Effectiveness of adaptive silverware on range of motion of the hand

Abstract

Background. Hand function is essential to a person’s self-efficacy and greatly affects quality of life. Adapted utensils with handles of increased diameters have historically been used to assist individuals with arthritis or other hand disabilities for feeding, and other related activities of daily living. To date, minimal research has examined the biomechanical effects of modified handles, or quantified the differences in ranges of motion (ROM) when using a standard versus a modified handle. The aim of this study was to quantify the ranges of motion (ROM) required for a healthy hand to use different adaptive spoons with electrogoniometry for the purpose of understanding the physiologic advantages that adapted spoons may provide patients with limited ROM.Methods. Hand measurements included the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP), proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP), and metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) for each finger and the interphalangeal (IP) and MCP joint for the thumb. Participants were 34 females age 18–30 (mean age 20.38 ± 1.67) with no previous hand injuries or abnormalities. Participants grasped spoons with standard handles, and spoons with handle diameters of 3.18 cm (1.25 inch), and 4.45 cm (1.75 inch). ROM measurements were obtained with an electrogoniometer to record the angle at each joint for each of the spoon handle sizes.Results. A 3 × 3 × 4 repeated measures ANOVA (Spoon handle size by Joint by Finger) found main effects on ROM of Joint (F(2, 33) = 318.68, Partial η2 = .95, p < .001), Spoon handle size (F(2, 33) = 598.73, Partial η2 = .97, p < .001), and Finger (F(3, 32) = 163.83, Partial η2 = .94, p < .001). As the spoon handle diameter size increased, the range of motion utilized to grasp the spoon handle decreased in all joints and all fingers (p < 0.01).Discussion. This study confirms the hypothesis that less range of motion is required to grip utensils with larger diameter handles, which in turn may reduce challenges for patients with limited ROM of the hand.

The Occupational Therapy Approach to Addressing Food Insecurity among Older Adults with Chronic Disease

“…Occupational therapy practitioners can teach strategies and establish reminders to label food and exercise safe, proper storage practices. Self-feeding may be resolved educating on the use of adaptive equipment such as scoop bowl/plate, built up utensil handles, or a rocker knife [45]; and fall risk interventions may be tailored to address fall prevention in the kitchen and during food-related activities [46,47]. Occupational therapy practitioners can assess and treat eating and swallowing difficulties by addressing oral–motor skills, bolus management, or dysphagia [48].…”

Effect on hand kinematics when using assistive devices during activities of daily living

“…Little research has attempted to study the quantitative effect of using ADs on the hand and upper limb posture (Van & Steenbergen, 2007; Ma et al, 2008; Ma et al, 2009b; McDonald et al, 2016). These experimental studies were conducted on healthy subjects (McDonald et al, 2016) and on subjects with pathologies such as Parkinson (Ma et al, 2008; Ma et al, 2009a) or cerebral palsy (Van & Steenbergen, 2007).…”

“…Little research has attempted to study the quantitative effect of using ADs on the hand and upper limb posture (Van & Steenbergen, 2007; Ma et al, 2008; Ma et al, 2009b; McDonald et al, 2016). These experimental studies were conducted on healthy subjects (McDonald et al, 2016) and on subjects with pathologies such as Parkinson (Ma et al, 2008; Ma et al, 2009a) or cerebral palsy (Van & Steenbergen, 2007). Some of these works studied the effect of thickening products’ handle (Van & Steenbergen, 2007; Ma et al, 2008; McDonald et al, 2016), while others were focused on varying products’ weight (Ma et al, 2009a).…”

“…These experimental studies were conducted on healthy subjects (McDonald et al, 2016) and on subjects with pathologies such as Parkinson (Ma et al, 2008; Ma et al, 2009a) or cerebral palsy (Van & Steenbergen, 2007). Some of these works studied the effect of thickening products’ handle (Van & Steenbergen, 2007; Ma et al, 2008; McDonald et al, 2016), while others were focused on varying products’ weight (Ma et al, 2009a). For patients with Parkinson’s disease (Ma et al, 2008) the ADs aimed to mitigate the effect of problems as joint rigidity or decreased hand aperture while in cerebral palsy patients the aim is to increase grasp stability, independent finger control and force control (Van & Steenbergen, 2007).…”

“…For patients with Parkinson’s disease (Ma et al, 2008) the ADs aimed to mitigate the effect of problems as joint rigidity or decreased hand aperture while in cerebral palsy patients the aim is to increase grasp stability, independent finger control and force control (Van & Steenbergen, 2007). In these studies, parameters such as hand posture (McDonald et al, 2016), arm posture (Van & Steenbergen, 2007; Ma et al, 2009a) or hand-arm posture (Ma et al, 2008) were analysed and some conclusions were drawn. The product handle diameter was found to affect the speed and smoothness of upper limb movement (Ma et al, 2008), evidencing a relationship between the product shape and hand kinematics.…”