A Gentle Turn: Converting Knobs to Handles Unlocks Independence at Home

For individuals navigating daily challenges of arthritis, proactively planning to age in place, or managing physical limitations associated with stoke recovery, a minor home upgrade can deliver surprisingly significant improvements. Replacing traditional, often difficult-to-grasp round doorknobs with more ergonomic lever-style handles can dramatically enhance everyday life by minimizing strain on sensitive hands and wrists, improving overall home accessibility, and fostering greater independence for seniors and those with arthritis.

The seemingly simple act of opening a door can become a source of pain and frustration for someone living with certain neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions. Arthritis, in particular, is characterized by inflammation, stiffness, and degradation in the joints, frequently affects the hands and wrists, making tasks that demand a firm grip and twisting motion especially challenging. Similarly, the natural declines in grip strength and hand dexterity that come with age can make manipulating small, round knobs increasingly difficult, impacting activities of daily living and quality of life.

Unlike a knob, which requires a tight grasp and rotation of the wrist, a lever handle can be operated with a simple downward push or upward pull using the palm, fist, or even the forearm or elbow. This action significantly minimizes stress on the small, often painful joints of the fingers and wrist, leading to reduced pain, increased comfort, and easier accessibility.

Physiatry is a branch of medicine that treats physical pain or limited movement non-surgically. These specialists work closely with primary care physicians, and work alongside neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, and others.

Physiatrist and assistant professor of orthopaedics & rehabilitation, Charles Odonkor, MD, MA, often helps patients determine their individual needs and offers medications, treatment options, and injections that can improve overall pain. Sometimes, these modalities can include slight lifestyle modifications.

“Lifestyle medicine focuses on everyday habits to help people prevent, treat, and even potentially reverse chronic health conditions without relying solely on medications or surgeries,” Odonkor says. “It’s about using simple, sustainable changes in a person’s daily routine, diet, sleep, movement, and stress management to improve their health and overall well-being.”

Lifestyle medicine plays a vital role in reducing symptoms and supporting independence for those living with arthritis, chronic pain, or who are recovering from a stroke. Simple nutritional modifications, according to Odonkor, can help reduce inflammation and include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and omega-3-rich foods such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

“Daily low-impact exercises such as walking and tai chi enhance the benefits of a healthy diet by promoting strength and balance,” Odonkor says. “I also encourage practicing good sleep hygiene by recommending a regular sleep schedule, avoiding screens like phones, tablets, and TV before bedtime, and using a supportive pillow and mattress. These simple changes, combined with a restful night of sleep, help joints and muscles recover overnight and enable the body to adequately heal, reduce pain, and boost energy.”

Lastly, simple home modifications can go a long way in preventing falls and protecting joints. Odonkor recommends removing loose rugs, improving lighting, installing grab bars in bathrooms, and using non-slip footwear to make daily movement safer and more comfortable.

“Perhaps the most overlooked change in a home environment is switching door hardware from knobs to lever handles, which can have an incredible impact on independence, comfort, and function,” says Odonkor. “These modifications align with the principles of lifestyle medicine by emphasizing sustainable daily habits and environments that both support health and reduce disability.”

• Alleviating Grip Strength Requirement: Opening a knob demands a significant degree of grip strength to maintain while twisting, which can be problematic for individuals with weakened hand function or age-related muscle loss known as sarcopenia. Lever handles can be operated without grip strength, and the force is applied over a larger surface area, making the action simplified and more accessible.
• No Wrist Rotation: The turning motion needed to operate a knob puts considerable strain on the fingers, hand, and wrist joint. For individuals with arthritis or limited mobility, this action can be acutely painful. The linear push or pull action of lever handles engages larger muscle groups in the arm and shoulder, bypassing the need for grip strength.
• Mechanical Advantage: The extended arm of a door handle provides increased leverage compared to a round knob. This means less force is required to achieve the same result.
• Accessibility: Reducing pain and frustration associated with everyday tasks can significantly improve an individual's overall level of comfort and well-being, fostering a more positive and enjoyable living environment. Lever handles offer greater adaptability for individuals with varying levels of mobility. They can also be easily operated while using assistive devices such as canes or walkers, or even by those with limited dexterity who might struggle with grasping a traditional knob securely.

“Because lever handles only require a gentle, single-directional movement rather than a strong grip and twisting motion, they demand far less effort from the small joints of the hand and wrist,” Odonkor explains. “This makes levers especially beneficial for individuals with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or limited dexterity. The ergonomic advantages also align with joint protection principles, which aim to preserve joint function by minimizing strain, encouraging efficient movements, and promoting independence in daily activities without worsening pain or causing further joint damage.”

Simply replacing traditional knobs with lever-style handles can have a profound impact on the daily lives of individuals with physically limiting conditions. By reducing the need for a tight grip and wrist rotation, these modifications can alleviate pain, enhance independence, improve safety, and contribute to a more comfortable and accessible home environment.

Creating an ergonomic living space empowers individuals to navigate their homes safely and confidently, minimizing the need for awkward movements or reliance on potentially unstable support, further contributing to the prevention of strains, sprains, and more serious orthopaedic incidents.

“As healthcare professionals, we recognize the importance of addressing not just the medical aspects of aging and chronic conditions, but also the practical, everyday challenges that influence a person's quality of life,” Odonkor adds. “By encouraging thoughtful, often overlooked home modifications, like switching from knobs to lever handles, we can help individuals maintain their autonomy, preserve dignity, and age safely in place. These small modifications can open doors, both literally and figuratively, to a life of greater comfort, confidence, and independence at home.”