Article - Taking the World On Single-Handedly

If you have ever sprained your wrist, banged your knuckles or stubbed a finger oddly, you have probably experienced the difficulties of trying to go about your day with only one hand. You might wonder how a person could manage to open a can, thread a needle or close their pants if they lost one hand permanently. As almost 10 million people can attest, it isn't easy, but it isn't as difficult as you might think.

It's true. There are over 5 million people with repetitive stress disorders from tennis elbow to carpal tunnel, 3 million stroke victims and thousands of amputees, people with arthritis, birth defects or neurological issues. They have to deal with being one-handed on a daily basis. How do they do it? With a little creativity, a few tools and practice, practice, practice.

The staff at Dynamic Living has collected tips and found products that can ease the learning curve for someone who has recently become single-handed.

Change how you think about the task.

Although change can be very frustrating, it can also be very liberating. You are used to approaching tasks, like opening a jar or getting dressed, with both hands. 

If you stop to think about what needs to be done, you will find there are other ways to accomplish your goals.

• Look for the easy way out. Does that task really have to be done? If not, eliminate it.

• Use the tools that are right in front of you:

  • Use every part of your body. You have four fingers and a thumb. You have several vices and clamps with you at all times: your teeth, your feet, your elbows, your knees. Can one of these body parts hold the item while your good hand works on the task?

  • A kitchen drawer and your hip can serve as a vice for opening a jar or cereal box.

  • Put a pot in the corner of the sink to hold it in place while you scour.

• Make a different choice.

  • When dressing, pants with an elastic waist are easier than jeans with tight buttons. Loafers are easier than shoes with laces.

  • Buy pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables rather than cutting up your own.

  • Serve from the stove rather than trying to move a heavy casserole to the table.

• Learn to think ahead a few steps. You don't want to find yourself in the middle of an effort that might cause an injury. When you begin this new way of working, an Occupational Therapist can help you learn what you can do safely.

Find a tool that lends a helping hand.

Don't worry about what a tool is "supposed" to be used for, imagine what it "can" be used for.

• Spring clamps, available in the hardware store, hold objects in place. A clamp on a table top can hold an envelope so you can open it with an envelope opener or hold a nail polish brush so you can polish your nails.

• A gardening apron with big pockets can help you carry utensils and condiments to the dinner table.

• A damp wash cloth can hold a bowl in place while you stir.

Review specialty tools that could work for you.

• Look for items with suction cups or non-slip surfaces to secure them to the counter or table. For example, a scrub brush on suction cups can be secured to the sink edge to scrape plates, clean nails or scrub a potato.

• Select tableware or cooking accessories with non-slip bottoms so they don't scoot away from you when you stir something.

• Knifes that roll or rock are much easier to cut with than knives you need to "saw" through the meat.

  • Rolling Mincers and Pizza Cutters can do more than mincing and slicing. They are usually very sharp and let you to apply pressure more easily while you cut.

  • Ulu Knife and various rocker knives have curved edges that let you rock the knife back and forth to cut.

  • The Knork is a knife fork combination that has an edge for cutting, similar to a rocker knife, and also has tines to pick up the food.

• Dressing Aids

  • A Button Hook has a wire loop that goes through a button hole, encircles the button and guides it back through the button hole.

  • The Bracelet Fastener has a clip to hold one end of the bracelet for you while you manipulate the clasp on the other end.