App Menu Design for Easy Accessibility: Brainstorming for Arthritis Users
While researching user-friendly UI/UX design, I found that most resources barely touched on design for people with physical disabilities. Accessibility is often just mentioned briefly, not thoughtfully integrated. Apps have become widespread, with more elderly users and aging societies emerging, smoother digital experiences for elderly and disabled users will be a practical demand.
Some might question the need for accessible App design, given that digital devices already include accessibility features. But in practice, many apps still don’t fully utilize the APIs provided by iOS and Android.
This post takes a step back to brainstorm app menu designs from the perspective of RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) users. The hope is to spark ideas for future arthritis-focused app development and more thoughtful solutions for people living with hand discomfort.
How RA Patients Hold Electronic Devices
Phone
Most people hold their phones effortlessly with one hand — but for me, it’s different. I have to adjust my grip to avoid finger deformities. I usually press the tips of my dominant hand’s fingers against the top of the phone, letting the palm rest on the bottom. The other hand does the scrolling.
Though my way of gripping the phone isn’t ergonomic, I do it to prevent it from slipping out of my hand. Patients often have weaker muscles and joints compared to others.
A quick look from another angle, RA patients experience swelling in their joints, which stops the palm from lying flat. If we hold a phone for a long time, similar to how most people do, it could accelerate joint deformities.
When I can, I usually put the phone on a desk or a stand to give my hands a break.
e-reader
I frequently use e-readers while commuting and flip pages with just my dominant-hand thumb. I decided to include this in my notes.
The e-reader has a larger screen than a phone but is still smaller than an iPad. In my opinion, it is one of the most user-friendly electronic devices for patients. At the same time, I can spread my hand on the back of the book to do rehab exercise, helping to improve the strength on my fingertips.
A Look at Menu Design Trends in 2025
Most apps use the bottom navigation bar as primary design, with 4–5 icons that prioritize frequently used features, making users easy to tap with thumb. Next, we’ll discuss three design approaches for the menu bar.
- Bottom Navigation Bar
Key function tabs are grouped in a bottom menu bar, with icons and text helping users navigate. The App Store has the search function integrated in the menu, while Uber’s homepage has a toggle at the top to switch between rides and food delivery services.
2. Integrated Menu Tab in Bottom Navigation Bar
Both Amazon and The Guardian use a bottom navigation menu but add a hamburger menu tab for secondary features, keeping the main functions clear and accessible.
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3. Bottom Navigation Bar and Navigation Drawer (Hamburger Menu)
Gmail’s bottom menu is focused on two sections, additional functions are housed in a left-side dropdown. VSCO, a photo-editing App, uses a similar menu layout, and both apps feature a shortcut in the lower right corner.
Menu Design Trends for RA-Focused Apps
My Arthritis and Arthritis+Patient are designed for users to record their health data, they use different navigation structures. In the former, a tap on the blue plus button enables users to log recent symptoms and feelings.
RheumaHelper is aimed at healthcare professionals, offering a suite of tools to evaluate RA conditions. Notably, none of these Apps feature a search bar, possibly due to their intentional health service.
Considering all the menu designs discussed above, one thing is clear: the bottom navigation bar leads the way. Users have grown comfortable with the layout, it helps reduce friction, shorten the learning curve, and increase user retention with minimal effort.
Patients’ Usability Issue
- App menus today are typically placed at the bottom of the screen. The design isn’t 100% ideal for people with finger deformities — using the phone with one hand increases the risk of dropping it, it may also speed up the progression of joints deformities due to their ways of holding/tapping a phone.
- Left-handed users may find the top-left hamburger menu easier to reach. But for right-handed users, it usually requires using the other hand for support.
Understanding RA Users Through Current Design
- Instead of blindly following UI/UX trends, the design for arthritis-related Apps should be shaped around deformed hand usability.
- Narrow overall spacing to enhance touch convenience, especially for users with limited mobility.
- Prioritize user readability by simplifying navigation and showing key stats on the App landing page.
Making Menus Work for RA Users
Idea #1: Tap or Swipe Horizontally to Switch Tabs (Inspired by e-reader)
Imagine flipping through a digital book or scrolling through your camera roll, that’s exactly how this design works. The bottom menu is removed, users can simply tap or swipe left and right to switch between features.
Why not up and down? Vertical motions require a wider range of movement and activate both finger and palm joints. Left-right swipes, on the other hand, make less motion and mostly rely on the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joint), making it a more arthritis-friendly option.
Idea #2: Moveable Side Menu with Horizontal Expansion
This design considers the variability in RA symptoms, from inflammation to joint deformity, and allows users to reposition a floating menu according to their needs — left-handed, right-handed, or simply based on comfort. Similar to AssistiveTouch on iOS, this menu could float on the screen and be positioned where it’s easiest to reach.
The menu is best positioned along the left or right edge, expanding horizontally. This mirrors a floating version of the bottom navigation bar. Vertical layouts are not ideal due to two factors: (1) as mentioned in Idea #1, limiting vertical finger motion minimizes joint stress; and (2) a dropdown menu design is more prone to accidental touches.
Idea #3: Keep Familiar Navigation, Expand Accessibility Support
This concept preserves the widely accepted bottom navigation bar and adds support for higher-level accessibility tools like voice control and eye tracking.
These features, however, require newer devices and updated systems. If voice interaction isn’t an option due to the surrounding environment, users can still rely on the menu to navigate with just a tap.
What I’ve shared here are based on how I personally use devices and prevent hand deterioration. Some parts may feel unconventional, even odd — but from a patient’s perspective, this could be a very meaningful first step.
If you have a different viewpoint or some creative UX solutions, I’d love to collaborate and explore together!
