arthritis int he hands and wrist | Arthritis Information

My name is Gary Madoc-Jones, I am studying Engineering Product Design, and in my final year at The University of Central England Birmingham.

It is a requirement we do a final year project, and the area that I have chosen is arthritis.

what i aim to do is research a specific area which is arthritis in the hands and the wrist. i need to a product i could design, or make that product better for arthritis sufferers

has anybody got this problem or could any one suggest any problems to me

thanx gary

Yes I do!

I have a terrrible time getting the F'ing gas cap off my Jetta. Please make a pliers type tool that looks like a hammer head shark, (out of plastic-no sparks!) with maybe a T type tail for just a little more leverage. Man I hate going to the gas station - I always hurt my hands.

You'll make a million! There are lots of people with weak painful hands struggling with their cars gas caps! There are even more women with fancy finger nails that they don't want to break, struggling too!

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have medicine in a childproof bottle that I didn't have to go find a kid to open?

I am surprised that you have not had a ton of responses.

marian38745.7982407407What a great idea, Marian. I thought I was the only one who hates that trip to the gas station--especially since the mechanic told me I had to tighten my gas cap each time till it clicks five times. Jeez. Those things are so tight, plastic might not work. But maybe something heavy duty that's at least coated in something that doesn't spark. Hey--how about the gas cap itself? Something that telescopes out from the cap so we could get a grasp on the little bugger. After all, it's really getting a good hold on it that's the problem, right?I've got another one, Gary. A toothpaste tube you don't have to squeeze. Better yet, big plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles that are easier to squeeze.How about after you get the gas cap off, a tool that squeezes the handle of the gas pump and holds it it clasped while the gas is going into the gas tank. Take too much hand strength. Yes! Good idea. And on the subject of squeezing, how about a handheld stapler that will staple correctly with little or no squeezing. Normal staplers you find in offices are brutal. What alot of us have is arthritis to the muscle around the base of our thumb which gets aggravated by the repetive motion like a using a stapler, even to help in holding something in our hands etc., what we need is something that we can put onto a tube of toothpaste, silverware, even find a mouse that fits our hands better and does not cause the stiffness and swelling we get from using it. With the stiffness comes the swelling of our palm from the aggravation and causes pain when we touch against somethingHow about developing a push-button control for opening a vehicle door, which would operate in the same way a push-button does to open the trunk? Even though I prefer not to drive because my stiffness has resulted in a definite slowed down reaction time, it would be nice to be able to get into a vehicle, even as a passenger, without assistance. Hey guys and gals

thanx for replying to this, i will take all of your points into account, they are very good ideas.

sorry for not replying sooner, been a bit busy

tralalallaaaaaaaaaaa

oh wow, this is a fun topic....

shampoo & conditioner bottles that are easier to hold & squeeze is a good one.

I have my shampoo and conditioner , and even my body wash all in those pump bottles. (you can get them at walmart for a dollar...LOL)
I buy them in bulk, and then have my husband or daughter pour them into those pump bottles. I cant maneuver those squeeze bottles in dry conditions, much less in wet ones... LOL

What I need is something to WASH my HAIR when I cant move my hands.

As for getting the gas cap off - I carry around in my car some plier type things to help me grasp it.

A lot of the things you all are mentioning are already available. There's a catalog I received in the mail one time for arthiritic people. It had things in there to help with everything - from getting dressed to tying shoes, washing in the shower, driving, everything. I am frantically searching for that magazine.... and if I find it - I will post the name on here.

Gary Bach I'm sure needs something that isn't already done....

I'm going to go search for that catalog again......................I know I have it here somewhere

woobie

http://www.gripadvantage.com/index.php3

Ok - here's something!

they even have a toothpaste thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

this isn't the catalog that I have, but I found it online - and it has a lot of things.........

sorry gary bach - i know you were looking for something that hasn't been done. This will help in the way of knowing what HAS been done. I cannot think of anything - except something to WASH my hair when my hands wont work. Maybe a cabana boy??

I'm still going to be looking.

Maybe I'll post these links into another thread too.........

woobie

gas cap wrenches