Paintbrushes for Arthritis Suffers

Arthritis can severely limit the things you're able to do, but it doesn't mean an arthritis sufferer has to give up all household painting if they enjoy decorating this way. Careful choice of brush will make painting easier for you. There are also artist and household paintbrushes designed specifically for those with arthritis.

Ergonomic Design

Choose a brush with a large wide handle that's easy to use. Also make sure the hole in the top of the handle for hanging up the brush is large enough to hang it up easily. You don't want to have to try to maneuver a small hole over a small hook or nail. It's possible to buy paintbrushes with large handles and various sized bristles to meet your needs even though typically a paintbrush with a large handle will have a wide brush base. Finding this type of brush may require going to a specialized home hardware store or one that can order in brushes for you.

There is also a paintbrush with an angled handle available for arthritis suffers. Called the Right Brush, it's made to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand as you paint. This reduces the amount of wrist movement often necessary to paint. The brush has an indentation where the thumb rests comfortably and a top hook that makes it easy to rest the paintbrush on the edge of paint can within easy reach. The Right Brush is available in most home hardware stores.

Bristle Choice

It's important to spend the extra money and get good quality bristles on your paintbrush if you suffer from arthritis. Cheaper quality bristles provide poorer coverage and often more coats of paint are required to get the same coverage. If you purchase a brush with quality bristles you'll reduce the amount of work necessary and the amount of strain on your joints.

The average paintbrush in a home hardware store is made out of synthetic materials. They tend to be cheaper and easier to make. A brush made out of synthetic materials isn't a poor choice simply because of the material it's made from, but it can be a poor choice if the density of the bristles is too low or if they're poorly attached to the rest of the brush. Not only will they provide poor coverage because the bristles won't be able to effectively hold the paint, but the paint will also drip off the brush for the same reason.

The easiest way to check the quality of bristle is to examine the tips for split ends or stroke the brush against the back of your hand to feel for softness. Split ends and scratching on your hand indicate poor bristle quality or a defective brush.