Adaptaboard
One-handed solution for meal preparation. Helps people with disabilities or limited function prepare meals safely and independently.
Adaptaboard was born from my observations of a hand therapist treating clients after surviving a stroke. The therapist had the clients putting pegs in a pegboard to assess their hand function and dexterity. Many clients that only have the use of one hand, whether due to paralysis, amputation, nerve damage, etc., struggle to complete the most basic aspects of preparing meals in the kitchen. I saw my Grandfather struggle after surviving two strokes earlier this year and wanted to create something that would help him. Adaptaboard was the solution! Adaptaboard consists of a plastic cutting board with strategically placed holes to provide the best placement for interchangeable pegs. These plastic and silicone pegs can be removed, unlike other adaptive cutting boards. Pegs can be adapted and moved to different placements to provide stabilization around any size food or kitchenware that can fit on the cutting board. This is what sets Adaptaboard apart from every other adapted cutting board available. It can be adapted instantly to fit any size food or dinnerware quickly and easily. Current adapted cutting boards only have nails for holding fruit/vegetables and corners to stop food or bulky clamps that are too heavy to use. These have nails constantly sticking out of the cutting board posing hazards for the user and for others working in the kitchen.
Adaptaboard assists in all parts of meal preparation. Adaptaboard can be used to stabilize a container while opening it, hold a piece of bread in place while spreading peanut butter, steady an apple while cutting it, hold a cucumber while peeling it, and hold a glass while mixing hot chocolate all with the same piece of adaptive equipment without heavy and cumbersome adaptations. All the user has to do is move the pegs to continue working in the kitchen. Any number of pegs can be used depending on the size and weight of the item needing to be stabilized. With one hand the user can position a vegetable on the Adaptaboard and then place pegs around it tightly. The user can then cut the vegetable with one hand while the pegs hold the vegetable in place. Pegs can be moved around to accommodate for the knife or as the vegetable gets smaller. Pegs can also be positioned around a bowl for stirring or mixing using one hand.
The Adaptaboard can also be used with both hands when the affected hand may be weak and/or only have limited grip, tenodesis grasp or pincer grasp. The affected hand can help to hold the item needing to be stabilized. Even if it is unable to hold it completely steady, the pegs will keep it in place. This allows the affected hand to receive actual sensory feedback and increase function due to neuroplasticity much faster than if the hand were left at the client’s side unused. If the client did not have the Adaptaboard they may be weary of using their affected hand to help stabilize because it may not have the strength or coordination yet. This fear is eliminated when using the Adaptaboard and the client is able to do unimanual and bimanual cooking tasks safely and independently. If the client is completely unable to use the affected hand or one hand has been amputated they can still engage in cooking independently using the Adaptaboard. The Adaptaboard can also continue to function as a regular cutting board without the pegs if family members want to use it. The Adaptaboard and the pegs are dishwasher safe. The pegs can be put in the dishwasher bag and both the board and pegs can be thrown in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Additional Populations Benefited
It can be used with individuals who have hemiplegia or hemiparesis. Individuals with hand injuries, peripheral neuropathy, decreased sensation of the hand, upper extremity muscle atrophy, coordination disorders, and uncommon hand injury or trauma. Any individual with hand impairments can benefit from the Adaptaboard by either using the non-impaired hand to prepare meals or using the Adaptaboard to provide additional stability while using both hands. Individuals who have suffered cerebrovascular accidents/strokes resulting in hemiplegia or upper extremity amputations will be able to use only one hand to prepare meals. Those with affected hands can use both hands to prepare meals with increased safety and stability as noted above. Neurological disorders that result in intentional and unintentional tremors, incoordination, upper extremity weakness, fasciculations, clonus, spasticity, and/or flaccidity can also use the extra support of the stabilizing pegs offered by the Adaptaboard to prepare meals. Individuals with cognitive deficits that may cause safety concerns can also use the Adaptaboard to secure food with pegs rather than fingers to cut, peel, and chop food safely. It can be used in the clinic/hospital or at home.
Adaptaboard assists in all parts of meal preparation. Adaptaboard can be used to stabilize a container while opening it, hold a piece of bread in place while spreading peanut butter, steady an apple while cutting it, hold a cucumber while peeling it, and hold a glass while mixing hot chocolate all with the same piece of adaptive equipment without heavy and cumbersome adaptations. All the user has to do is move the pegs to continue working in the kitchen. Any number of pegs can be used depending on the size and weight of the item needing to be stabilized. With one hand the user can position a vegetable on the Adaptaboard and then place pegs around it tightly. The user can then cut the vegetable with one hand while the pegs hold the vegetable in place. Pegs can be moved around to accommodate for the knife or as the vegetable gets smaller. Pegs can also be positioned around a bowl for stirring or mixing using one hand.
The Adaptaboard can also be used with both hands when the affected hand may be weak and/or only have limited grip, tenodesis grasp or pincer grasp. The affected hand can help to hold the item needing to be stabilized. Even if it is unable to hold it completely steady, the pegs will keep it in place. This allows the affected hand to receive actual sensory feedback and increase function due to neuroplasticity much faster than if the hand were left at the client’s side unused. If the client did not have the Adaptaboard they may be weary of using their affected hand to help stabilize because it may not have the strength or coordination yet. This fear is eliminated when using the Adaptaboard and the client is able to do unimanual and bimanual cooking tasks safely and independently. If the client is completely unable to use the affected hand or one hand has been amputated they can still engage in cooking independently using the Adaptaboard. The Adaptaboard can also continue to function as a regular cutting board without the pegs if family members want to use it. The Adaptaboard and the pegs are dishwasher safe. The pegs can be put in the dishwasher bag and both the board and pegs can be thrown in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Additional Populations Benefited
It can be used with individuals who have hemiplegia or hemiparesis. Individuals with hand injuries, peripheral neuropathy, decreased sensation of the hand, upper extremity muscle atrophy, coordination disorders, and uncommon hand injury or trauma. Any individual with hand impairments can benefit from the Adaptaboard by either using the non-impaired hand to prepare meals or using the Adaptaboard to provide additional stability while using both hands. Individuals who have suffered cerebrovascular accidents/strokes resulting in hemiplegia or upper extremity amputations will be able to use only one hand to prepare meals. Those with affected hands can use both hands to prepare meals with increased safety and stability as noted above. Neurological disorders that result in intentional and unintentional tremors, incoordination, upper extremity weakness, fasciculations, clonus, spasticity, and/or flaccidity can also use the extra support of the stabilizing pegs offered by the Adaptaboard to prepare meals. Individuals with cognitive deficits that may cause safety concerns can also use the Adaptaboard to secure food with pegs rather than fingers to cut, peel, and chop food safely. It can be used in the clinic/hospital or at home.