip tubing with small, medium, and large inner openings
Charging end of an Apple charging cord built up with self-adhering bandage wrap
Black grip tape (such as tennis racket tape) can be wrapped over or in place of existing walker handles. Image by cris180 from Getty Images4. Use Straps, Levers, and Handles to Reduce Joint Strain
Adaptive Features for Joint Protection
DIY straps, loops, and handles enable various forms mechanical advantage, reduce the effort required to lift or manipulate objects, thus minimizing the strain on joints. Handles, when customized with ergonomic features or additional padding, offer better control and comfort, reducing the need for excessive gripping force. Together, these DIY adaptations help protect joints from excessive stress, making daily activities more manageable and less painful for individuals with joint conditions or reduced hand strength.
DIY Solutions for Adding Straps and Levers
- Zip Tie Loops: Use zip ties to create loops that can be attached to handles or lids. These loops serve as levers, reducing the effort needed to open or lift items. See our DIY Oral Care Adaptations, Accessible Makeup Hacks, and Conquering Containers posts for ideas.
- DIY Handles and Cuffs: Create loops of duct tape or double sided hook and loop tape to attach them to surfaces where you need to enhance or support grip, such as oral care tools or even tool handles. Our Duct Tape Accessibility Projects Guide and DIY Universal Cuffs Tutorial shows you how.
Loop handle for a toothpaste cap made out of a zip tie and double sided hook and loop tape.
Zip tie cap modifications for containers
Hand cuff made out of double sided hook and loop tape holds a tongue scraper5. Incorporate Padding for Hand Comfort and Joint Protection
The Role of Padding in Joint Protection
Adding padding is crucial for joint protection as it enhances both shock absorption and comfort during use. Padding helps to absorb impact and vibrations that can otherwise be transferred directly to the joints, reducing the risk of pain and potential damage. Additionally, padded surfaces improve comfort by providing a softer contact area.
DIY Solutions for Adding Padding
- Foam Grip Tubing: Slide foam grip tubing over handles to add a layer of padding, which helps absorb shock and reduces the impact on your joints during repetitive tasks.
- Elastic Bandage Wrap: Soft elastic bandages like Ace Brand wraps can provide cushion around handles. Wrap as many layers as needed.
- Foam Tape Wraps: Cushioned or foam tapes with adhesive backing like some of the Nexcare products are helpful in cases where only a little cushion is needed.
Elastic fabric bandage wrapped around a screwdriver for cushioned grip.
Blue foam tubing added to a dressing stick handleConclusion: DIY Hacks for Hand Joint Protection
By adopting these DIY strategies, you can effectively reduce strain on your hand joints, protect against injury, and preserve your hand function over time. Whether it’s increasing friction with Dycem, customizing small grips with Sugru, or adding padding with foam tubing, these modifications provide practical, everyday solutions for joint protection. Start integrating these tips today to enjoy greater comfort and improved hand health.
