Due to the physical limitations caused by upper extremity arthritis, aging persons with arthritis in their shoulder, elbow, wrist and/or hand joint structures may experience difficulties when performing or attempting to perform personal hygiene activities. One such activity is hair washing, a fundamental aspect of personal hygiene in its removal of dirt, excess oils, styling products, and dead skin cells, prevention of dandruff and minimisation of fungal infection risks. Moreover, hair hygiene acts as a reflection of overall health and influences self-esteem and self-confidence, making it vital to both physical and mental health and well-being.

Arthritis, which frequently co-exists with pain and joint structure damage, in its impact on one’s upper extremities can impede one’s ability to perform the tasks required for hair washing through symptoms of acute or chronic joint inflammation, swelling, stiffness, loss of function, limitation of movement, a decreased range of motion, joint deformities, weakness and/or instability. As such, hair washing can become exhausting and difficult, resulting in persons with upper extremity arthritis opting for less frequent hair washes, the use of shower caps, and/or visits to the hairdresser one or more times a week to have their hair washed.

This project aimed to design and develop a hair washing assistive device that enables easier and more efficient hair washing for use by persons with upper extremity arthritis. The resulting design, the Hygeia, includes features such as detachable, silicone bristles that allow for easy cleaning and stimulation of the scalp and a long, curved and lightweight shaft made of moso bamboo that limits the need for cross-body adduction, a movement that can cause pain in shoulder arthritis. Furthermore, the cylindrical handle, which is allows for both a one- and two-handed grip, is the optimal diameter for persons with arthritis in the hands.