Hobbies Help Arthritic Hands

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Hobbies Help Arthritic Hands

Modifying activities can help people with arthritis continue their favorite

leisure-time activities.

By Leanna Skarnulis WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

When stiff, painful, swollen joints interfere with your ability to do the

handicrafts and other hobbies you enjoy, arthritis experts say, don't give

up.

" Regardless of the cause of arthritis, it's extremely important to keep

going

and maintain range of motion so your hands don't get stiff, " says hand

specialist Carlton, MD, of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. " It's

rare that

attempts to manage pain are so unsuccessful that people have to give up what

they want to do. That's not to say there aren't limits. A virtuoso pianist

can

continue to play but not at the same level as before. "

Pain isn't the only limitation. Problems with strength, grip, and range of

motion are important factors also. But if you're willing to modify your

activities and learn to use adaptive devices, experts say the benefits are

worth it.

Benefits of Leisure Activities

The CDC recently reported that 70 million Americans -- that's almost one in

three -- have arthritis and/or chronic joint symptoms, up from 43 million in

1997. So you're not alone.

" Therapeutic benefits of hobbies depend on how the arthritis affects a

person's hands and wrists, " says Jill Noakre Luck, director of occupational

therapy

at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. " Almost any activity has a

component of range-of-motion exercise. " Nevertheless, she advises people not

to

substitute activity for a specific exercise program that addresses their

unique

mobility and strengthening needs, but to use them together to improve

overall

health and function.

Another benefit is that certain activities may provide relief if your

arthritis responds to heat or cold, says Mescher, vice president of

programs

and services at the Arthritis Foundation. For example, if you like

gardening,

you can choose to weed or water in the warm sun or work cool soil with your

hands.

One of the few studies addressing leisure activities and hand osteoarthritis

involved four people playing the piano in 20-minute sessions, four times a

week, over a four-week period. The University of Kansas researchers found

improvement in finger pinch and range of motion; three participants showed

significant improvement in finger velocity, strength, and dexterity; and two

reported

less discomfort after playing.

Staying active has value beyond meeting physical needs. " Because people who

have arthritis are likely to experience depression, becoming involved or

continuing hobbies is important for well-being, " Mescher says.

Modify, Don't Eliminate, Favorite Activities

Luck says too often people give up cherished activities they could continue

if they'd make some modifications. She recalls doing an informal survey of

people hospitalized for arthritis, and of those who said they once enjoyed

gardening as a hobby, two-thirds said they'd given it up because of

arthritis.

" It was striking to me the number that gave it up even though it had been of

great value to them, " Luck says. " Maybe they've lost strength, range of

motion, or some function, but despite changes, how can we help them preserve

this

enjoyable activity and focus not on what they've lost but on helping them

use

their current abilities? "

Gardening. Luck recommends choosing garden tools with enlarged handles that

don't require such a tight, strong grasp, or elongated handles that use

larger

muscle groups in the arm, not just the hand. Also, make tasks easier and

save

energy by using a tool caddy on wheels and a metal frame to hold your weed

bag. You may not feel like tilling a half-acre, but you can still derive the

pleasure of growing things in container or raised-bed gardens. You'll find

more

gardening tips at the American Occupational Therapy Association web site,

www.aota.org.

Cooking. Whether you regard cooking as a hobby or necessity, you'll enjoy it

more with some modifications that reduce wear and tear on your hands:

" Buy foods packaged in sealed pouches that you can cut open with

scissors.

" Buy prepackaged chopped onions and jars of minced garlic instead of

chopping.

" Replace heavy, hard-to-handle cookware and dishes with user-friendly

versions.

" Set your cookbook on a holder.

" Save energy by laying out all ingredients before you begin, like the TV

chefs.

" Let your grinder, chopper, or food processor take over many tasks you

used to do by hand.

" Look for cookbooks that offer simplified methods, such as using a slow

cooker, to prepare the foods you love.

Sewing and needlecrafts. Sewing and needlecrafts pose their own set of

problems. " Pinching activities, such as using scissors, hurt a lot if you

have

degenerative arthritis at the base of the thumb, which almost everyone

gets, "

Carlton says. He suggests using adaptive scissors that are spring loaded

like grass

shears.

If holding a needle is difficult, you can still work on sewing projects. Let

your sewing machine do most of the work, and use products such as iron-on

hem

tapes and fabric glues to minimize the need for hand stitching.

Cross-stitch,

embroidery, and knitting become more manageable with holders for embroidery

hoops and knitting needles that clamp to a table.

Working with small crochet hooks and knitting needles is a challenge. " Some

people who knit take pink foam hair curlers that have a hole through the

center

and put them on their knitting needles, " Mescher says.

Also try to vary projects. If your hands tire making a baby sweater, switch

to a bulky scarf that uses thick yarn and big needles and hooks, or do

macramé,

which doesn't require tools. If you must give up a favorite craft, ask the

clerk at your craft store to recommend alternatives.

Get a Grip With Adaptive Devices

" The general rule for choosing adaptive aids is to look for things that are

as big as possible -- big, fat pens, pens with foam over the top and kitchen

utensils with big handles, " Carlton says.

Some of the best adaptive devices are ones you rig up at home. Most people

with arthritis have trouble with gripping or pinching tasks, so the

Arthritis

Foundation suggests wrapping tape or bubble wrap around handles of pens,

tools,

utensils, knitting needles, etc.

Fortunately, more and more commercial products are becoming available to

help

you enjoy your favorite activities. The Arthritis Foundation provides a list

and description of products they've awarded the Ease-of-Use commendation.

The

foundation also recommends products in the North Coast Medical Functional

Solutions catalog. In addition, many stores carry tools and kitchen utensils

with

enlarged grips. One popular line is OXO Good Grips. Also, check with your

craft store. Even if they don't carry what you need, they can probably

direct you

to a source.

Managing Pain

If your favorite activities cause pain, there are ways to minimize it. " Do

the activity immediately after you take your pain medication or at a time of

day

when you feel better, " Mescher says. She also suggests using a heat

treatment

before the activity and taking frequent breaks to stretch your hands and

fingers.

Luck says to avoid prolonged grip and pinch tasks and twisting motions that

push your joints out of the plane of normal movement. Also, use tools to

reduce

stress on joints; for example, don't use your thumb to push a thumbtack.

If an activity such as knitting becomes painful, Carlton suggests adjusting

dosage of your analgesics. " Patients can make the decision to escalate their

treatment so they can engage in activities and be pain free, " he says. " They

should ask themselves if the activity is important enough to increase the

medication.

" Our first choice is to treat the patient sufficiently so they can engage in

the activities they want, even escalating medications as a way to take care

of

pain. Eliminating desirable activities in order to be comfortable is a

second

choice. "

SOURCES: Journal of Music Therapy, Summer 2001. Carlton, MD, Mercy

Medical Center, Baltimore. Jill Noakre Luck, director of occupational

therapy,

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Mescher, vice president,

programs and services, Arthritis Foundation. American Occupational Therapy

Asso

ciation. Arthritis Foundation. North Coast Medical Functional Solutions.

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