Dressing aids: a simple kit for getting dressed on your own
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- Hip kit with reacher, sock aid, dressing stick and long shoehorn. Best for: Preparing for hip or knee replacement. See options on Amazon
- Padded dressing stick with shoehorn end. Best for: Pulling pants up and pushing clothes off without bending. See options on Amazon
- Button hook with zipper pull. Best for: Sore, stiff or weak fingers. See options on Amazon
- Elastic no-tie shoelaces. Best for: Lace-up shoes after surgery or with back pain. See options on Amazon
- Plastic sock aid with long cords. Best for: Ordinary socks when you cannot reach your feet. See options on Amazon
Which aid solves which problem
| Problem | Aid | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot reach feet or bend past your precautions | Dressing stick or reacher | Pulls pants and underwear over the feet and up past the knee; Drive Medical says its padded dressing stick can be used for pulling clothes on and pushing them off |
| Socks | Sock aid | Holds the sock open so you slide your foot in |
| Compression stockings | Compression sock aid | A sturdier donner for tight stockings |
| Shoes | Long shoe horn | Guides the heel in while you sit upright |
| Laces | Elastic or Velcro laces | No tying, so no bending |
| Buttons and zips | Button hook and zip aid | A button hook guides a button through its buttonhole; a zip aid gives you more to grip on a small tab |
Dressing your lower body with aids
The UMass Memorial guide for after hip surgery walks through it while you sit on a chair or the side of the bed, and warns not to bend forward or lift your knee above your hip:
- Pants and underwear: catch the waistband with the reacher's grasper and slip the pants onto the operated leg first, then the other leg. Use the reacher to pull them over your feet and above your knee, hold them with one hand, push up to stand while steadying yourself with your walker, and pull them the rest of the way up.
- Socks: load the sock onto the sock aid, hold it in front of the foot on the operated side, slip your foot in, and pull the sock aid out.
- Shoes: put your foot into the shoe and use a reacher or long-handled shoehorn to pull it on. UMass Memorial suggests slip-on shoes or elastic or Velcro laces so you do not have to bend.
UCLA Health's knee brochure gives the same rule in short form: sit down to dress, and dress your operated or weaker leg first.
Choosing a dressing stick
- Length: long enough to reach your feet while you sit upright in your usual chair.
- Ends: a push-pull hook at one end and a C-hook or shoehorn at the other covers most tasks. Drive lists a padded dressing stick with a shoehorn on one end.
- Grip: a padded or thicker handle is easier for sore hands.
- Dressing stick or reacher? Sutter Health's hip guide mentions using a reacher or dressing stick for dressing. A reacher also picks things up; a dressing stick is lighter and simpler for pushing and pulling cloth.
Small fastenings and clothing choices
Arthritis UK notes that buttoning clothes can be frustrating with sore or painful fingers. It suggests a button hook, an aid that guides a button through a buttonhole, and zip aids if you struggle to grasp a zip; threading a small piece of material through the zip tag can also help. Some button hooks have a zip pull on the other end. Practice on a shirt laid flat before trying it on yourself.
Clothing helps as much as tools. Arthritis UK suggests looser clothing, elasticated waists, front fastenings rather than back ones, and Velcro or snaps in place of fiddly buttons. UCLA Health's knee brochure notes that long-handled tools can help with daily activities if you have difficulty reaching your feet.
Getting help to set it up
Occupational therapists teach these techniques and can suggest the right tools for your surgery, strength and hands; UCLA Health notes your occupational therapist can explore techniques such as using a dressing stick. Keep the kit together near the chair where you dress.
What to look for when you buy
Hip kit with reacher, sock aid, dressing stick and long shoehorn
Best for: Preparing for hip or knee replacement
Between them, UMass Memorial, Sutter Health and UCLA Health name each of these tools for dressing without bending after joint surgery.
Watch out: Kits vary in length and quality; check the reacher and shoehorn reach your feet from your chair.
See options on AmazonPadded dressing stick with shoehorn end
Best for: Pulling pants up and pushing clothes off without bending
Drive Medical says its padded dressing stick can be used for both pulling on and pushing off clothes, with a shoehorn on one end.
Watch out: Does not pick up dropped items; pair it with a reacher.
See options on AmazonButton hook with zipper pull
Best for: Sore, stiff or weak fingers
Arthritis UK describes a button hook as an aid that guides a button through a buttonhole, and suggests zip aids for people who struggle to grasp a zip.
Watch out: Takes practice, and very small buttons can still be tricky. Choose a thick handle if your grip is weak.
See options on AmazonElastic no-tie shoelaces
Best for: Lace-up shoes after surgery or with back pain
UMass Memorial and Sutter Health both suggest elastic laces or slip-ons so you do not need to bend to tie shoes.
Watch out: Set the tension once while seated; laces that are too tight make shoes hard to slip on.
See options on AmazonPlastic sock aid with long cords
Best for: Ordinary socks when you cannot reach your feet
UMass Memorial's guide uses a sock aid to slide socks on without bending forward.
Watch out: Made for regular socks; tight compression stockings need a sturdier donner.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- What are dressing aids?
- Simple tools such as dressing sticks, reachers, sock aids, long shoehorns, button hooks and elastic laces that make dressing possible without bending or fine finger work.
- What dressing aids do I need after hip replacement?
- Hospital guides commonly list a reacher or dressing stick, a sock aid, a long-handled shoehorn and elastic laces or slip-on shoes.
- How do you use a dressing stick?
- Sitting down, hook the waistband, slip the operated leg in first, pull the clothes past your knees, then stand with your walker and finish pulling them up by hand.
- What is a button hook used for?
- It guides a button through its buttonhole, so people with sore or stiff fingers can fasten clothes more easily. Arthritis UK suggests one for people with arthritis.
Sources
- After Hip Surgery: Getting Dressed (ummhealth.org), UMass Memorial Health
- Hip Replacement Surgery: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (WWW.SUTTERHEALTH.ORG/pdf/services/orthopedic/hip-replacement-surgery-physical-medicine-rehabilitation-cpmc.pdf), Sutter Health CPMC
- Knee Rehab Brochure (uclahealth.org), UCLA Health
- Personal Care Products Comparison Chart (drivemedical.com), Drive Medical (maker)
- Getting dressed with arthritis: Tips to make it easier (versusarthritis.org), Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis)