15 Assistive Devices for Psoriatic Arthritis

If you have psoriatic arthritis, joint pain and stiffness can get in the way of your everyday activities. But there are plenty of assistive devices on the market that can take the pressure off your joints and make daily tasks easier to perform.

Before you go shopping, ask yourself, What kinds of activities do I need help with? Make a list of tasks you find difficult, and ask your doctor or occupational therapist for personalized assistive device recommendations. Depending on the pattern of your joint involvement, you may have different needs than someone else living with the condition.

Start with these suggestions for tools that can help you do everything from getting dressed in the morning to taking a shower at night.

1. Jar opener: People who have joint pain from psoriatic arthritis — especially in their hands — often find it difficult to open bottles and jars. You may find rubber or silicone grippers can help. Another option is a “jar pop” or church key opener to break the vacuum seal that makes a new jar so difficult to open, says John Indalecio, a hand therapist at Orthopedic One in Columbus, Ohio. “After letting the air into the jar, it’s easy to open — as if you’ve opened it before,” he says. An electric jar opener will actually do the twisting for you without taxing your joints.

2. Phone stand: Cell phones can be difficult to grasp for anyone. Enter the Bunker Ring phone stand, a metal plate with a ring attached to it. Mount the plate to the back of your phone and slip your finger through the ring for a more secure grip. A PopSocket can also help you hold the phone without gripping or pinching it, says Indalecio.

3. Dressing stick: For the days when you want to dress up, a dressing stick can help you hold open your pants or stabilize your shoes. “A dress zipper tool for reaching zippers up the back can also make it easier to reach or reduce the need for help,” says Indalecio. Search “hip kit” for a group of tools (often used after hip replacement surgery) that make reaching your feet easier when you have psoriatic arthritis.

4. Long-handled shoehorn and sock aid: These tools minimize how much bending you have to do to put on socks and shoes.

5. Large-handled tools: Knives, forks, spoons, hairbrushes, and gardening and writing tools with large handles are easier to grip and may help prevent pain caused by trying to grip tools with smaller handles. If you can’t find large-handled versions of the tools you use most often, you can use foam tubing to build up the handles on small-diameter objects to make them easier to hold, says Indalecio.

6. Grab bars: Strategically placed grab bars can offer extra support throughout your home. Have them installed near staircase landings and in bathrooms, where slipping is a concern.

7. Hair-dryer stand: Hands-free hair dryer devices will keep your blow-dryer stationary. All you have to do is turn your head to dry your hair — no more struggling to hold up the dryer. To make styling your hair even easier, use a revolving hot-air brush, suggests Robyn De, who has psoriatic arthritis and shared this tip. “It’s easier to use than a classic hair dryer,” she says.

8. Nonslip counter mat: Improve your kitchen prep area by buying a roll of a nonslip material and cutting it to fit your counter space. You’ll work with less worry about bowls, dishes, and other items slipping away from you.

9. Food processor: Chopping up your vegetables in a food processor saves you from the exertion of using a knife. And you can clean the parts of the machine in a dishwasher.

10. Cross-body bag: If you have to carry personal items or bring home a few things from the store, a cross-body bag slung over one shoulder and placed on the opposite hip can help. “It centers your spine, distributes the weight, and uses your core muscles so there’s less pressure on small or distal joints,” says Indalecio.

11. Rolling cart: Instead of needing a superstrong grip to carry items around your house, you can slide them to your destination on a household cart. Just be sure to measure the width of your doors and hallways, and buy a cart that will fit through. “A cart is great,” says Gavin Hamer, a physical therapist who shared this tip on Tippi. “You don’t have to carry anything around the house, and it will save you from doing any bending and lifting.”

12. Ergonomic stool: A Luna standing desk and task stool, with a nonslip “wobble” base that lets you pivot around and shift positions, is ideal for anything from meal prep to folding laundry. The height should be adjustable, and the stool should promote natural posture. It’s much less fatiguing and better on your back, Indalecio says.

13. Shower seat: Showering and bathing while sitting down gives your joints a rest and can help prevent a fall. Add a long-handled sponge, a liquid soap dispenser, and a handheld showerhead for more ease while washing.

14. Stylus: Tapping away on your phone requires accurate fine-motor skills. Improve your chances of sending a typo-free message by using a stylus with a thick grip instead of your finger.

15. Electric toothbrush: “They use either vibration or rotary motions to clean teeth without having to scrub,” says Indalecio. “As with all arthritic conditions, the goal is to use the least amount of grip strength needed to perform the task. Putting less pressure across the small joints of the fingers and hands spares them from stress, preserving soft structures around the joints.”

Whatever assistive devices you opt for, it’s important to make them work for you. The bottom line is to find devices that save your energy, says Indalecio. “You also need to have patience with the application of these techniques. It’s a behavioral change.”

Above all else, says Indalecio, take frequent rest breaks and don’t push through the pain.

Additional reporting by Susan Jara and Nina Wasserman