The 7 Best Ergonomic Writing Tools for People With Arthritis of 2020

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First Look

Best Overall: Joy for Joints NuMuv Grip-Aid at Amazon

"Made with 100 percent medical grade silicone, so it’s comfortable in your hand and durable."

Best Ballpoint: Pilot Dr. Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point at Amazon

"The Arthritis Foundation actually puts its stamp of approval on this pen."

Best Gel Pen: Pilot G-2 Retractable Gel Ink Rollerball Pen at Amazon

"Users love the fast-drying ink that prevents smudging."

Best for Carpal Tunnel Disease: PenAgain Ergonomic Index Finger Cradle Pen at Amazon

"Slide your index finger between a wishbone-shaped rubber grip."

Best For Lefties: Maped Visio Left-Handed Pen at Amazon

"Allows left-handed writers to get a better view of what they’re writing."

Best Pencil Accessories: The Pencil Grip Universal Ergonomic Writing Aid at Amazon

"These accessories can be used for both kids as they learn to write and adults with arthritis."

Best Splurge: Thixotropic Weighted Pen at Amazon

"This pen ideal for someone who has been struggling to write due to a number of health conditions, like arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or tremors."

If a condition like arthritis, carpal tunnel, or tendinitis affect your daily life, writing can be the last thing you want to do. But when it comes up unexpectedly, it makes sense to be prepared. Though writing at work is becoming less and less frequent these days, everyone needs a pen from time to time. When you do, make sure you have the writing instrument that suits your needs. The best ergonomic writing tools for people with arthritis are more affordable than you think. Keep one at your desk and in your bag or car for on-the-go, and writing will become a way less stressful and painful task.

Arthritis in your hands can cause painful stiffness, tenderness, pain, and even swelling. It can make gripping a slender pen a nightmare. Because of this, it makes sense to do a bit of research on better options, and you’d be surprised how many products there are out there that cater to this common issue. Our roundup of the best ergonomic writing tools for arthritis can help you get comfortable with writing again.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Joy for Joints NuMuv Grip-Aid

You can buy a handful of ergonomic grip pens or buy one tool and use it for all of your pens, pencils, paintbrushes, and more. This grip aid is made with 100 percent medical grade silicone, so it’s comfortable in your hand and durable. NuMuv is a company that was formed by a pharmaceutical research company that’s spent over 25 years researching diseases that affect the hands, like arthritis.

Best Ballpoint: Pilot Dr. Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point

The Arthritis Foundation actually puts its stamp of approval on this Pilot ballpoint pen for ease-of-use. It’s designed with weight distribution in mind and features a double-layer grip for extra thickness and comfort.

Five-star reviewers love how comfortably this pen sits in the hand and say if you’ve been searching for a great pen for years, this one takes the cake.

Best Gel Pen: Pilot G-2 Retractable Gel Ink Rollerball Pen

Dozens of five-star reviews tout this pen as the best pen buyers have ever used. Users love the fast-drying ink that prevents smudging (especially for lefties!) and consistent ink that doesn’t dry up with continued use.

For users with arthritis, you don’t have to press down very hard on paper for the ink to come out, so you can relax even more while holding the pen. All in all, this is a great pen bundle for the price. Each box comes with 12 gel pens that will last for months.

Best for Carpal Tunnel Disease: PenAgain Ergonomic Index Finger Cradle Pen

Slide your index finger between a wishbone-shaped rubber grip that may look a little different, but provides big time results. This pen is retractable, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of a cap—or one popping off and ruining the inside of your bag. It also encourages a healthy wrist position, to relieve tension that comes from writing for long periods of time.

This pen is great for anyone with Parkinson’s disease, carpal tunnel, or arthritis. This investment also comes with three total ink refills, so you’ll be good to go for a while.

Best For Lefties: Maped Visio Left-Handed Pen

This pen has thought of everything. The curved barrel (the part you grip) of this pen allows left-handed writers to get a better view of what they’re writing. The quick-dry ink is smear-resistant, so you won’t drag your hand across a word and ruin the whole sheet. These pens are available in both packs of two and three, so you can stock up and keep them wherever you need to write.

Best Pencil Accessories: The Pencil Grip Universal Ergonomic Writing Aid

Universal is right; these accessories can be used for both kids as they learn to write and adults with arthritis. These inventive grips aren’t just for pencils either—you can pop them on crayons, markers, paint brushes, and more. These grips are also dual-sided, meaning, depending on how you flip them, they can be used for righties and lefties. If you love variety, this product is for you: you can purchase assorted colors in the amount of your choice.

Best Splurge: Thixotropic Weighted Pen

These pens are five inches long and measure one inch in diameter at the grip. The wide grip and heavier weight make this pen ideal for someone who has been struggling to write due to a number of health conditions, like arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or tremors. It also features a detachable lanyard for easy, on-the-go use. These pens come in a two-pack and feature metal ink cartridges for longer lasting use.

Final Verdict

Depending on your needs and the severity of your arthritis, it might be best to replace all of your writing utensils with an ergonomic design, like the Pilot Gel Ink Rollerball Pens that come in a pack of 12, or just a one-size-fits-all accessory you can use on multiple devices, like the NuMuv Grip-Aid.

What to Look for in Ergonomic Writing Tools for People With Arthritis

Ergonomic features: For arthritis pain relief, look for pens or writing tools that are wider in diameter to give you a loser grip. Take into account what your needs are. Do you only feel your hands hurt at work after writing for long periods of time? Or does picking up any writing utensil for any amount of time cause pain? There are options that attach to the pens you already have, and single pens built for those with arthritis. Pens with wide grips and quick-dry ink are great assets to have when you’re writing with hand pain or inflammation.

Multi-use functionality: If you find yourself writing often, you may want to opt for a grip holder over a pen. This allows you to transfer the device to different writing utensils, so you don't have to buy a bunch of separate, arthritis-friendly pens. If you're into art or swap between pens and pencils often, a grip may be a better option for you.

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As a health writer with over eight years of experience, Brittany Leitner understands how important access to information is when it comes to making educated health decisions. She has interviewed dozens of medical experts, tested out hundreds of products, and aims to provide quality recommendations that won't break the bank.