In daily life, preparing and eating food is a necessity. It should be as easy as possible and be a pleasant experience. Unfortunately for those suffering from diseases like Arthritis and Parkinson's, preparing a meal can be a painful and stressful process. Using any utensils like toothbrushes, pens, and many other items can be a struggle. Thankfully, Tenura has created cutlery grips to help in situations just like this!

Tenura cutlery grips create an enlarged surface area around small objects that are hard to use and hold. Cutlery grips have two slits in the middle of the material, allowing the objects to sit in without leaving space for movement, making using these utensils a more comfortable experience.

Tenura silicone has many benefits, including being non-toxic, antimicrobial, and easy to wash (dishwasher safe). In our blog, we are going to uncover advantageous ways you can put your Tenura cutlery grips to use.

Using Cutlery Grips for Dining and Food Preparation

Food preparation can be hard for those who suffer from impairments to strength of grip, from pain to struggling to hold implements sufficiently. It can become a challenge very quickly instead of a day to day task. Tenura cutlery grips can increase the surface area of the object and make it easier to grip and hold. This makes preparing food easier, less painful, and safer. Cutlery grips can be washed with ease. An application of soap and hot water will be enough to guarantee a good level of hygiene and make them ready to use again and again!

After you have slaved away in the kitchen comes the best part of the process, the eating of the food. This process should be enjoyable after you have worked hard to prepare a meal. But for those with hand impairments or impairing diseases, the eating of the food can be very difficult. Items like knives and forks can be challenging to hold and use effectively. Tenura cutlery grips can make knives, forks, and spoons much easier to use and less painful.

Slip utensils into Tenura cutlery grips. The now increased handle size of your knife and fork helps to stabilise your hands, allowing you to stay in control of the movement. Cutlery grips are 100% silicone in structure, providing a comfortable, helpful eating aid.

Using Cutlery Grips with Pens & Pencils

Writing is an essential skill that is needed almost all the time. From a very young age, most of us learn the skill of writing. Unfortunately, as you age, diseases and accidents can sometimes impair your ability to do this. Arthritis can make precise movements with your hand painful and hard to do. Thankfully, Tenura cutlery grips can provide a grip-enhanced surface area around pens and pencils, making them easier to hold. Cutlery grips relieve some of the pain involved when trying to hold the pen or pencil tightly enough to use effectively. Tenura cutlery grips help to make writing easier and more comfortable and maintaining an important skill.

Using Cutlery Grips with Tooth Brushes

Brushing your teeth is a vital part of day-to-day life. Without clean teeth, tooth decay is inevitable, which can lead to painful toothache and expensive surgery to get it corrected. Unfortunately, brushing your teeth requires a certain level of precision and pressure. These two things can be tough for those who have arthritis and other impairments.

Effectively using and holding a toothbrush can also be a very difficult experience. Cutlery grips can be applied to any standard toothbrush with ease, allowing you to manoeuvre the toothbrush around your mouth and grip the brush easier. Cutlery grips decrease the chance of injury to gums and teeth that could happen without their support, which makes this important daily task much easier to accomplish.

Cutlery grips are a great eating aid. Cutlery grips allow tasks that need you to grip and use small items in much more comfort. For more information regarding Tenura cutlery grips, please visit the website.

Tenura cutlery grips are also available in an ergonomically designed version for children, aptly named Children's cutlery grips.

Tenura is attending the Rehacare 2015 exhibition!

We are looking forward to getting this exhibition underway and answering any and all questions the general public will have for us. Tenura can be found in Hall 3 at stand 03 A70/I!

Held in Dusseldorf, Germany, Rehacare brings together many companies and speakers who have many years’ experience in the rehabilitation and mobility market. This year, we will be bringing our range of daily living aids to show visitors how useful these items can be at everyday tasks that little bit easier.

Rehacare is one of the biggest international trade fairs for rehabilitation, prevention and inclusion and care products and services. Which is why were so excited to be here. This gives us a great chance to talk to the general public and answer any questions they may have, whilst also allowing us to form strong friendships and business opportunities.

For more information on how the expos going, follow us on the Tenura Facebook and Twitter ! We will be updating these throughout the expo letting you all know how we are getting on!

Spillages are a common nuisance in day-to-day life, creating a mess that can take time and effort to clean up. Spills can also lead to slips and falls, which can cause serious injury. Diseases like Parkinson’s and Arthritis make people very prone to spills and messes due to the effect the disease has on their movement. Luckily, Tenura has created another daily living aid. It has a strong non-slip surface and works well when placed under your cup or mug. It’s a Tenura Cup Holder!

Tenura silicone antimicrobial moulded cup holder works just like a regular drinks coaster but it's fitted to the bottom of a cup or mug. This allows you to take an anti-slip grip drinks holder wherever you need it, helping to prevent nasty spills and stains in day-to-day life. Hot liquids can create very unpleasant spills and messes, especially if spilt on yourself or others. Tenura cup holders can provide a firm non-slip surface to help prevent this from happening. The silicone drinks holder will also catch any small spills, preventing stains on clothing, fabrics, or tables and chairs.

Tenura cup holders can be applied to the base of many cups or mugs with ease, take your cup or mug and slip it into the seat inside the cup holder. Your Tenura silicone drinks holder will then form a non-slip grip underneath and around the cup, preventing it from moving. Silicone cup holders will also form a strong grip with any flat surface it is placed upon, preventing unwanted movement, which could lead to the cup being knocked over.

Tenura cup holders have antimicrobial properties, another brilliant benefit! No bacteria or dirt can grow or harbor on Tenura silicone. A combination of hot water and soap is more than enough to keep a silicone cup holder clean and hygienic, ready for its next use. Tenura cup holders are also made from 100% non-toxic silicone, meaning no harmful chemicals like phthalates are present in Tenura cup holders, keeping you and your family safe from the damage these chemicals can cause.

Tenura CupCaps are a great product to combine with Tenura cup holders to help prevent spills and stains when lifting and drinking from cups, cans, and mugs! CupCaps create a strong seal over the top of most cups, mugs and glasses, preventing the liquid from spilling while allowing you to drink through a straw that can be placed through a small eyelet in the middle of the CupCap. This can be done by simply stretching the silicone CupCap over the top of a cup, mug or can. Your silicone CupCap will then form a strong grip with the sides of the container and stop liquid from spilling out.

Tenura cup holders can be found in red, blue, and yellow.

CupCaps can be found a pack of 2 (1 x 80mm CupCap & 1 x 60mm CupCap) both in a translucent blue.

Spills and stains are something everyone hates and are potentially dangerous for those who don't know they are there. Liquids on any smooth or shiny surface can quickly create a hazard and can lead to serious slip and fall injuries. Hot liquids are also a concern, as spilling them on yourself or another person can cause burns.

Unfortunately for those who suffer from Arthritis, Parkinson's, and other impairments and diseases similar, spills can often happen and can be very tiring to clean up. Tenura CupCaps are drink covers that help to prevent such spills and stains thanks to the complete seal over the top of cups, mugs, and cans.

Tenura CupCaps are silicone drink covers that come in a pack of two, one measuring 80mm in diameter and the other 60mm—allowing you to create a seal over almost any drinks container.

CupCaps can be placed over most cups, mugs and glasses to create a complete seal over the top, preventing liquid from spilling out of the container. This will stop spills and stains dead in their tracks and allow you to drink from a container without the aforementioned spills.

80mm Tenura CupCaps can be stretched and moulded over almost any cup or glass for cold or hot drinks, allowing you to use this item in the house or on the go. A small eyelet in the middle of the material will allow a straw to be placed. This will let you drink from the container without the chance of a spill. CupCaps can also be used to keep drinks fresher for longer. The silicone-covered drinks container protects from debris, making CupCaps superb drink covers for the outdoors.

Tenura silicone CupCaps are anti-microbial, meaning no bacteria or fungi can grow or live on the material. A simple application of soap and water is enough to keep Tenura cup caps clean and hygienic (CupCaps are dishwasher safe). Tenura CupCaps can be especially useful for small children, as cups and mugs can be dropped or knocked over easily.

Cans are a great way to get a drink on the go, perfect for a quick lunchtime at work. However, a spill with most fizzy drinks can cause untold damage to a work environment, creating a sticky mess on your desk, or all over your equipment. This can happen a lot for those who suffer from diseases like Parkinson's or those who suffer from hand and arm impairment. Luckily, Tenura can offer a solution, an exceptional can drinks cover, the Tenura CupCap! 

The 60mm cup cap is a drinks cover that is suitable for smaller drinks containers than its counterpart and will provide a strong seal, helping to prevent spills and stains and keep your drink fresher for longer. The eyelet in the middle of the CupCap allows for the insertion of a straw. Drink from the can without the possibility of spillages.

CupCaps can be applied around cans easily and will stretch to conform to the shape of the can. Stretch the drink cover around the can, making sure the silicone is sealed around the rim of the can, then smooth down the edges of the cup cap to the sides of the can. Tenura CupCaps can be removed just as easily before recycling the empty can.

Self-sealing CupCaps provide a drinks cover that is a strong sealed surface, which will prevent liquids from spilling and staining, making day to day life easier for those with physical impairments and keeping the environment around them much safer for everyone and themselves. To find out more about Tenura CupCaps, please visit the website.

Those who suffer from Osteoarthritis have to cope with a great deal of pain and discomfort due to their joints becoming damaged. The cartilage between joints becomes hard and thin, and bones become thicker. Eventually, the bones change shape, which causes them to move position. In extreme circumstances where the cartilage completely disappears, the bones rub together, which causes damage and a change of shape in your joint, which is incredibly painful. However, Scientists at the University of Manchester have researched stem cells, with hopes to be able to treat Osteoarthritis!

Research Breakthrough

The researchers at the University of Manchester implanted the cartilage stem cells into damaged cartilage on the knee joints of rats. The following four weeks showed that the cartilage had partially repaired, and after 12 weeks, the cartilage seemed smooth and similar to normal healthy cartilage. This study showed very interesting results and so far, hasn’t shown any inkling of nasty side effects that earlier stem cell research showed, e.g. tumours. This is a big step forward for research into stem cells and the treatment of Osteoarthritis. Much more research will have to be done before human trials are set to go forward, this is to make sure the treatment will have no nasty side effects and test the procedure to see if it will help long term. Researchers have also said that at the moment, they are using adult stems cells, which are very difficult and costly to produce, so only small-scale tests are being made. Regardless of the current problems with production, this research shows a great help for those with Osteoarthritis and, hopefully, in the next few years, will prove an effective treatment for the disease.

How can Tenura help?

Although Tenura doesn’t have the ability to cure or treat impairing diseases, we can provide a selection of independent living aids designed to make small and frequent tasks much easier. Here are some Tenura disability aids that are useful to those with Arthritis:

Tenura anti-slip grip strips are just such an example. Anti-slip grip strips are made from 100% silicone. Therefore, they can be easily wrapped around almost any object you struggle to gain a comfortable grip. Tenura silicone creates a strong, grip-enhancing, and much more comfortable surface around objects, which will make it easier to pick up and use.

Tenura cutlery grips offer similar help. Cutlery grips can be applied to most knives, forks, and other utensils. Once applied, Tenura cutlery grips create a large surface area that is easy to hold and will not stress the joints in your fingers, increasing grip and comfort.

Both Tenura anti-slip grips strips and cutlery grips are non-toxic and antimicrobial, so are safe to use around the home and in areas that require a high level of hygiene, for instance, medical practices. The silicone is easy to wash (dishwasher safe).

Daily living aids provide assistance for those with arthritis and an impaired grip. Tenura has many helpful blogs on disability aids on our website under  Blogs - > Arthritis Aids.

You can order disability aids direct from the Tenura website, and those who are VAT Exempt can register to buy Tenura products VAT free. Free shipping is also available on all orders over £50.

Disabilities and Impairments can make everyday tasks much harder. From operating door handles and preparing and cooking food, these tasks can be tiring and genuinely hard to accomplish. Tenuras wide range of daily living aids have been designed to attempt to make these general tasks as easy as possible for people suffering from such impairments and disabilities. Tenura anti-slip grip strips are one such product. This material offers a versatile non-slip grip, which can be applied almost anywhere. We have seen anti-slip grip strips used in many creative ways to make general tasks much easier. This material can be applied almost anywhere and will hold strong around the object it has been wrapped around without the need for an adhesive that could leave a residue.

Door Handles & Knobs

Door handles and knobs can be very difficult to grip and turn, for able-bodied and disabled people. Door knobs especially can be hard to grip due to their shiny surface. This can make going in and out of a room a harder task then it needs to be. By applying anti-slip grip strips, you can create an effective way to make turning door handles and knobs much easier. Simply wrap the grip strip around the door knob covering the majority of its surface. This will make it easier to grip and make going in and out of rooms a simple process once again.

Pots and Pans

Pans, pots and woks can also be difficult to move in any area. Spills and stains can cause injuries and expensive damage. It can cause a nasty mess or severe injury depending on temperatures and the amount of liquid spilt. A non-slip material is an excellent way to help decrease the chances of clumsy mistakes and makes any object easier to hold and move. This materials thin finish will allow you to create a strong non-slip grip. Tenura anti-slip grip strips are highly heat resistant, meaning they can survive on a pan, pot or wok for as long as you need them to.

Cups & Glasses

We all love a good cup of tea, coffee, or fresh juice in the morning, it’s an excellent start to a day and can help wake you up. One thing you never want to accompany your early morning brew is an early morning mess. A slip of the hand or a clumsy mistake while carrying or moving your cup can easily lead to breakages, nasty spills and stains, or injuries. This will all need cleaning or mopping up which isn’t easy for some people. Tenura anti-slip grip strips can help to make a mug, cup or glass much easier to hold onto and decrease the chances of nasty spills, stains and injuries. By wrapping the material around the cups handle, you can minimise the chances of loss of grip as the material will ensure the handle has an enhanced grip.

Food Preparation

Anti-slip grip strips are also very useful to apply to cutlery, utensils and many other items used during food preparation. Preparing food on the chopping board can be a strenuous task for anyone and can lead to injury very quickly. Anti-slip grip strips can help by creating a firm grip on the handles of knives, forks, spoons and the chopping board bases themselves. This contributes to improving the general grip around these objects and minimise the chances of slips that could lead to injury. One handed Whisking is now possible with anti-slip grip strips. By placing anti-slip grip strips under the bowl and around the whisk handle, you can increase control and comfort.

Another product, designed for just such a purpose is Tenura cutlery grips. Cutlery grips can be slipped onto many different kitchen utensils with ease. Once applied, this material will create a enhanced surface area, allowing objects to be handled and used efficiently, without the strain and discomfort some experience when trying to grip small or thin objects.

Anti-slip grip strips and many other products Tenura manufacturers are available on the Tenura website, here you can see all information about the products and the current prices we offer.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a joint disease which can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis spreads due to a faulty autoimmune response where your body will start to attack many different cells around your joints, thinking it’s a foreign organism. This can make many day-to-day tasks much harder and unpleasant to perform. Rheumatoid arthritis never stays exclusively in one place but can spread to other joints around the body quickly, and it does this by travelling through blood vessels in the body, this was shown in a study at the Kerckho­ff-clinic. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the synovial tissues in joints, these create synovial fluid which is needed for normal joint function. Your immune system then attacks this tissue causing severe damage to the synovial joints stopping them from creating the fluid necessary for normal joint function. Further studies have shown that the majority of Rheumatoid arthritis patients contract this disease from their genetics. In fact, 101 genetic areas have been identified that associate with the RA disease. You can explore more information on RA you can visit the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society or NHS site.

But what causes rheumatoid arthritis?

However, there is a large amount of research which pushes the idea that RA isn’t just contracted genetically. Several items we willingly take into our bodies can cause the onset of RA. One of the most notable causes of rheumatoid arthritis, especially in women more than men, is Hormones. Hormones can have a big effect on the development of rheumatoid arthritis. But, oddly enough, RA doesn’t develop during pregnancy but can develop shortly after birth. This shows some hormonal involvement and is why researchers believe that the cause of RA is partly hormonal.

Another factor which seems to affect the development of rheumatoid arthritis is smoking. Smoking appears to increase the chances of developing RA and shows signs that it can aggravate already present RA creating painful nodules on the joints in your body. Although cigarettes can have a positive product for those with RA, it seems to have beneficial effects on pain and joint tenderness. This suggests why such a large number of those who have rheumatoid arthritis are smokers and could find it hard to give up due to the pain relief it provides. Smoking can also create nasty flare-ups which, for a short period of time, will create a great deal of pain with possible inflammation in your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the area near bone and cartilage, so inflammation can cause a great deal of pain with even a small movement. A red meat-rich diet also has links to RA. Researchers suggest that a more fruit-filled diet will help to prevent RA, as rheumatoid arthritis is less common in those who have a high vitamin C intake.

How can Tenura help?

Tenura products are designed to help with joint stiffness and make everyday tasks simple again. One perfect example of this is our silicone jar and bottle openers. These high-quality devices allow you to create a strong non-slip surface around many different products, this non-slip surface will make lid and tops much easier to open. This is due to the strong non-slip bond our material creates with jar and bottle lids. This level of non-slip grip cannot be rivalled with normal household equipment, making Tenura jar and bottle openers a vital piece of equipment in the home.

Are you interested in Tenura products?

Please visit our website, as we can provide you with a large amount of information on how the different products can be used and more benefits of the silicone jar and bottle openers. Tenura jar and bottle openers are available from the Tenura website in three colours, blue, red or yellow.

When cooking, there are constant dangers all around you. One of the most common injuries is when an object slips or suddenly moves when you could be cutting or using hot utensils and pans, which can burn you or damage the worktop. Tenura anti-slip mats can be placed on any dry, flat surface to create a non-slip, heatproof area for chopping boards, mixing bowls and hot trays and pans. A clean and dry worktop is required for the mat to have a good bond. Once placed down, Tenura mats will create a non-slip surface, which will prevent any slips or heat damage from the objects resting upon it. Tenura table mats can also be applied to a dinner tray, preventing unwanted movement and, therefore, spillages.

Tenura anti-slip mats are an excellent surface to rest a chopping board on, helping to prevent all movement from the chopping board, reducing accidents. Many chopping boards are still without a non-slip base, increasing the risk of slips and injuries. Tenura kitchen non-slip mats minimise the possibility of this happening. Anti-slip mats are also a superb surface to use when using a mixing bowl, preventing movement, which could create a mess. For those who suffer from hand impairments and joint diseases, holding onto a mixing bowl or chopping board while using them can be very difficult. If unwanted movement is possible, it can make the whole experience more dangerous. By having a Tenura non-slip mat, more control and safety is a guarantee during the task in hand.

Tenura anti-slip mats can also be used in the cooking process, withstanding temperatures up to 250°C means they are perfect for resting hot bowls, pans, and plates on, with no worry of heat damage. Tenura anti-slip mats will prevent the pans, bowls, or plates from being easily knocked and spilling, preventing injury.

Tenura kitchen non-slip mats are useful in a commercial environment such as a busy café, restaurant, or kitchen. Tenura non-slip mats will provide a reliable and hygienic non-slip surface perfect for almost any task in the kitchen. Tenura's silicone products are antimicrobial, meaning that no dirt or bacteria can grow or harbor on them, ensuring a clean surface that is also easy to clean if dirt is present. Tenura understands the high levels of hygiene required in commercial kitchens, which is why Tenura mats are made from non-toxic silicone, meaning no chemicals can leach into any food prepared on the mat's surface!

Mealtimes with the family can always be messy, and keeping the house straight is a never-ending battle! Often the case for families with small children, a mess can suddenly appear because something has been knocked over or spilt, causing a slip hazard on the floor. Tenura understands the constant work parents have to put in to keep the house neat and tidy, so we have manufactured two silicone products for children, non-slip mats and cutlery grips, both designed to reduce the risk of slips, spills and help to keep areas clean.

Anti-slip antimicrobial children's mats can create an excellent non-slip surface at home or on the go, and this material helps to reduce the risk of many spills, breakages, and a mess on the table or floor. Tenura non-slip mats can be applied to any surface with ease. By laying it down on a flat, dry surface, the silicones' natural properties will adhere to the surface, and upon removal, it will leave no residue at all. Tenura non-slip mats have been created in a fun green frog and orange cat design, to make meal and play times more fun and enjoyable for children.

Tenura children's anti-slip mats also offer antimicrobial protection, helping to stop a wide range of bacteria from manifesting on these mats. This helps to protect your child’s developing immune systems and will help to prevent any build-up of bacteria or dirt. Tenura anti-slip mats are also easy to wash. With soap and hot water, you can be sure that this material is so clean, you could eat your dinner off it. Once dry again, Tenura non-slip mats will provide the same level of slip prevention. We think this material is a cost-effective solution to typical dinner mats, which while providing some protection from spills, generally offer little to non-slip protection. Tenura silicone is proven to help provide an anti-slip surface that reduces the risk of accidents.

These tasks can be even more tiring for those parents or guardians who suffer from physical impairments due to injury or such diseases as Parkinson's and Arthritis, which can make the smallest tasks become an uphill struggle. Tenura's range of daily living aids such as anti-slip mats and cutlery grips can make these small tasks easier at mealtimes and hopefully leave you feeling less tired and more capable of dealing with daily tasks.

Children's cutlery grips are another great addition to mealtimes for little ones who struggle to grip or use cutlery. Tenura cutlery grips slip over cutlery handles neatly, creating a larger surface area, which is more comfortable to hold. Tenura cutlery grips are constructed from our silicone, just like Tenura mats. Cutlery grips, therefore, boast the same valuable features; both are non-toxic and antimicrobial, which is essential for any object that is in close contact with food and your child. It is worth mentioning how easy Tenura children's cutlery grips and mats are to clean. They are dishwasher safe, but hot, soapy water will do the job.

Tenura children's anti-slip mats are available in a green frog or orange cat design, and will provide a durable non-slip surface, perfect for mealtimes!

You can buy Tenura children's mats and children's cutlery grips direct from the website.

A recent survey by the University of Basel and the Ruhr-university Bochum have found a direct correlation between the amount of depression cases around the globe, and the amount of people with depression who have a degenerative joint disease such as arthritis, and more. The study was performed on 14,348 subjects aged fifteen years and older, so a broad and concise spectrum of results could be obtained.

Roughly one third of all participants of this study who suffered from depression, also suffered from a joint disease. This is an alarming number and shows how such illnesses, diseases, and ailments can affect day to day life for those who suffer with them. This also shows how depression could have a link to developing some joint diseases like arthritis. The study suggests that depressive symptoms give people a general lack of interest in undertaking physical tasks, hobbies, or any other physical activity which may help to prevent this disease. These could range from running, playing tennis or any other physical activity that depressive symptoms can make seem pointless and give you a general lack of interest. This could lead, if the study goes into more depth at some stage, to some interesting results in how depression could be causing arthritis in some people, and it will also give insight into how miserable this disease can make you feel.

Tenura was created to try and help people make day to day life that little bit easier for those who suffer from degenerative or physical impairments. Our products strive to try and create a normal as possible life for people, without them becoming sad or depressed because normal tasks have become so much harder or next to impossible. Tenura jar and bottle openers are such product designed to help around the home. Designed to fit neatly around many jar lids and bottle tops, the increased grip reduces the amount of strength and pressure required, making jars and bottles easier to open, with the silicone giving an enhanced comfort also. They can also be used on taps, door handles and other twist to open or release items. For many, this can reduce the cost, preventing the need to spend a lot of money on electronic assistance machines.

Tenura has many other grip enhancing and non-slip products which have also been created for this purpose, we aim to make as many areas of the home as disability and impairment friendly with our strong non slip mats, coasters, cutlery grips, cup caps and bathrooms products.

You can order products direct from the Tenura website, and those who are VAT Exempt can register to buy Tenura silicone products VAT free. Free shipping is also available on all orders over £35.