Rheumatoid arthritis can make even the simplest tasks difficult. With a little help from some assistive devices — and learning better ways to move — you can stay independent.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be a painful and debilitating disease, one that makes your regular routine difficult because it affects your joints, along with other areas of your body. But assistive devices can help you get through your day with less pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Changing Dynamics

When should you consider using assistive devices? “It depends on the task and the stage of the disease,” says Marie-Jose Benjamin, an occupational therapist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Early in the disease, things are not stressful. Later, when there are joint changes, people notice more problems.”

For people with rheumatoid arthritis, Benjamin says that the most difficult activities are those that involve resistance, weight, or pressure on the joints. “What problems you might have will also depend on if you are having flare-ups at the time.”

There are many aids, as well as changes you can make in how you move, to make it easier to accomplish daily tasks.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Assistive Devices in the Kitchen

There are many tools and devices that can help make cooking easier. Benjamin says to look for objects that give you a better grip. "Opening jars, lifting, reaching, and pulling can be difficult," he says. "You want any kind of power tool that can open jars or cut vegetables and bread.” Some choices:

• Small appliances. A food processor and electric jar or can opener can make short work of chopping, grating, and assembling ingredients during food preparation.
• Manual jar-opening devices. If you need to be mindful of expenses, any device that can be attached to jar lids to give you a better grip will be an affordable solution.
• Handles and knobs. Replace small knobs on cabinets and drawers with larger handles that are easier to grip.
• Stepstools. These can help you reach higher-up items without too much effort. Choose a stepstool that is well-balanced and lightweight so you can move it around easily.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Assistive Devices in the Bathroom

“In the bathroom, you want to make bending and standing easier. Maybe a bar to help you get in and out of the tub, and for the toilet, an arm rest near the toilet,” Benjamin says.

After installing bars and railings, small changes in other products you use can make a big difference, too:

• Look for easy-to-open medicine bottles and toiletries. Replace kid-safe lids that can cause trouble for stiff joints. Some manufacturers now are offering packaging geared to people with arthritis.
• Go electric. Electric toothbrushes can help keep your teeth and gums healthy without hurting your hand and wrist. And electric razors can make grooming easier.
• Sit down. Benjamin says fatigue is a big issue for people with rheumatoid arthritis, and since grooming activities take time, they can take a toll. A bathtub stool or a stool near the sink can give you a place to rest, should you get tired while washing your face, shaving, or showering.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Everyday Living

Devices and small adjustments can make every activity more joint-friendly:

• Getting dressed. No need to throw out your favorite blouses, shirts, or pants because you’re having trouble fastening them. You can buy buttoning aids and zipper pulls to help you get dressed. Or, see if you can find clothing that has Velcro fasteners. To get your shoes on, try a long-handled shoehorn.
• In the car. Turning a small key to start your car can be difficult on your hand. You can get wide key holders to make it easier for you to maneuver. Some new cars are being sold with a keyless starter.
• At work. Ask if you can get a hands-free headset for phone use and a chair and workstation that have adjustable heights.
• In the garden. Look for a kneeler or portable gardening chair and lightweight hoses at your local garden shop.
• Cleaning up. Buy a duster with a telescopic handle to reach down the length of chair legs and up to ceiling fans, and a vacuum that you don’t need to push.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Better Body Mechanics

You can help yourself the most by learning to move in easier ways. Before you start household chores, walk around first so you can get limber. Be conscious of how you bend, reach, and kneel:

• Protect your back. Before you reach for that laundry basket on the floor, consider how you are bending. Bend only from the knees, not from the waist. To straighten up, bend your knees a little, and make sure your back is arched. When you’re standing for long periods, keep one foot on an elevated surface, like a low stepstool — this takes the pressure off your back. When taking laundry out of the dryer, if you’re reaching with your right arm, kick back your left leg. If you’re reaching with your left arm, kick back with your right leg.
• Don’t stretch to reach. Bring the object to you, either by standing on a step stool or using poles and wands with extended handles. The point is to keep your arms close so that you don’t strain your shoulders.
• Kneel correctly. Don’t kneel on both knees simultaneously; kneel on one, then switch often. This will spread out the pressure more. Also, wear knee pads or cushion your knees with a pillow or article of clothing.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Finding Resources

Studies have shown that people who seek out the help of an occupational therapist do better with daily chores than those who do not.

The Internet can also help you find the products that you need, Benjamin says, adding that Arthritis.org has a list of the products that have been rated “easy to use” by a team of researchers.

Talk to other people with rheumatoid arthritis and ask what products they like. “Do some research to make sure that you’re getting something that will work for you," Benjamin advises. “The most important thing is that people with rheumatoid arthritis learn how to manage themselves because it’s a lifelong disease. As it changes over time, you’ll be able to adjust on your own.”