Opening a stubborn jar can be a daily frustration for many, turning a simple task into an ordeal, especially for those who rely on disability aids. Whether it's a jar of pickles, pasta sauce, or any tightly sealed container, the struggle to gain access is real. Fortunately, there are various types of jar openers on the market designed to alleviate this common annoyance. In this article, we'll delve into the different types of disability aids, particularly jar openers, and shine a spotlight on Tenura's silicone jar openers as the ultimate solution.

Types of Jar Openers:  

Manual Jar Openers

Manual jar openers are the traditional go-to for many who use disability aids. They usually consist of a handheld device with adjustable teeth that grip the lid. While these openers can be effective, they require a fair amount of physical effort, which can pose a challenge for those with limited hand strength or dexterity, making disability aids like Tenura's jar openers a preferable choice.

Electric Jar Openers

Electric jar openers represent a significant leap in automation and are highly regarded as disability aids. These devices automatically twist the lid open with the push of a button. While they are convenient, they tend to be bulky and can be costly, making Tenura's silicone jar openers an accessible alternative.

Grip Mats

Grip mats are non-slip pads that can be placed under a jar to prevent it from moving while you twist the lid. While they can be effective for smaller jars, they may not provide sufficient leverage for stubborn or larger lids, making Tenura's jar openers, designed as disability aids, a more comprehensive solution.

Silicone Jar Openers by Tenura - A Versatile Disability Aid:

Now, let's focus on Tenura's silicone jar openers, a game-changer in the world of kitchen disability aids. These openers are not just another gadget; they are a testament to simplicity, effectiveness, and accessibility for those who rely on disability aids.

Tenura's silicone jar openers are crafted from high-quality, food-grade silicone. What sets them apart is their remarkable non-slip properties. The silicone material grips tightly to both the jar lid and your hand, providing the necessary traction to effortlessly twist the lid open. This feature is particularly advantageous for those with limited hand strength due to aging, arthritis, or other disabilities, making Tenura's jar openers a reliable choice among disability aids.

Versatile Applications Beyond Jars:

Tenura's silicone jar openers, renowned for their effectiveness in opening stubborn jar lids, offer versatile applications throughout daily life. These non-slip wonders can enhance independence by providing a secure grip on various surfaces. Use them on taps and faucets, making water control easier; wrap them around door knobs for improved accessibility; open medication bottles with ease; loosen tight caps on household items; secure cookware and utensil handles; and even enhance grip on exercise equipment during therapy or workouts. Tenura's silicone jar openers are more than just kitchen aids; they're versatile companions for conquering daily challenges and promoting self-reliance in various aspects of life.

Independence for the Elderly and Disabled Individuals:

Maintaining an independent lifestyle is a cherished goal, especially as we age or face mobility challenges due to disabilities. Simple tasks like opening a jar can become major obstacles. Tenura's silicone jar openers empower the elderly and disabled individuals to conquer these challenges and continue enjoying the autonomy they desire. With the non-slip grip, they can confidently open jars without assistance, preserving their self-reliance and dignity through the use of disability aids.

A Boon for Arthritis Sufferers and Occupational Therapists:

Arthritis can make everyday tasks painful and frustrating. The grip and twist required to open jars can exacerbate joint pain. Tenura's silicone jar openers offer a gentle yet secure grip, reducing the strain on arthritic hands. They are a welcome relief for individuals battling this condition or those undergoing occupational therapy, making it easier to access essential foods and maintain a balanced diet, thanks to these disability aids.

What is the Best Jar Opener for Seniors and Disabled Individuals?

Tenura's silicone jar openers have earned acclaim as the best disability aids for seniors and disabled individuals. Their non-slip grip and user-friendly design make them an ideal choice for those with limited hand strength, dexterity, or mobility issues. These openers provide a newfound sense of independence and convenience, allowing seniors to maintain their autonomy and making daily tasks much easier for disabled individuals who rely on disability aids.

In conclusion, the frustration of wrestling with a stubborn jar lid is a universal experience, especially for those who need disability aids. However, it doesn't have to be a daily annoyance. Tenura's silicone jar openers offer a simple, affordable, and effective solution as disability aids. They benefit the elderly and disabled individuals by promoting independence, providing relief for arthritis sufferers, and serving as a valuable resource for occupational therapists. With Tenura, the lid to convenience is always within reach, making these jar openers an essential part of disability aids. Say goodbye to jar-opening woes and hello to hassle-free access to your favourite treats.

Not everyone finds writing easy and comfortable, so you may be looking at the pros and cons of cutlery grips vs thicker pencils.

As children grow up, developing their fine motor skills plays a big role, from learning to walk to learning to write, and as the ones who care for them, we inevitably want the best for their development. These skills often deplete over time, with conditions such as arthritis or strokes impacting the body. But some products can help…

What are Cutlery Grips?

Tenura adaptive grips provide an extra layer of comfort to your writing thanks to their soft silicone construction - this material is also grip-enhancing.

Whether you struggle grasping pencils due to a lack of grip strength or looking for an easy, reusable way to improve your writing, Tenura's specially designed adaptive cutlery grips are versatile for all your gripping needs.

There are two sizes of cutlery grips available from Tenura. Children's cutlery grips - perfect for smaller items that are tricky to hold or difficult for smaller hands. Adult cutlery grips - suitable for anything from cutlery to hairbrushes, giving plenty of variety for these grips to be applied within your day-to-day life.

Tenura Cutlery Grip Pros

• Comfortable
• Cushioned grip, soft on the fingers
• Larger surface to grip
• Can be reused on hairbrushes, razors and toothbrushes
• Less strain on weak wrists
• 100% silicone
• No cost-saving chemicals & non-toxic
• Dishwasher safe
• Available in two sizes (children's & adults)

What are Thicker Pencils?

Thicker pencils are wider pencils to help those struggling to grasp thin objects and handles. To hold pencils requires dexterity and fine motor skills, which you may find tricky as a child or an older person, and this is where thicker pencils come in handy. They do, however, have some pros and cons.

Chunky pencil pros

• Boosts muscle development
• Less pain and stress on the hands (thinner pencils can be painful/­uncomfortable)
• Easier to grasp than normal pencils

Chunky pencil cons

• Limited to the set of thick pencils you buy
• Need a special pencil sharpener

Our final thoughts…

The soft silicone of Tenura adaptive cutlery grips lessens any discomfort and allows you to figure out the best way to hold your pencil/pen. Both cutlery grips and chunky pencils offer an easily accessible way to help with writing. Often used for those learning to write, they're a good first step into building grip.

 

Why not explore more about Tenura cutlery grips via the website and get yours today?

National Arthritis Week takes place from the 7^th to the 10^th of October. This year's theme is Let's Get Physical, which is pretty catchy thanks to the Oliva Newton-John song. Let's get physical, physical. The theme is to bring awareness to the importance of exercise for those with arthritis, and it's one of the well-known but underutilised treatments.

Why is Exercise Important for People with Arthritis?

Pain can become associated with particular movements. A person may avoid that motion, meaning that muscle isn't getting used and becomes weaker. This can lead to muscle weakness, and the muscle will need to work harder the next time the movement is repeated. Keeping the joints exercised keeps them in a healthy condition. It helps to prevent stiffness caused by immobility.

Being overweight is a factor in the chances of developing arthritis as you get older as it puts unnecessary strain on the joints. Exercise can help you become healthy and reduce the stress that excess weight puts on the joints.

What is the Best Exercise for Someone with Arthritis?

Low impact exercises and stretches are perfect for those with arthritis as they will avoid causing further damage to the joints and have a possible impact. Focus on the areas of your body affected by arthritis, and find some movements that can slowly increase your strength while also improving the joint's flexibility.

Tenura has recently released a blog that looks at some great hand exercises for arthritis you can do to improve mobility and reduce hand pain.

High-impact exercise could cause further damage and inflammation in already sore joints. Running wouldn't be a good exercise, but a walk or very light jog could be a good start. But it would help if you warmed up first.

How do I start Exercising with Arthritis?

Following a YouTube tutorial may be a good start, or you could find a local fitness class to ensure you get out and remain active. Be sure to tell the instructor of any health conditions you have so they can amend their class accordingly. By attending classes, you increase the chances of sticking to your daily exercises.

We have some more beginner ideas in our Activities in the Sun for People with Arthritis blog, which you can read for further exercise tips.

Can Arthritis be Reversed with Exercise?

Arthritis can't be reversed by exercise is a treatment for arthritis as it can improve the flexibility in the joint, getting good blood flow to the area and reduce stiffness. Exercise can also be a good preventative measure. Being overweight puts a lot of excess strain on joints. Exercise can help you lose weight/maintain a healthy weight.

Does Inactivity Make Arthritis Worse?

It certainly can; immobility will cause the joints to seize up, and stiffness will set in. This stiffness can be painful. Therefore, you should make sure to stand up and stretch at least once an hour.

Bein inactive also leads to weakness in muscles and joints as well as weight gain, which can have detrimental effects on those with arthritis.

 

Tenura hopes you have found this blog helpful. We have also got a special discount code for you, NAW10 (10% discount). We hope you find some Tenura arthritis aids that can help you maintain an independent lifestyle.

Physiotherapy awareness day takes place on the 8^th of September every year, with a special focus on Osteoarthritis for 2022.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis, which can occur due to injury, hereditary factors, age, weight and gender. It affects people of the age of 45 and is a more prominent condition in women, 12:1. Osteoarthritis affects the joints and can cause tenderness, pain, stiffness and knobbly-looking joints. It can also have an effect on the muscles around the joint, and they can become weaker and waste away due to the lack of movement, likely because of the pain when moving the joint.

 

Can Osteoarthritis Be Cured?

No, it can’t be cured, but there are daily things you can do to help maintain an independent lifestyle and reduce pain. 

• Exercise – you can follow the Tenura guide for hand exercises
• Losing weight – this will put less strain on your joints, lightening the load on your knees
• Medication – seek advice from your doctor for the correct course of painkillers
• Anti-inflammatories – Inflamed areas of skin can be treated with anti-inflammatory

 

What Products Can Help With Osteoarthritis?

Even the NHS website mentions the benefits of assistive devices that can help with Osteoarthritis. We want to add to that list and demonstrate a few Tenura arthritis aids that can help.

Improve Your Writing With Arthritis Aids

If you struggle to write as your wrists and muscles become painful, try a cutlery grip around the pencil or other thin handles objects such as cutlery or a toothbrush.

Get a Better Grip with Silicone Grip-Enhancement

Grip strips and silicone grip rolls are a great way to improve your grip on many objects, no matter their size. Use grip strips around small objects or handles, and the grip roll can be wrapped around larger objects for more grip and control over them.

Stand and Sit With Improved Mobility

Osteoarthritis can affect the knees, which makes standing up and sitting down tricky. You can use a Tenura non-slip floor mat to aid you when moving. The floor mat provides the user with grip and a good foothold to assist with mobility and reduce the risk of slips and falls.

 

Enjoy all the products mentioned above, plus all other Tenura daily living aids at a 10% discount with the code PAD10.

When you see the different types of grip we use in daily lives, it can help you to create your own exercises to help you stretch and improve hand dexterity, so let's explore some of the typical grips:

• Hammers Grip/­Cylindrical Grip

Holding a hammer, screwdriver, golf clubs, and wheelbarrow handles

• Precision Grip

Holding thin items like a needle or thread

• Hook Grip

Carrying a bucket or pulling a suitcase

• Pinch Grip

Holding a coin, flipping it over to view each side

• Lumbrical Grip

Holding a plate or tray flat on your hand

• Tip-to-Tip Grip

Picking up small items like crumbs, coins or pins

• Spherical Grip

Opening and closing jars

Products to Help you Complete Tasks that Require Grip

We are happy that you are taking time to read this blog to gather some helpful information on grip strength and how it can improve your life in daily tasks. We thought we would round up some products that can benefit those who need to improve grip strength.

Tenura Cutlery Grips

Cutlery handles are thin and can be tricky to grasp if you lack grip strength or dexterity in your hands. So, sliding on Tenura cutlery grips on utensils increases handle size, allowing you to grasp a more comfortable wider handle. You can use Tenura cutlery grips to improve your grip on many items around the home, including toothbrushes, hair combs, pens and pencils. This means you can now brush your teeth and hair with comfort as well as write and draw.

Tenura Jar Openers and Bottle Openers

These two products can help in a myriad of ways, from the primary function, opening bottles and jars, to helping you twist taps on and off and getting a good grip on smooth door and cupboard knobs. Tenura jar and bottle openers help with tasks that require your spherical grip.

Tenura Grip Strips

Similarly to cutlery grips, you can wrap grip strips around handles to improve your grasp on the object. The soft silicone is grip-enhancing, allowing you to get a proper hold of the item and reduce the risk of it slipping out of your hands.

You can use the grip strips on the items listed under cutlery grips, but you can also wrap the silicone around handles that wouldn't fit into cutlery grips. For example, you can wrap the silicone around the handles of walking aids like canes or rollators to improve your grip on the handle. You can wrap silicone strips around knives to ensure you have a safe and secure grip. When completing DIY tasks around the house, you may reach for a hammer or screwdriver, and these can be enhanced with the use of Tenura grip strips.

Tenura Grip Rolls

When carrying a briefcase, bucket or object by its handle, you use the hook grip. To make the grip more comfortable, wrap soft silicone around the handle, building up more of the silicone by wrapping it around a further few times to create a bigger handle and improve your comfort.

Your gardening hobby doesn't need to subside just because you have been experiencing dexterity or grip strength issues. You can wrap grip roll around your watering can, trowel or garden rake handles.

 

Why is Grip Strength Important?

You use the lateral pinch to unlock your home or a cupboard with a key. When playing sports like netball or basketball, you use a lumbrical grip. The types of grip we use are dependent on the situation and fall into two main categories, precision and power. Each grip by design allows you to make a precise action or a powerful movement.

A lack of grip strength can affect many tasks, for example, holding a toothbrush or grasping a knife to cut food. It can impact your ability to lift objects or hold wide bars such as grab rails. You may want to improve your ability to complete these tasks, so below we have detailed a few hand exercise recommendations that you could try. By doing these exercises daily for a short time, you can improve your hand grip and dexterity.

 

Hand Exercises to Improve Grip Strength

There are many exercises you can complete to help maintain your grip. So let's explore a few that are easy to do at home or on the go.

Squeeze a stress ball

This action uses the joints in your hand, flexing them and making them stronger - this movement helps with spherical grip

Pinch the stress ball

To practice and improve more dexterous movement, pinch the stress ball, using the pinch grip

Flex your wrists

Complete small circular motions and then get larger in rotation with each movement. It helps restore your joint mobility whilst also stretching your tendons and other parts of the joint

Thumb Circles

Similar to the above, you make a circling motion with your thumb and fingers, which can improve flexibility. This hand exercise can help you with many grips where the thumb is required, like cylindrical grips and lumbrical grips

Digit Stretch

Stretch your fingers and thumb out, then curl them into a fist, then repeat

 

We hope you have found this blog helpful. Please explore the Tenura products to find ways to improve daily tasks that require grip strength or mobility.

This year Global Arthritis Day will be held on the 12th of October. There are many global awareness days, which are vital, as they bring important topics to the forefront of people's minds. The Arthritis Foundation organises this awareness day, and you can join in on the action by using the hashtag #Cure­Art­hri­tisWAD.

Let's explore some interesting facts and other ways you can be involved in Global Arthritis Day 2021…

Interesting Origin Facts of Arthritis

It might be interesting for you to learn that the word arthritis comes from the Greek language. The word 'arthro' means joints, and 'itis' means inflamed. Inflamed joints is one of the main symptoms of Arthritis. often those with arthritis feel pain in affected areas, see reddening skin, and find their muscles feel tired/weak.

The earliest records of arthritis being present in humans' dates back to 4500 BC.

Who is Affected by Arthritis?

In the UK, over ten million people live with arthritis or equivalent condition, of which 400,000 have rheumatoid arthritis, the second most prevalent type of arthritis, the first being osteoarthritis, which affects approximately 8.5 million people. There are over one hundred types of arthritis worldwide.

Another fact that will shock you is that women are three times more likely to contract arthritis than men. The reason is that women's bones can move around more. Women have relaxed, natural bone positioning and a smooth, skeletal system that allows for more flexibility, but if a movement is performed incorrectly, it can lead to significant injury.

Men have bones coarse in texture and more defined muscle attachment. These two characteristics allow muscle connective tissue, tendons and ligaments to attach better to the bone, creating stronger supporting muscles that prevent improper movement in the joints. Women also experience bone density loss during menopause which can impact the development of arthritis.

Most types of arthritis begin in a person's late 40s to early 50s. However, children can get forms of arthritis, and the term for this is juvenile arthritis. They will likely be given casts/splints to help with movements and for support. 27,000 people under the age of 25 have arthritis in the UK, and of those, 12,000 are children.

Getting Treatment for Arthritis

As there is no known cure for arthritis, many treatments focus on reducing the pain the person experiences. Often you will be referred to a specialist in physiotherapy who can help combat the pain associated with arthritis.

Physi­ot­he­rapists can demonstrate posture improvements to their patient's and ways tskeleto move and maintain healthy joints to prevent further injury to the affected area. To help maintain activity levels, improve joint strength and motion, they can set goals to help you stay as active as possible. Physi­ot­he­rapists can also develop a personalised plan of pain-free exercises. If you do have any questions regarding your condition, they are full of advice surrounding arthritis.

In conjunction with joint exercises, physi­ot­he­rapists use pain relief treatments. Such techniques include massages, acupuncture, or thermotherapy methods. Thermotherapy uses temperature to improve blood circulation, tissue metabolism and elasticity.

To get this professional help for your arthritis, or if you suspect you have arthritis, you will first likely need to visit your GP, and they can refer you to a specialist. You can source a private physiotherapist through research online and a self-referral.

World Arthritis Day Themes

For the past four years, Global Arthritis Day's have had themes. It started in 2017 with the theme, "Don't Delay, Connect Today." This concept focused on accessibility to treatments for those with arthritis and emphasised the importance of early diagnosis. Spreading awareness of the symptoms can give a person the confidence to self-diagnose and seek a GP's advice.

 

Following this, in 2018, the theme for World Arthritis Day was "It's in your hands, take action.", which highlighted that healthcare is available for those living with arthritis and is more accessible thanks to last years WAD efforts. People need to visit their GP when symptoms occur for early diagnosis and treatments. Going untreated can cause further damage to the affected joints.

2019 and 2020 brought us the "Time2Work" theme, which emphasises company accessibility for people with arthritis. It also helped employers recognise ways to make workplaces more accessible and gave advice for employees on returning to work following rehabilitation.

2021's theme is not yet released, but we will update you via our socials as soon as more information becomes available, so be sure you follow us on one of the following platforms, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Those living with arthritis have the opportunity to aid medical research teams in discovering new drug treatments and be a part of changing laws and other legislation regarding arthritis, making things more accessible and less discriminatory. This can be done by enrolling on the Time2Research campaign, which runs all year-round.

Get Involved in World Arthritis Day

You can be involved in World Arthritis Day via the #Cure­Art­hri­tisWAD, post a picture and show your support to the cause. Join us, Tenura, and hundreds of other companies this WAD.

There are many dates throughout the year that help spread awareness and raise money for medical research. We have detailed some below:

• 2nd of February - Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day
• 20th of May - World Autoimmune and Auto-Inflammatory Arthritis Day
• June - Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
• 13th - 18th of September Rheumatoid Arthritis Week

Arthritis Aids & Your Free Gift

At Tenura, we have some brilliant arthritis aids that help those with arthritic hands perform daily tasks like opening bottles or turning taps. For help with these tasks, you may require a Tenura bottle opener. For larger containers such as jars or cleaning products, you may need a Tenura jar opener.

Tenura bottle and jar openers have many great benefits for people with arthritis and can be especially helpful in the following areas:

• Less muscle and grip strength is required to open twist-top containers when using a Tenura jar or bottle opener.
• Each bottle/jar opener can provide extra grip on other items around the home or workplace, such as taps, doorknobs and cupboard handles.
• Useful for people with arthritis or any condition that weakens hand grip as bottle openers/jar openers reduce the grip strength required to complete the same task, making it a more manageable and comfortable experience.
• You can use bottle openers in environments where a high hygiene standard must be maintained, which is vital for those who have had surgery for arthritis or have exposed skin from irritation and itching, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Tenura jar and bottle openers improve comfort due to their silicone structure. They protect your hands from the ribbed surface of many bottle and jar lids.

To qualify for a free Tenura bottle opener, you must spend £20+ at the Tenura web store and use the discount code BOTTLE20. To be eligible for a Tenura jar opener instead, spend £30+ via our website, and use the discount code JAR30.

This promotion is running from 04/10/21 to 25/10/21.

If you are interested in subjects like this and want to get exclusive deals in the future, make sure you subscribe to our blog.

To help advocate for World Arthritis Day 2020 (12^th of October), we thought it would be a great idea to answer some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding arthritis. We also have a 10% discount code you can use when buying Tenura products through our website.

Can Arthritis be Cured? / Can Arthritis be Treated?

Currently, a cure is not known for arthritis. However, there are many treatments available that can decelerate and help minimise the pain and other symptoms surrounding arthritis. If you believe you or someone you know has arthritis, seek a doctor’s advice immediately.

To treat arthritis, you can use prescribed medication. There are some lifestyle changes you can make too, such as spending more time in the sun, as Vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and allows the autoimmune system to work correctly. Sunshine is especially helpful for those with rheumatoid arthritis which is often caused by an autoimmune response in the body. You can read more about this in our "Activities in the Sun for People with Arthritis" blog.

There are various operations doctors can perform depending on the type of arthritis and its severity, with the well-known being, joint replacement surgery. During this surgery, a prosthetic joint replaces an arthritic joint.

Can Arthritis Spread?

Rheumatoid arthritis is currently perceived to spread via a person’s blood vessels. If a person has rheumatoid arthritis their arthritic joint releases synovial cells contained in the synovial sac (the sac lubricate joints to avoid friction and wear), these cells travel around the body, affecting other joints-according to a study at the Kerckhoff-Clinic, Germany.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis does not spread through the body. Due to this, a person with osteoarthritis may overcompensate, heavily using other joints to remain balanced and mobile. Overcom­pen­sating can cause those other joints to have excess stress put through them, which can be damaging, and this is why it is crucial to seek a doctor’s advice as soon as symptoms of arthritis occur.

What does Arthritis Look Like?

Arthritis can cause edema (swelling) in the affected areas, along with red-ish skin. In acute cases, joints are misshapen, so much so, the affected area takes on a new shape resulting in a crooked finger or toe. Knobbly abscesses can contribute to the malformed appearance, these abscesses are the body trying to protect itself, as the joints wear down, the body attempts to regrow the bone, and it doesn’t always grow in the shape it once was. Another indication of arthritis is small mucous cysts that develop on the hands.

What does Arthritis Feel Like?

Initially, it is said to feel achy, similar to a burning sensation which comes and goes depending on your activity level. In the later stages, the pain tends not to subside and remains in the affected joints. Around affected joints, the skin may be warm to the touch due to inflammation caused by irritated joints. Joints tend to become stiff and seize up, which is why the NHS recommends exercise.

How can you Participate in World Arthritis Day 2020?

We are glad you asked, there are many ways you can support World Arthritis Day. You can raise awareness and spread knowledge through your family, friends and social media. You can participate in local healthcare organisation’s charity events, appeals or fundraisers. Perhaps you could start a fundraiser yourself or participate in a fun run.

One of the ways Tenura will be supporting World Arthritis Day is through our marketing channels. We will be posting helpful information all month regarding Arthritis and Tenura arthritis aids. You can learn more about Tenura arthritis aids through our blog.

We are also offering a special 10% discount on Tenura products that can be excellent adaptive equipment for people with arthritis in their hands and fingers. Type WAD10 at checkout.

The Tenura products that you can claim the 10% discount on are as follows:

Tenura Non-Slip Coasters and Anti-Slip Mats

Non-slip coasters and anti-slip mats provide a place to rest things such as mugs and plates, the silicone grips onto the objects which keeps them held in position. A person with arthritis may find these anti-slip mats to be helpful, as you can use them in conjunction with the silicone jar and bottle openers to open containers with one hand, allowing you to use the less arthritic hand.

 

Tenura Silicone Jar and Bottle Opener

Jar and bottle openers enable you to open containers with ease. Tenura silicone has grip-enhancing properties that allow you to get a firm grasp of lids. For a person living with arthritis, these openers can be a great help as pain, swelling, or other flare-up symptoms can make objects a struggle to hold.

 Tenura Silicone Cutlery Grips

Arthritis can cause reduced movement in your hands and fingers that makes holding onto cutlery difficult. By sliding Tenura cutlery grips onto utensils, you no longer require the full motion used to clutch cutlery as the surface area is now greater.

 

Tenura Silicone Non-Slip Grip Strips and Rolls

Create bespoke arthritis aids using Tenura grip strips or rolls. You can cut Tenura silicone down to the size and shape required. Many of our customers who live with arthritis use the grip strips around handles of cupboards, pans, DIY and gardening tools, to mention a few. Tenura silicone is both a non-slip material and grip-enhancing, which is why it is perfect for use on handles, you can get a firm hold without the risk of things slipping out of your hands.

 

All the products listed above are made from Tenura silicone, which means they are:

• Antimicrobial (prevents bacteria harbouring)
• Washable by hand or dishwasher (withstanding temperatures up to 250°C)
• Non-toxic (safe to use in all environments)
• Latex-free

To stay up-to-date with all the events and activities during World Arthritis Day 2020, you can follow the hashtags:

• #WAD20
• #WorldA­rt­hri­tisDay
• #ArthritisDay
• #Arthri­tis­Da­y2020
• #Cure­Art­hri­tisWAD

And follow us on our social media channels; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and don’t forget to tag us in your World Arthritis Day activities and claim the 10% discount to use on our website with the code WAD10.

Occupational Therapy Day will take place on the 27^th of October 2020; it's an internationally recognised observance day that highlights the importance of hard work but also mental and physical wellbeing. This event celebrates the outstanding work of occupational therapists globally through their efforts to re-train and develop the human brain.

Tenura wants to say thank you to Occupational Therapists, and therefore, we are offering a 15% discount on the Tenura Kitchen Pack, an OT essential. Type in the discount code OTD15 at checkout.

What is Occupational Therapy?

A form of healthcare, occupational therapy (OT), is about rehabilitation via training and therapy; these techniques help patients attain the skills necessary for everyday life and to renter the workplace. Often a person requires OT if they have a physical or mental problem (impairment may be better than ‘problem’) that is currently impacting their life/ability to work.

The role of an occupational therapist is vast and includes developing everyday skills, like:

• Motor Skills (The action/movement of muscles – to walk, stand and balance)
• Life Skills (Cooking, cleaning and getting dressed)
• Social Skills (Handling rejection, rewards, and social interactions positively)
• Cognitive Skills (Problem-solving, decision making, and other brain-based skills)
• Coordination (Minimises the risk of injury while also promoting exercise)

People of all ages can seek an occupational therapist for several reasons. A person may need the help of an OT for help regarding birth injuries or defects, sensory processing disorders, autism, rheumatoid arthritis, and other such physical or cognitive difficulties.

To help patients, an OT may suggest you purchase certain types of occupational therapy equipment for the home. At Tenura, we have many home aids that can be beneficial to patients, for instance, the Tenura kitchen pack. Occupational therapy equipment for the home can range from small gadgets that help with menial tasks such as opening a jar, to larger disability aids such as grabrails and adaptive technology.

What is an Observance Day?

Observance days, also known as awareness days, are scattered throughout the year. United Nations General Assembly is one of a few organisations that creates the calendar, taking into account recent and historical events that need national or even global humanitarian reflection. We can all learn from our mistakes and successes for a positive future.

How Can you Participate in Occupation Therapy Day?

You can register to participate in the International Day of Occupational Therapy by arranging a volunteering activity. Over the years, there have been many ways to experience World OT day, including setting up information stands, television appeals, social media campaigns, all to spread the OT message. This year's message is to "Reimagine Doing" which reflects the actions OT community as they help and reimagine the best ways to assist the people in society who need it most.

Tenura has a special discount to help you celebrate Occupational Therapy Day 2020. We are offering a 15% discount on occupational therapy equipment for the home, specifically the Tenura kitchen pack, which contains three helpful aids for the elderly, disabled and other people who need assistance.

The Tenura Kitchen Pack Contains:

1 x Tenura Non-Slip Coaster

People who are seeking the advice of an occupational therapist may find this home aid very useful as it provides a helpful non-slip surface for resting objects you wish to remain in place as they won't get knocked over with ease.

1 x Tenura Silicone Bottle Opener

A silicone bottle opener can be especially useful for someone with disabilities such as Parkinson's, Arthritis or other hand impairments as it helps you to open bottles without the same level of stress in your muscles and joints.

1 x Tenura Silicone Jar Opener

Tenura's silicone jar opener is a larger version of the bottle opener, for use on bigger containers, but also on doorknobs, allowing you to get a firm grasp of the handle due to the silicone grip-enhancing properties.

You can stay on the pulse of the International Day of Occupational Therapy 2020 by following the hashtags:

• #OTDay2020
• #WorldOTDay2020

You can also follow these awesome accounts on Twitter:

• @thewfot
• @promotingot
• @TenuraUK (For special OT discounts)

If you would like to claim 15% off the Tenura kitchen pack enter the discount code OTD15 at checkout before the end of October and don't forget to tag us in your OT day celebrations.

Videos are a great way to showcase products, which is why we have teamed up once again with MegMazeMedia to produce our latest installment, the Jar and Bottle Opener video. In this video, we explore uses for Tenura jar and bottle openers, you know, besides opening containers.

Sit, back, relax, and enjoy the show.

As you can see at the start of this video, Tenura jar and bottle openers are in our eco-friendly packaging, an initiative we are pushing across the whole Tenura daily living aid range.

We manufacture Tenura jar, and bottle openers from 100% antimicrobial silicone, which gives Tenura silicone many advantageous properties. Their primary use is likely within a kitchen, to open tricky jars and containers, which is why they are antimicrobial, meaning bacteria and germs can’t harbour on the surface, which is fundamental in areas that require a high level of hygiene. Another terrific benefit that follows on from them being antimicrobial is that no cost-saving additives such as phthalate plasticisers are in their construction, meaning they are also non-toxic.

For people living with conditions such as arthritis that can result in weakened hand strength, Tenura jar and bottle openers can be a simple yet effective daily tool. Their compact size means you can take them to your workplace or a restaurant, wherever you may need this helpful gadget.

Tenura Jar Openers

Jar Openers have many great uses. From the video, you can see they work well when turning doorknobs or other large containers that can be slippery or tough to open. Tenura silicone jar openers allow you to gain purchase on smooth surfaces. The following were excellent examples in the video:

1. Twisting Doorknobs
2. Opening Jars
3. Opening large containers with twist-off caps

Tenura Bottle Openers

For smaller containers/­objects, Tenura offers the silicone bottle opener. Having a smaller version of the jar opener can help you gain purchase on items like bottle tops. In the video, we explore some great uses for this Tenura product:

1. Opening milk bottles
2. Turning taps
3. Opening pill bottles
4. Opening small containers with twist-off caps

Tenura silicone is easy to wash. Just like in the video, hot, soapy water is enough to get Tenura daily living aids clean. Tenura products are also dishwasher and autoclave safe up to 250°C. Sadly, some of our competitors cannot say the same. Please note that the non-slip, grip-enhancing properties return to Tenura silicone once dry. Tenura silicone is easy to wash. Just like in the video, hot, soapy water is enough to get Tenura daily living aids clean. Tenura products are also dishwasher and autoclave safe up to 250°C. Sadly, some of our competitors cannot say the same. Please note that the non-slip, grip-enhancing properties return to Tenura silicone once dry.

Both are available in red, blue, and yellow. They are available to purchase from our website: Tenura Bottle Opener | Tenura Jar Opener

We hope you enjoyed watching Tenura’s video. You can see more of our product videos via our YouTube channel. Let us know in the YouTube comments section any innovative uses you have used your Tenura jar and bottle openers for, we hope to hear from you soon.

There are things you can do to try and improve your well being and decrease the pain you may feel due to Arthritis. Staying active can help you to avoid stiffness in your joints and can also be a morale booster. Being out in the fresh air and underneath the warmth of the sun can provide many benefits for those who have Arthritis.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that tends to affect those who are part of the older generation this is often due to the natural wear and tear of material within joints. It does affect all ages and often impacts those who have been incredibly active throughout their childhood. Injury or infection can also increase your chance of Arthritis. Having said that, you should still exercise but do so on a flat, low impact ground that can absorb some of the force through the joints and help out to avoid falls. This can mean that the protective tissue within the joints has been worn away. It is beneficial to help decrease your risk of Arthritis and there are also certain activities you can do to relieve symptoms related to Arthritis.

Why is sunshine helpful to people with Arthritis?

Getting plenty of sunshine has been linked to a decreased risk of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. This long-term condition affects the joints and often causes pain, swelling and stiffness. Sunshine helps the body to synthesise Vitamin D. Vitamin D keeps bones healthy and the autoimmune system working. The autoimmune system is responsible for fighting off infections/­diseases. Sunshine for those who have Psoriatic Arthritis, they often see the clearing of patchy red skin associated with this condition. Psoriatic Arthritis affects some of those who have Psoriasis, which is a condition affected by the immune system. It is thought to be triggered by unusual immune responses and a sign of Psoriasis is red patches of skin near the affected joints.

Activities for people with Arthritis

There are all sorts of activities you can do in the sun. For people with Arthritis, it is important to keep in mind that pain may be experienced through some exercises, so it is essential to start slowly and get to know your bodies' limitations. You do not want to cause yourself further pain. Tenura has researched and found that the following activities reduce the risk of Arthritis and help improve the lives of those who have the condition.

Walking

Walking is an activity that can involve friends and family. You can visit new places and soak up the sunshine and fresh air. Walking is a great activity for people who have Arthritis, being sat still can cause the joint to stiffen up. Keeping muscles and tissue in the joints warm and limber and can allow the person to move easily without as much pain.

To make sure this is enjoyable and safe, you must wear trainers that fit and provide support for your ankle joints. A flat smooth surface such as a public footpath can also offer you more control over your movements and can help to avoid any accidental injury that could be caused. A walking stick or other daily living aids could be used to help you access more routes and offer an extra level of comfort and confidence. If you pair a walking aid with Tenura anti slip grip strips around the handle, additional comfort and support is offered and the handle will also have non slip properties.

Yoga

Yoga is adaptable to each individual. As the body becomes comfortable with the movements, the person becomes more flexible and can gain a connection between the mind and the body. Yoga holds this connection at its core and it is said to help relieve and find the source of pain. It can also help you find ways to deal with the pain. The slow and calm breathing can be a source of pain relief and is a useful technique, according to Dr. Kolasinski, a Rheumatologist at the University of Pennsylvania. To make this a safe activity make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing, including trainers that offer ankle support. You may also want to invest in knee and elbow bands/braces that provide support too.

To reap the most benefits from yoga, you should focus on a mixture of muscle-strengthening exercises, flexibility exercises and balance exercises.

Cycling

Cycling is an accessible activity for people with Arthritis as less strain is put through the joints due to the mechanical structure of a bike. These kinds of low impact activities are perfect for active people with musculoskeletal conditionals.

Arthritis Aids

Explore the range of Tenura daily living aids to find products that can help you complete exercises with more stability and confidence. Many of the daily living aids can have a positive impact on your life and be a great Arthritis aid.