1. Respect Pain - Activity induced pain is a sign of joint over-stress. You need to do your daily tasks at a level that is pain-free. Be aware of your activity tolerance and know when to stop a particular task before the point of discomfort. Use your hands in a way that avoids strain on painful and swollen joints. Activities that causes pain on your fingers which lasts for more than one hour should be avoided.

2. Avoid positions of deformity - We already have discussed the common hand deformity patterns involved in arthritis. Movement requirements of a particular task that accentuate the zigzag or collapse deformity pattern should be avoided. Avoid movements that further sway your fingers to the side (ulnar drift). Minimize pressure on the finger tips when you pinch. Excessive tip pinch pressure may aggravate the collapse or zigzag deformities common to arthritic fingers. It is important to use assistive devices that help improve your hand function and avoid deforming forces on joints at the same time. Remember that forceful or tight grasping and pinching movements can aggravate the collapse or zigzag deformities of arthritis.

3. Use larger or more stable parts of your upper extremities - Arthritic fingers are weak and unstable. Avoid placing excessive pressure on finger joints when lifting or carrying objects. Instead of hook grasping with your fingers, use your palm instead when lifting heavy objects. Lift grocery bags by slinging them on your forearm. Instead of using the grip handles on your bag, use the shoulder strap instead. Techniques like these can save your wrist and finger joints from aggravated pain and deformities on the long run.

4. Distribute Pressure - Avoid using only one hand when lifting or carrying heavy objects. Use both hands and distribute the contact surface of the load on your palms and forearm. You can also stabilize the load and decrease effort on your hands by hugging them against your torso. Most of us lift objects by hook fisting the fingers on a handle or around the edge of a box or package. This pattern is highly disfiguring to arthritic wrists and fingers and should be avoided at all times. Again, use the more stable palm and forearm when lifting heavy objects.

5. Minimize effort, avoid excessive load - When you think about it, its not that activities are bad for arthritis, its how you do them. Slide heavy objects on kitchen counters instead of lifting them. You don't need to carry objects manually all the time. Use a utility cart to move objects around the house. Frequently used items should be kept within easy reach near where they are used. Use prepared or precut food items to minimize hand work. Use electronic appliances or gadgets like a food processor or an electric can opener. You'll be amazed that most daily tasks can be completed with the same quality of work by taking "short cuts".

6. Use Assistive Devices - These devices have been designed to; 1. Improve the function of hands that have limited movement and strength, 2. Prevent aggravation of joint pain and deformities by maintaining proper alignment of joints and protecting them from damaging forces of daily hand use. Assistive devices are inexpensive. There is a wide variety of assistive devices available. They are task specific covering almost all aspects of activities of daily living. Be proactive and start using these devices to highly resistive grasping tasks that you find yourself doing frequently before your symptoms get worse. These devices will make it easier for you to accomplish your daily tasks. They help you prevent a symptom flare-up. Using assistive devices consistently as part of a lifestyle re-design, can save your hands from arthritis and is definitely worth the investment.

7. Larger handles are better for arthritic hands - The force requirements on your finger joints when holding a small handle is greater than when holding a bigger handle. In other words, holding smaller handles can be more disfiguring than holding bigger handles. Grasping tightly to hold a small handle can facilitate the ulnar drift deformity on your knuckles. Pinching on a small object can aggravate the boutonnière or swan neck deformities. Avoid these deformity patterns by using built up handles on your most commonly used items such as pens, spoon and fork, toothbrush, kitchen tools and utensils. Increasing the size of regular handles can be achieved by wrapping cloth or other materials around it. Using cylindrical foam tubes that you can insert on a small handle to make it bigger is very convenient. You will notice that it is more comfortable to hold a larger handle than a smaller one.

8. Keep your wrist and fingers well aligned when grasping or holding objects - Your wrist and fingers should be kept straight when grasping, lifting or carrying objects. This will prevent lateral displacement of weak joints. Avoid swaying or twisting movements of the wrist and fingers particularly on heavy grasping activities, such as opening the lid of a jar, as these movements accentuate the deformity patterns of arthritis. Find a way to use your palm while maintaining your wrist and fingers straight. Use gross movements of the elbow and shoulder instead of isolated wrist and finger movements if possible. Working within proper wrist and finger joint alignment can minimize the deformities associated with arthritis.

9. Take frequents rest breaks - Observe a balance of work and rest. Remember that certain types of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematous involve other organ systems as well, aside from the more visible joint involvement. This is the reason why people suffering from these types of arthritis often complain of low energy levels or easy fatigability. Do not push yourself to the limit as you may suffer the possible consequence of a symptom flare up. Instead of doing a particular task for hours break it into multiple sessions and alternate it with rest periods or other less taxing activities. Remember that your goal is to maintain a certain level of productivity without causing a symptom flare-up.