Getting dressed in the morning can leave you feeling worn out before the day even starts, especially if morning stiffness creates difficulty dressing. Follow these tips to make getting dressed easier.
Prep at night. If you’re typically less stiff in the evening assemble your outfit the night before you wear it. Lay out your clothes in the order that you’ll put them on.
Have a seat. Sit down while you dress. If one arm or leg is more stiff or painful, place it into the piece of clothing first, says Marsha Dresbach, occupational therapist at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio. When undressing, remove the stronger arm or leg from the clothing first, then slip out your achy arm or leg. Letting your stronger limb take the lead will provide support when you're getting dressed.
Loosen up. Fuller cut clothing with larger openings will enable you to easily slip garments over your head or step into them.
Eliminate buttons. Go for Velcro, elastic waistbands, hook-and-eye or zipper closures on pants, skirts, shirts and undergarments. For an easier grip, choose front zippers or use a zipper pull. If buttons are a must, use a button hook available from stores and Web sites offering assistive devices. Shop specialty stores. Several stores offer fashionable clothes designed with Velcro, pull loops and flexible materials that will create less difficulty dressing.
Get help with your feet. Sock and shoe aids, available through stores and catalogs that sell assistive devices, eliminate the need to bend or stoop. Elastic shoelaces allow you to slip your shoes on and off.
Text Size
|
|
Get Dressed Easier
By Rosanna Scott
I like your suggestions for getting dressed with arthritis, it is similar to my blog which helps people who have had a stroke, like myself, to get dressed easier, my suggestions could also help people with arthritis too, check out mt blog at www.strokeofmidlife.wordpress.com
Thanks.
Lynette- i would have to disagree with you there! i buy all of my fathers trousers and shirts from Adaptawear and have done ever since they started. their service has been exceptional in all instances and i cant complain about the quality of the products either. Are you sure you are not a scorned ex-employeee?! ;-)
I am Lynette Halliday, I have not left a message regarding dressing easier. I worked for Adaptawear between Dec 07 and May 08. I do not support this company or its products. However Able2wear is a company that has been around for many years and Patricia is lovely and honest who has put research and time into each garment.
Leave a Comment