Cutlery and cooking utensils often have thin handles. A range of cutlery is available commercially with built up, contoured handles for easy gripping. To build up the gripping surface on other cutlery or utensils, a range of commercially available products are available including:
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mushroom shaped handles
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contoured handles with grips
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built up grips made from plastic
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lightweight grips
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contoured handles with hold cut outs for fingers and thumb
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utensil cuffs that attach to the hand and allow the utensil to be slipped into the holder on the cuff and eliminate the need for use of the fingers or thumb during utensil use
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utensil cuffs which attach over the hand and wrist to support cutlery and eliminate both hand and wrist use during eating
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built up cutlery with an adjustable strap that attaches over the hand to help with gripping
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closed cell foam tubing with a hole in the centre which is available in a range of widths, can be cut to length and slid over the handle of utensils. A specialised paint is available in which to coat foam tubing to assist with waterproofing.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
For people working in kitchen or meal preparation environments with disabilities affecting their capacity to grip handles on knives and other utensils, utensil handle covers may assist with gripping capacity, reducing fatigue and increasing task endurance. A range of specialised alternative grip knives are also available if working in a commercial kitchen environment (Safety & Mobility Pty Ltd 2007; Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2008).
References:
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2008, Eating & Drinking: Cutlery Handle Adaptations & Orthoses, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 16 April 2008, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=WA&page=1&MC=31&MinC=15.
Safety and Mobility Pty Ltd 2007, Product Home Page, Safety and Mobility Pty Ltd, Sydney, viewed 16 April 2008, http://www.safetyandmobility.com.au/Products.php?CategoryID=6.