Running head: THE GRIP-FREE GLOVE AND RACK 1

The Grip-Free Glove and Rack

Breanna Dickson
Touro University Nevada

THE GRIP-FREE GLOVE AND RACK 2

Client Description
My client is a 67 year old gentleman named Walter. Until his retirement, he worked full
time as a massage therapist for a large sports injuries clinic. Approximately three years ago, my
client started to develop pain and soreness in his hands, specifically in his metacarpophalangeal
(MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal joints (DIP), which his
physician later confirmed to be osteoarthritis (OA). Not only did his OA force him to retire from
massage therapy, it has also interfered with clients ability to exercise.
Walter has been referred for occupational therapy services for skilled instruction in using
adaptive devices as well as environmental modification. Although he is retired, Walter is very
active and independent during the day. Walter describes an ideal day for him as waking up,
making breakfast, taking his dogs to the park, eating lunch, doing a one hour work-out in his
home gym, going for a swim in his backyard pool, making dinner, and getting ready for bed.
Walter states he has not been able to enjoy an ideal day since his OA began. Collaboratively,
Walter and the occupational therapist have been able to make many adaptations that enable him
to participate in his daily tasks but nothing has been done to enable him to participate in favorite
leisure activity; weight-lifting.
When Walter was not in the clinic, he loved to work-out in his home gym. He owns a
recumbent bike, elliptical, flat bench, and a variety of free weights. He said, The gym is my
sanctuary. Some people mediate, others go for a drive, but I work-out to clear my mind. The
joint pain, aching, and stiffness caused by his OA made it hard for him to maintain a grip on the
dumbbells. He tried using resistance bands but said, They just dont feel the same, referring to
the lack of eccentric contraction from the bands. It has been three years since he has been able to
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lift weights so my client lacks the strength he once had. He expresses a desire to start lifting
weights again but has been advised to start with 1 lbs., 2 lbs., and a maximum of 5 lbs.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and it affects millions of people
world-wide. OA occurs when the cartilage covering the ends of bones in joints deteriorates over
time. OA symptoms include pain, stiffness, tenderness, and decreased range of motion. These
symptoms typically develop slowly and worsen over time. The disorder most commonly affects
joints in the hands, knees, neck, lower back, and hips. Risk factors for developing OA include
older age, obesity, and jobs that place repetitive stress on a particular joint. Lifestyle and home
remedies recommended to manage OA symptoms include losing weight, exercising, and using
adaptive devices (Osteoarthritis, 2013).
Assistive Device Description
My assistive device enhances my clients ability to engage in occupational performance
in the area of leisure participation. Before my device, which consists of an adapted weight-lifting
glove and weight rack, my client was not able to work-out which was something he once loved
to do. My client was frustrated because his OA only affects the small joints in his hands yet he
was unable participate in many upper-extremity exercises due to his impaired grip. My client
stated to me, If only I didnt have to use my hands to work-out, then this darn OA wouldnt feel
like so much of a burden. That statement inspired my weight-lifting glove and weight rack
design.
The Grip-Free Glove is a leather weight-lifting glove that allows the wearer the option to
not maintain a grip on the dumbbell. This works because of straps that have been sewn onto the
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base of the palmar side of the glove that cover the dumbbell and secure to Velcro on the dorsal
side of the glove. My clients wife works full-time so he is unable to rely on her for stand-by
assistance during his daily work-outs. The design of the glove allows Walter to no longer worry
about his grip fatiguing mid-workout; if he loses grip, the dumbbell will stay safely secured to
the glove rather than dropping to the floor. Although my client has been recommended to lift no
more than 5 lbs. in each hand, The Grip-Free Glove has been tested to hold 10 lbs. safely.
The Grip-Free Rack is a weight rack that has the ability to detach the Velcro from The
Grip-Free Glove, therefore, freeing the dumbbell. The base of the rack is a book shelf that is
lying horizontally rather than vertically. There are two small hooks, towards the top of the rack,
that are used to detach the Velcro from each glove. Below the two small hooks, there are four
medium U-hooks to catch each dumbbell once it is released from the glove. The rack was
designed because although my client is able to secure dumbbells to each hand, he had a much
harder time removing them. The Grip-Free Rack is a safe and inexpensive way to solve that
encumbrance.
Other Applicable Diagnoses
The Grip-Free Glove and Rack can be used with just about anyone with an impaired grip
and a desire to work-out. Since this glove was designed for lighter weights, it would be a great
addition to an older individuals work-out routine for added safety. Examples of other
populations that could benefit from The Grip-Free Glove and Rack include those with
Parkinsons disease and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. As always, it is important that any individual
wanting to start or resume a strength training program consult their physician first.
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Since this device was designed for a specific client, it is important to consider all
precautions for other individuals. For example, the client needs to have good cognitive
functioning to be able to use the gloves and rack safely. In addition, this system would most
likely not be suitable for individuals with open wounds, impaired hand sensation, deformities, or
contractures. In conclusion, it is crucial to educate all individuals who use this system on the
importance of monitoring skin integrity throughout and to stop and alert the therapist if any
redness, pain, or discomfort occurs.
Strengths and Limitations
Like all products, there are strengths and limitations to The Grip-Free Glove and Rack.
The strengths include ease of use, complete weight security, portability, and durable
construction. The Grip-Free Rack was designed not only as a method to store the dumbbells
when they are not in use but also as a way to detach the weight from both gloves simultaneously.
Since the rack is made from a bookshelf, the user is able to store their gloves and other work-out
supplies conveniently. The simple design of the system allows a client to learn the correct
application, use, and removal of the gloves after only one demonstration. Unlike other products,
The Grip-Free Glove completely secures the dumbbell to the hand so it is possible to complete a
variety of upper extremity exercises without ever gripping the dumbbell. Finally, The Grip-Free
Glove and Rack are durable yet portable; as long as there is a flat surface available, The Grip-
Free Rack can be used anywhere.
The limitations are that the gloves have only been tested with 10 lbs., there is little room
for error when returning the dumbbell to the rack, and little wrist support. Since the gloves were
designed specifically for my client who will be lifting a maximum of 5lbs., each glove has only
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been tested to hold up to 10 lbs. safely. In addition, the rack was designed to fit the dumbbells
my client already owns so it may not fit other types of dumbbells. To keep cost down, the
weight-lifting gloves that were used for The Grip-Free Glove were ones that my client already
owned. However, it could be beneficial to apply The Grip-Free Glove design to gloves that
already have a wrist support for added comfort.
Comparable Products
There are gloves that have a hook for holding weights to assist grip currently available on
the market. However, these options are insufficient for my clients needs. All of the designs on
the market are meant to decrease the amount of grip fatigue when lifting heavy weights and are
not meant to completely secure the weight to the hand. If a persons grip were to fail while
holding a dumbbell with the commercial hooks, they would still need to be able to react quickly
enough to return the dumbbell to a safe position otherwise it would fall out of their hand. In
addition, the grip-assist that most closely resembles my design retails for $54.95 from Versa
Gripps which is almost double the cost of my design. To conclude, my assistive device was
needed because it has the safety factor and low cost design that current market products lack.
Literature Review
The purpose of the study conducted by Rogers and Wilder (2007) was to determine the
effect of two years of whole body strength training and gripper exercise on hand pain, strength,
and function in adults with radiographic hand OA. The authors studied 55 older adults with a
mean age of 71.5 years living with hand OA. The participants completed a strength training
regimen three times per week for two years. The strength training routine was individualized by
adjusting the amount of resistance for each participant; a light weight was lifted for a set number
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of repetitions, then the participant would provide feedback on the amount of exertion, and then
adjustments were made until a near-maximal perceived effort was reached.
Pain, bilateral isotonic grip strength, bilateral isometric grip strength, and self-reported
hand and finger function were recorded at baseline. Isotonic and isometric grip strength
increased, pain decreased, and there was no changed noted for self-reported hand and finger
function. The decrease in hand pain, along with the lack of any decline in hand and finger
function, suggests that the exercises were safe and well tolerated by the participants. For the
purposes of this investigation, hand gripper exercise cannot be evaluated independent of the
whole body strength training routine. It is conceivable that gripping the equipment used during
other upper extremity exercises could have been adequate to see the same benefits even without
the gripper exercise. These results suggest strength training safely increases static and dynamic
grip strength and reduces pain in older adults with hand OA (Rogers & Wilder, 2007).
The purpose of the study conducted by Bennell, Dobson, & Hinman (2014) was to
identify barriers to exercise and develop strategies to maximize long-term adherence to exercise
for clients with OA. The authors note the benefits of exercise are comparable to reported
estimates for analgesics and oral NSAID drugs for OA pain but exercise has much fewer side
effects. Previous research has investigated the effects of exercise for knee OA, but there is much
less research for other joints, such as the hand, and the optimal dosage of exercise for people
with OA remains unclear. The authors found the barriers to exercise adherence are complex and
vary across individuals, and may change over time within a given individual, so a flexible
individualized approach to exercise is necessary. The authors conclude that all patients with OA
should be undertaking exercise for the management of their condition regardless of their disease
severity, age, pain levels, functional ability, and comorbidities.
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The previously mentioned studies by Rogers and Wilder (2007) and Bennell, Dobson, &
Hinman (2014) are relevant to the design of my assistive technology device and my client,
respectively. Rogers and Wilder (2007) noted that gripping the equipment used during upper
extremity exercises could have been adequate to see the same benefits even without the gripper
exercise. Even though the design of my weight-lifting glove does not require the client to have a
functional grip, it still allows the client the ability to use their grip if they please. Therefore, my
client is still able to reap the benefits of upper extremity exercise while also having the option to
strengthen his grip safely during weight-lifting. In addition, a major point by Bennell, Dobson, &
Hinman (2014) is that clients with OA should be undertaking exercise for the management of
their condition regardless of their disease severity, age, pain levels, functional ability, and
comorbidities. My client enjoys working out as a hobby and is pleased to learn that continuing to
exercise is not only safe, but also beneficial to his OA symptoms.
Conclusion
Since using The Grip-Free Glove and Rack, Walter has been able to enjoy his home gym
again. The American Occupational Therapy Association (2014) recognizes leisure participation
as an occupation so it is important that occupational therapists address this area with all clients. It
is especially important to address this area with retired clients since a majority of their time will
be spent participating in leisure activities. In addition to the evidence supporting exercise as a
method for managing OA symptoms, not being able to work-out would likely have psychological
effects on Walter such as decreased motivation and self-esteem. Overall, Walter has had no
issues using either the gloves or rack and is grateful to be back in the gym.

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References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework:
Domain & process. (3
rd
ed.) American Occupational Therapy Association.

Bennell, K. L., Dobson, F., & Hinman, R. S. (2014). Exercise in osteoarthritis: Moving from
prescription to adherence. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 28(1), 93-
117.Retrieved from http://www.bprclinrheum.com/article/S1521-6942(14)00010-2/pdf

Osteoarthritis. (2013). Handout on Health: Osteoarthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease. Retrieved from
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Osteoarthritis/default.asp

Rogers, M. W., & Wilder, F. V. (2007). The effects of strength training among persons with
hand osteoarthritis: A two-year follow-up study. Journal of hand therapy, 20(3), 244-
250. Retrieved from http://preventarthritis.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/10/Rogers2007.pdf





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Appendix A
Cost Analysis
Item My Cost Comparable Vendors
Leather weight-lifting glove Already owned by client $9.99 from Walmart
Nylon canvas fabric (1 yard) $7.95 from Hobby Lobby $8.90 from Amazon.com
Book shelf Already owned by client $19.00 from Target
Small hooks (2) $2.89 from Lowes $ 2.40 from Walmart
Sew-on Velcro $4.95 from Hobby Lobby $6.15 from Michaels
Medium U-hooks (4) $15.96 from Lowes $15.96 from Home Depot
Colored duct tape Already owned by client $2.49 from Walmart
My Total Cost $31.75


















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Appendix B
Model of Device
Figure B1
Figure B3
Figure B5
Figure B2
Figure B4
Figure B6