Dressing

After surgery, most patients find it difficult to perform simple tasks like putting on pants, socks and shoes. If needed, there are aids which are available that can make dressing an easier and safer task to perform. Some things you should consider when dressing:

  • Choose loose clothing if possible
  • Sit on the side of the bed or on a firm chair
  • Have your equipment near you (reacher, sock-aid, etc.)

 

Putting pants on with a reacher

Puttings socks on with a sock aid

Putting shoes on with a long handled shoe horn

 

Putting pants on with a reacher

  • Clip the reacher to the waist band of the pants and lower pants to the floor
    putting pants on
  • Dress your operated leg first
    putting on pants
  • Pull your pants part way up using the reacher
    putting on pants
  • Place your good leg in next
    putting on pants

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Putting socks on with a sock aid

  • Pull sock over the sock aid
  • Using straps, lower sock aid to the floor
    putting on socks
  • Gently slide your foot into the sock aid
    putting on sock
  • Use the straps to pull on the sock
    putting on sock
  • Use reacher to remove sock
    removing sock

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Putting shoes on with a long handled shoe horn

  • When in standing, place the long handled shoe horn in your shoe
    putting on shoe
  • Slide your foot into the shoe
    putting on shoe

You may find elastic shoes laces would be helpful when tying up your shoes.

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