Handheld reacher: picking a grabber tool that fits how you move
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- 32 inch aluminum reacher with rotating jaws. Best for: Picking things up from the floor while standing. See options on Amazon
- 26 inch reacher for seated use. Best for: Wheelchair users or people reaching from a chair or bed. See options on Amazon
- Folding reacher with magnetic tip. Best for: Carrying in a bag, car or walker basket. See options on Amazon
- Light-trigger reacher for weak hands. Best for: Arthritis or low grip strength. See options on Amazon
Who a reacher helps
AAOS OrthoInfo lists a grabbing tool or reacher among the devices that help people limit bending after hip replacement, alongside a long-handled shoehorn and long-handled sponge. MedlinePlus suggests one when getting your home ready for knee or hip surgery, for picking up items, dressing and removing socks. Sutter Health's hip replacement guide calls it a long-handled reacher, grabber or pick-up stick for objects on the floor.
Drive Medical describes its reacher as helping to eliminate bending and stretching, so it can also suit anyone for whom bending down or reaching up is painful or unsteady.
How to choose: the specs that matter
| Spec | What to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Drive Medical sells 26, 28 and 32 inch versions | Shorter is easier to control seated; longer reaches the floor while standing |
| Trigger effort | Light pull; Drive states 12 ounces of pressure closes its jaws | Weak or arthritic hands tire fast on a stiff trigger |
| Jaws | Rubber-lined or suction-cup tips; some have a magnet | Grips coins, pills and paper as well as larger items |
| Rotating head | Jaws that rotate | Easier to grab items lying flat or at an angle |
| Folding | A folding model, such as Drive's 32 inch foldable reacher | Fits in a bag, car or walker basket |
| Frame | Lightweight aluminum | Less strain on the wrist when held out at length |
Many people keep two: a short one by the chair or bed and a longer one in the kitchen.
Using a reacher safely after hip surgery
A reacher is only useful if it keeps you within your precautions. OrthoInfo's list for after hip replacement includes not bending at the waist beyond 90 degrees, not leaning forward while sitting, and not trying to pick up something from the floor while you are sitting. Stand with your walker or support nearby and let the reacher do the reaching.
For dressing, the UMass Memorial dressing guide uses a reacher to catch the waistband of underwear or pants and pull them over the feet and above the knee, and to help pull a shoe on. See our dressing aids guide for the full routine.
Limits and common mistakes
- Heavy items. A reacher is for light things. Lifting a full can or pan from a high shelf with it puts the weight far from your body and can drop it on you. Store heavy items between waist and shoulder height instead, as MedlinePlus suggests.
- Overreaching. Leaning out to extend your reach defeats the purpose and can tip your balance.
- Too long a tool. A 32 inch reacher is hard to steer from a low chair.
- Only one, in the wrong room. Keep it where things fall: by the bed, the chair and the kitchen.
What to look for when you buy
32 inch aluminum reacher with rotating jaws
Best for: Picking things up from the floor while standing
The longer length reaches the floor from standing height, and a lightweight aluminum frame, as Drive describes on its own reachers, keeps it easy to hold out.
Watch out: Harder to control while seated; pair it with a shorter one for the chair.
See options on Amazon26 inch reacher for seated use
Best for: Wheelchair users or people reaching from a chair or bed
A shorter shaft is easier to aim from a seat. Drive offers a 26 inch length.
Watch out: Will not reach the floor from standing for most people. Do not lean forward past your hip precautions to use it.
See options on AmazonFolding reacher with magnetic tip
Best for: Carrying in a bag, car or walker basket
A folding model packs flat, and a magnet helps with keys, pins and other small metal items.
Watch out: Check the fold locks firmly so it does not collapse while gripping.
See options on AmazonLight-trigger reacher for weak hands
Best for: Arthritis or low grip strength
Drive states its reacher needs only 12 ounces of pressure at the trigger to close the jaws; a light trigger reduces hand fatigue.
Watch out: Very light triggers may grip less firmly on heavier items.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- What length reacher should I get?
- For use from a chair or wheelchair, a shorter reacher around 26 inches is easier to control. For picking things off the floor while standing, a 32 inch one is common.
- Is a reacher grabber useful after hip replacement?
- Yes. AAOS OrthoInfo lists a reacher among the tools that limit bending after hip replacement.
- Can a reacher help with dressing?
- Yes. MedlinePlus mentions reachers for dressing and removing socks, and UMass Memorial's guide uses one to pull pants over the feet.
- Can I lift heavy things with a reacher?
- It is meant for light items. Keep heavy things stored between waist and shoulder height so you do not need to reach for them.
- Can a reacher help after knee replacement?
- Yes. MedlinePlus includes a reacher in its home checklist for knee or hip surgery, for picking up items, dressing and removing socks.
- Where should I keep my reacher?
- Where things tend to fall: by the bed, next to your chair and in the kitchen. A folding model can ride in a walker basket.
Sources
- Hand-Held Reacher (shop.drivemedical.com), Drive Medical (maker)
- Activities After Hip Replacement (orthoinfo.org), AAOS OrthoInfo
- Getting your home ready: knee or hip surgery (medlineplus.gov), MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Hip Replacement Surgery: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (WWW.SUTTERHEALTH.ORG/pdf/services/orthopedic/hip-replacement-surgery-physical-medicine-rehabilitation-cpmc.pdf), Sutter Health CPMC
- After Hip Surgery: Getting Dressed (ummhealth.org), UMass Memorial Health