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News Releases
Easy Gift Ideas Under $20
The holidays are just right around the corner. If you have someone with arthritis left on your list - here are a few great buys under $20.00 to make that special someone's life a little easier.
"Here are some gifts that surprise, but also promise pleasure," says Diana Baldwin, occupational therapist at the University of Missouri-Columbia and researcher for the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. "Continue with those activities that are enjoyable. Play cards longer or scrapbook or garden or cook or read. These are suggestions for gifts that will decrease muscle fatigue and stiffness, especially activities hard on hands and wrists."
For the gardener, buy tools with larger non-slip cushioned handles with ergonomic styling. You can find these tools online or in major garden centers, such as:
- Radius Ergonomic Grip Garden tools, known as "green tools," are an excellent choice. These tools can be found at ACE Hardware or Target online.
- Good Grip Gel-E Garden tools by OXO.
- Easi Grip Garden Tools also have extended wrist supports.
Other gift ideas for help around the house include:
- Kitchen utensils with OXO Good Grips or Gel-E handles (available at Macy's or Target) or utensils with large, non-slip cushioned, curved handles like Rubbermaid (available at Wal-Mart). Also look for potato peeler, ice cream scoop, and angled measuring cups.
- No-hands or Touch 2 Go Hands Free Can Opener (available at major department stores or Sharper Image).
- Easy grip bottle or can opener - found in many styles.
- Touch-type control lamp switch made for any lamp (available at Lowe's).
For someone who likes to play, check out these leisure gift ideas:
- Provo crochet hook set with ergonomic handle and interchangeable size hooks (available online); also Clover Soft Touch crochet hooks with large cushioned handles (available at Jo-Ann's Fabric and Craft Store).
- Battery Card Shuffler; Card Holder - available in round and triangle hand-held sets or table holders.
- FISKARS Softouch Scissors with spring action ergonomic handles (available at Jo-Ann's Fabric and Craft Store or Wal-Mart); or for people who like to scrapbook, check out the squeeze punch.
These are a few gift ideas that are sure to make 2008 easier...and a lot more fun for someone with arthritis. For more information, visit http://www.marrtc.org.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
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