Clothing Hacks for Arthritis Pain
As we age it becomes increasingly difficult to do things that we once were able able to do. We might notice that we cannot move as fast or stand for longer periods without causing strain or discomfort. The typical wears and tears of aging can be plenty and the addition of arthritis pain may make it even worse.
The ability to complete activities of daily living are often under appreciated since they become such a habit. So it’s no surprise that we forget how challenging simple chores can be until we aren’t able to complete them anymore. So if there was something out there that could make a few of your every day tasks more manageable, wouldn’t you want to know?!
There are many pieces of equipment designed to make getting dressed simpler. There are devices which help for a number of things such as a long handled reacher. And there are even specifically designed items for only one thing, such as made to helping you put compression stockings on. Which can be tough on anyone, even if you don’t have arthritis pain! But in reality there are many ways to effectively complete the same task. For instance, instead of buying a compression stocking device to make things easier, you may just buy compressions stockings with a zipper! The point is this, there is never one right way to do anything. There are many right ways. These are just a few of our favorite tips and tricks!
Long Handled Reacher
We know you’ve seen this one, used for picking up items off of high shelves and off of the floor. But what you may not have thought about is this reachers ability to assist you with putting on your pants, taking off your socks, or other tasks that you may be completing that require excessive bending.
So how would a reacher really help you put your pants on? I’m so glad you asked! Imagine you’re sitting at the edge of the bed and your clean clothes are sitting next to you. You’re planning on getting dressed for the morning. You grab your underwear, bend over to thread your foot in, you sit back up. You bend over again to thread your other foot in. Now you have to repeat the same steps with your pants. You haven’t even had breakfast yet and your arthritis pain is already acting up.
Or maybe you physically can’t reach your feet to be able to put your pants. As a result, your loved one has been doing it for you, bending over and exhausting THEIR back. Well look no further, here’s your Occupational Therapy tutorial on how to use a long handled reacher to put on your pants.
Step 1
Clamp the reacher on the front of the pants and begin to guide them towards one foot.
Step 2
Begin to pull pants over the first leg (always dressing your bad side or less mobile side if you have one).
Step 3
Step the more flexible side into other pant leg.
Step 4
Once the pants are within reach without having to bend excessively, ditch the reacher and pull them up like normal.
Sock Aide
First question you’re gonna ask is what on earth is a sock aide?! But don’t worry, I’m about to explain to you the magic that is the sock aide. A device created to allow the individual using it to be able to put their socks on without ever having to bend over. What we hear a lot in the rehab world is the complaint about the socks. Unable to bend due to back pain or maybe you used to bring your foot across the other leg in a cross cross style and now you knees and hips just aren’t as flexible and that isn’t possible.
This is where the sock aide comes in. The device can be purchased with two handles or one as to be completed with one hand. The concept is that you place the sock on to the device itself while you hold the sock aide in your lap. After the sock is on the device, you toss it down to your feet and place the first foot all the way through the sock and then repeat on the other foot. Simple right? Check out this super cool device!
Sock Aide
Honestly, this product is so impressively easy to use and so cheap that you’ll wonder why you didn’t have one before!
Button Hook
For those with arthritis in the hands, or any need for assistance with managing smaller items, buttons on clothing can be an extremely difficult task. Having to rely on someone else to button a shirt or even just that one button on your favorite jeans may be a painful experience. Luckily there is a solution! No more asking your loved one to help you. And no more struggling for 5 minutes before finally deciding to wear the pull over shirt that doesn’t have any buttons at all. The tool is called a button hook and this is how it works! First you place the this wire through the button slot towards where the actual button is. Next you wrap the wire around the actual button. Then you pull the button through the button opening.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
Not only is it simple many also come with a thick ergonomically designed handle making it even easier to hold onto and manage the button without anyone’s assistance.
Magnets
While the button hook can assist with shirts you already own, there are a fair amount of high tech clothing that eliminated the need for buttons. Try magnets! Magnets are a great alternative to even having the buttons in the first place! Tommy Adaptive is a Tommy Hilfiger product designed not just for individuals with disabilities but also for anyone struggling with clothing management. Not only have they created awesome products like magnets as opposed to buttons, they also keep up the classic button up style that looks exactly like any other button. Using their magnetic technology Tommy Adaptive has also created a zipper that can be completed with just one hand.
**Although we do not recommend magnetic clothing for individuals with pacemakers or implanted medical devices, you can always consult your MD to see if this might be an option for you.
Image from Tommy Adaptive Collection
Stylish design, you wouldn’t even know it is made with magnets.
Image from Tommy Adaptive Collection
Looks just like a nice button down but no hassle required!
Elastic Waistbands
One of the easiest adaptions to clothing management is the elastic waistband. Although most may think of sweat pants or yoga pants when they think elastic, there are actually many styles and more formal pants offered with elastic waistbands. Made for less stress with buttons and zippers while also looking stylish and comfortable.
These classic jeans made with an elastic waist are another of Tommy Adaptive’s signature styles made to put on with ease for those with any difficulty donning pants or finding it difficult to look stylish while also being functional. Elastic waistbands have come a long way and are now being made seamlessly into most clothing without anyone being able to tell they’re there. Even if style is not your main concern, function definitely should be and elastic waistbands are a simple concept making getting dressed that much simpler.
Velcro
We’ve all seen the classic velcro shoe. White, with two 1 inch straps going across the front, indicating that you need help putting on your shoes. Shoes these days have come a longgg way. The old, outdated white velcro shoe is a thing of the past. Velcro shoes come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and even ones that don’t look much like velcro. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.
Think that velcro is simply reserved for shoes? WRONG! Velcro can be used for many adaptions but one of the most stealthy, and stylish ones I’ve seen so far is the use of velcro in pants the way Tommy Adaptive does it.
Seriously, you would never even know they have velcro the way these pants are designed. If you’re looking for adaptions for new clothing that have modifications already built in then check out these Tommy Adaptive Pants!
Whether you are looking to buy a few new pieces (like the ones from Tommy Adaptive) that are already modified. Or use a modification for something you already own (like a button hook) there is an adaption for you! There are tons out there, you just have to look! Don’t deal suffer through arthritis pain when there are modifications for you to make life simpler.
The information you need…Straight Up!
