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Arthritis can make seemingly simple things like getting dressed feel unmanageable. It might not seem like it to people who don’t live with a chronic pain condition like arthritis but getting dressed involves strength and dexterity – especially in the fingers, which are a common place for people to experience pain.
Not only that, but pulling on clothes can involve balance and manoeuvring the body into different shapes – which again can be really tricky if you’re living with arthritis. Not being able to button a shirt or tie a shoe can feel really unsettling. It can feel like you’re regressing and at times you may worry that you’re losing the ability to take care of yourself.
This isn’t true, however. Your body may not cooperate all the time, but many people can and do learn new ways to interact with the physical world to retain autonomy and independence. Clothes can be a big part of a person’s identity and you deserve to be able to express yourself by wearing the clothes you like – and feeling comfortable in them! If you have arthritis and you’re finding it difficult to get dressed, this article includes some tips, tricks and aid recommendations so you can make life a little easier.
1. Make things easier for yourself
One of the hardest things about dressing when you have arthritis is the physical movements that go into dressing, such as bending down to pull on your trousers, socks or shoes. These movements require balance and strength and you may find yourself stumbling – which can be dangerous. It sounds simple, but doing things like sitting down before putting on your trousers or shoes can make a big difference and mitigate some of the risk of hurting yourself because you won’t be struggling to keep your balance. If you have the space, you might want to get a chair and put it near your wardrobe and/or front door so that you can easily get into the habit of sitting when dressing.
If you struggle to grip your trousers when pulling them up, you might want to try popping your hands in your pockets, making a fist with your hands and then pulling your trousers up using the pockets rather than having to grab the material and pull them up that way. Similarly, rather than pulling each arm through a coat or jacket you could try laying the item open on a chair, then sit on the chair with your arms back and hey presto! You’re dressed! If you have an early start to the day then you might want to lay clothes out the night before to give yourself one less thing to do in the morning. If possible, you might want to allocate a bit of time in the morning to stretch out your body before going about your day. Getting the blood flowing and exercising your muscles and joints can decrease the amount of stiffness and pain you feel, which can make everything easier and more enjoyable.
2. Choose arthritis-friendly fabrics
Make sure you’re wearing breathable, comfortable material which feels good to wear and can help you keep cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather. Tight-fitting clothes with tight legs or waistbands can feel stiff against your body, be harder to put on and may also restrict your movements throughout the day. Soft and stretchy clothes like leggings, dresses, pull-on shirts, loose-fitting trousers and anything which you can pull on and move freely in can really make a difference to your whole day. Buying clothes which don’t wrinkle can help you look neat without having to iron, which can be a faff at the best of times, but even more so when you have arthritis.
3. Choose loose-fitting clothes
Stretchy clothes with a loose-fitting elastic waist can help keep your trousers up whilst also being comfortable and forgiving as our bodies naturally change shape a bit throughout the day (especially after eating!). Wide legged trousers and raglan sleeved tops (which have larger armholes) can be easier to get into than narrower alternatives, while ponchos can be a good choice in the cold as they don’t have any arm holes and can act as a fashionable blanket.
“The first thing is to avoid restrictive clothing. This allows you to reduce pain and pressure points. Stretchy, loose-fitting garments are best suited for this,” says Susan Gentile, a nurse practitioner at ChoicePoint. “You should dress for easy access. Avoid putting on clothes that come with complicated buttons or zippers, or any that restrict your movements. When picking out underwear, make sure to choose something that isn’t too tight. Allow yourself some breathing room.”
4. Choose clothes which have no buttons or are easy to fasten
Buttons and zips can be a hassle when you have arthritis. Clothes which are easy to pull on and off without any fastening components are ideal, but there are also alternatives like velcro fasteners, hook and eye fasteners and button hooks which may be easier for you to use if you have arthritis in the hands. Try to avoid clothes that close at the back (so zips, buttons and ties located at the back of the garment) as these can be extra fiddly and hard to navigate when you have arthritis.
Some people use magnetic zips to help keep their clothes closed. “For people who wear bras, prioritise getting bras that fasten at the front,” says Susan Gentile. “To completely forego bras, wear tops that offer bra support.” You may also want to look into replacing your bra hooks with velcro as they will ask less of your hands. Speaking of velcro: some belts also have velcro ends which are much easier to close without having to overuse your fingers.
5. Invest in some dressing aids
If you do want to wear clothes that involve buttons and zips then you might find things like button hooks (which can be hooked around the button to make it easier to do up) and zipper pulls (which often come with a large, soft and easy-to-grip handle to make it easier to zip up clothes) can be really helpful.
Other clothing aids which can make your life easier when you have arthritis include sock aids with handles (they come with a foot-shaped shell that you can put the sock on with the attached handles, so you can pop your foot into the shell and pull the sock on without having to bend down or fiddle around) and long-handled shoe horns (which can help you pull your shoes off and on without having to grapple with the shoe). Dressing sticks can also be helpful for putting on socks and trousers, and elastic laces are a good shout as once they’re on the shoe you just need to pull them to tighten rather than having to tie knots.
6. Buy comfortable shoes
Your feet do a lot for you, so it’s important to take care of them. “For shoes, make sure they have a sturdy sole and are durable,” says Susan Gentile. “They should also fit comfortably, and have a spacious toe box.”
It’s really important that your shoes are well fitting, comfortable and stable. When buying shoes, look out for strong, breathable material that is suitable for the time of year (i.e. is warm in the winter or breathable in the summer). Try to find shoes that support your arches, with a comfortable and flexible rubber sole that provides good grip to help stop you from slipping. Make sure the shoe can be secured to the foot with laces, zippers, buckles or velcro (velcro may be the easiest option if you have arthritis).
If you wear heels, make sure they are no more than 2 inches off the ground and go for wide heels rather than thinner stiletto style options. Wider heels help distribute your weight more evenly so you’re not putting excess pressure on the front of the foot. Avoid ill fitting shoes which are too small or too big, don’t walk too far in flip flops, sandals or pumps as they don’t encourage natural foot positioning and can put strain on parts of the foot. Make sure you’re updating your shoe wardrobe regularly and don’t spend all day in slippers as they also don’t give your feet the support they need.
7. Ask for help
Some people find it difficult to ask for help in general, and it can be even harder when it involves something that a lot of people take for granted – like getting dressed.
Remember that you’re dealing with swelling, discomfort, stiffness, weak joints and chronic pain – that is a difficult experience for anyone and it makes perfect sense that you might need an extra pair of hands particularly when experiencing a difficult day. If you live with people and you feel comfortable talking to them, try and be open about what you need from them and why, including any feelings you may have about your arthritis. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but being open and honest is much more likely to help you connect with those around you and get the help you need. If you feel that you may need additional help, speak to your doctor, physical therapist or other support system about your options.
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