Which scissors are best for people with swollen or painful hand and finger joints?

An ergonomic pair of scissors for the garden that offer outstanding comfort, grip and controllability. The index finger loop substantially improves control and stability, while the shape nestles comfortably in the palm of the hand. Palm-squeeze action is ideal for gardeners with reduced strength or mobility, and minimises muscle and joint strain.

Available for £10.99 from www.polhill.co.uk or tel 01959 534212.

Craft

This pair of 10-inch Wilkinson Glide Lightweight Dressmaking and Upholstery Shears are suitable for anyone who suffers with arthritis in the hand or struggles to lift heavy scissors, but still wishes to use a larger shear for long cuts.

Super-sharp Teflon-coated blades and comfortable plastic handles means you’ll pick them up time and again. Delivered in a signature gift box, they can even be laser engraved for a beautiful present.

Available for £47.30 from www.whiteley.co.uk or tel 0114 251 4999.

Nails

Ultra-light self-opening mini nail scissors that no home or handbag should be without. Designed for those with stiff and painful hands, equally helpful for left- and right-handed.

Available for £8 from www.grannygetsagrip.com.

<<nail scissors>>

Self-opening

The Peta Easi-Grip Self Opening Kitchen Shears have large comfortable handles and automatically reopen after each cut. Extremely easy to use for people with weak grip, simply unlock the red safety catch and gently squeeze the scissors to cut.

Available for £8.95 from www.peta-uk.com or tel 01376 573476.

Stiff and painful hands? Five top tips when choosing scissors:

• Large handles can accommodate wider grips, useful when joints are swollen.
• Spring-loaded scissors are easier to open and close, requiring a lighter grip.
• Choose scissors with a soft grip to reduce the amount of pressure on wrist and finger joints.
• Test before buying to ensure they feel comfortable, lightweight and easy to open and close.
• Before using, practice exercises that improve hand mobility and flexibility.

Check out our round-up of useful items to take on holiday if you have arthritis or other forms of joint pain.

PS Did you know that Arthritis Digest Magazine is labelled the best UK Arthritis blog from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness?