Frequently Asked Questions

Liftware Steady (previously marketed as “Liftware”) helps to counteract hand tremors and stabilize movement to make it easier to enjoy a meal.

The stabilizing handle contains motion sensors that detect hand motion, and a small onboard computer that distinguishes unwanted hand tremor from the intended movement of the hand. To counteract hand tremor and stabilize the utensil, the onboard computer directs two motors in the handle to move the utensil attachment in the opposite direction of any detected tremor.

In general, Liftware Steady works most effectively for people with mild to moderate (between 4 and 12 Hz) postural, intentional tremor in the upper limbs. The tremor causes people regularly to spill food while eating, or leads people to bring their heads at least halfway towards their utensil to meet food.

To see if Liftware Steady is right for you, you can download and take this simple test at home. If you don't have a printer, email us support@liftware.com and ask us to mail one to your home address. You can also watch videos of people using Liftware Steady.

Note that Steady provides limited benefit to:

• People with intermittent tremor.
• People with severe tremor, large-amplitude tremor (above 12Hz) or dystonia.
• People whose hand tremor does not interfere with eating, or who spill only rarely when using utensils to bring food to their mouth (typically tremors below 4 Hz).

The amount of benefit will also vary depending on factors that affect the intensity of a person’s tremor at any given moment. These factors may include the use of medications, amount of sleep, degree of stress, intensity of exercise, etc.

Liftware Steady has been shown to be effective in an eleven-patient clinical study. During the study, eleven subjects with essential tremor performed three tasks — holding, eating, and transferring objects. When the technology used in Liftware Steady was turned on, tremor amplitude was reduced by an average of 72% in the holding task, 76% in the eating task, and 71% in the transferring task. These statistically significant results suggest that Steady is likely to make eating easier for people with hand tremor. The study was peer reviewed and published here:

"A noninvasive handheld assistive device to accommodate essential tremor." Pathak, et al. Movement Disorders, vol 29:6 (May 2014).

However, please note that Liftware Steady may not be for everyone, and works most effectively for people with mild to moderate (between 4 and 12 Hz) postural, intentional tremor in the upper limbs.

The stabilizing handle and utensil attachments contain small magnets similar in strength to ordinary household magnets. If you have a cardiac pacemaker or other implantable medical electronic device, follow your device’s directions for use regarding magnets. The standard recommendation is to keep your implantable device at least 6 inches from Liftware Steady because it contains small magnets. If you have concerns about your implantable device, consult your healthcare provider.

There are no other known risks associated with the use of Liftware Steady. There are also no contraindications for people using medications to treat their tremor, or for people who have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.

Check the back of your Liftware Steady handle to see if you have Model 1.0, Model 2.0 or Model 2.1, then click to see the user guide for Model 1.0, Model 2.0 or Model 2.1, as applicable. Please note, Steady was previously marketed as “Liftware.”

We designed Liftware Steady to be simple to use. There is no on-off button as the handle turns on automatically once an attachment is connected. You can then put Steady to sleep by turning it over to rest face-down. Please note that this sleep mode still consumes battery power. To turn Liftware Steady off completely, just remove the attachment (e.g. the spoon attachment or the fork attachment) from the handle.

The handle is designed so that you can hold it in a variety of positions. Feel free to experiment with your grip to find the most comfortable position. You may also find that certain hand positions work better for you and lead to greater stability with Steady.

Please make sure, however, that you don’t grip the movable attachment (e.g. the spoon attachment or the fork attachment) since that should be allowed to move freely to counteract any tremors.

To clean Liftware Steady, first detach the attachment (such as the spoon attachment or the fork attachment) from the stabilizing handle.

The eating utensil attachments can be washed in the dishwasher or be cleaned by hand with a sponge, mild detergent, and warm water. However, the computerized handle cannot be washed in a dishwasher or submerged in water. We recommend wiping the computerized handle with a damp sponge or antibacterial wipes.

To charge Liftware Steady, disconnect any attachments (e.g. the spoon attachment or the fork attachment) from the stabilizing handle, then place the stabilizing handle in the charging cradle. Make sure the charging cradle is connected to a powered USB port using the provided cable. It takes up to three hours to fully charge the stabilizing handle.

For chargers shipped on or after December 2, 2014 (model number marked underneath the charger cradle): The LED blinks while charging and glows solid green when fully charged.

For chargers shipped before December 2, 2014 (no text printed underneath the charging cradle): The LED glows while the handle is charging, and turns off when the handle is fully charged. If the light doesn't turn on, that means your handle has a full charge.

Battery lasts for at least one hour of continuous use (approximately 3 meals) on a single charge.

The charger is a world-voltage power adapter (100/240 V) that plugs into a North American wall plug. To use the charger outside the US, you can:

• Use an international travel adapter and plug the charger into the adapter
• Or plug the USB cable directly into a computer
• Or plug the USB cable into a USB wall adapter designed for that country

• Since anxiety can increase tremor, it might help to try out Liftware Steady for the first time privately, without others watching. In general, it may also take a few days to get used to using Liftware Steady, so give yourself some time when you first get started.
• Don't brace the hand that's holding the spoon. It's best if the hand is allowed to continue moving freely so that Liftware Steady can do the work of steadying the spoon.
• It's normal for the spoon to move relative to the handle. This is normal and is a sign that Steady is working to counteract the tremor.
• Try using Liftware Steady with a larger, shallower bowl to make scooping easier.

Liftware Steady should not be used as a scoop for dense foods (e.g., frozen ice cream), or to cut foods. Liftware Steady can be used to scoop most bite-sized foods and, with a fork or spork attachment, can pierce most pre-cut foods. Users of the Liftware Steady should avoid bending or twisting the attachment, as sensitive components may be damaged.