Skip to main content Skip to site map link
Print PRINT
TEXT SIZE:
Print PRINT
CLOSE
mysurgery.nshealth.ca
 
Skip BreadcrumbsHome At Home Resuming Daily Activities Getting Dressed

 Getting Dressed

Person getting dressed

During your hospital stay, your therapist will show you how you can use special equipment to help dress yourself. These tools include: a reacher, a long-handled shoehorn, elastic shoelaces, and a sock aid.

Other tips for getting dressed safely and easily:

  • Organize your dresser drawers and your clothes closet so things are easy to reach. 
  • Sit on a raised chair or bed.
  • Choose loose-fitting clothing, including socks.
  • Wear low-heeled shoes, with elastic shoelaces.
  • Dress your operated leg first, and undress it last.

The techniques listed below are recommended during early healing and are generally in place for six to eight weeks following hip replacement surgery. They may be extended on the advice of your surgeon or therapist. The techniques can also help those having knee replacement surgery before surgery if pain and stiffness make these activities difficult. However, you should not use these techniques after knee replacement surgery unless you find it hard to do the activities due to pain or you do not have anyone to help you.

Click on the tabs below to read instructions and watch video clips on how to safely dress with the following dressing aids:

Using a Long Handed Reacher - Pants and Underpants

To safely put on your pants while following your precautions, follow these steps:

  1. Sit on a firm armchair or at the edge of your bed.
  2. Clamp the waist band of your pants /underpants with the reacher and lower your clothing to the floor.
  3. Dress your operated leg first, then your non-operated leg.
  4. Use the long handled reacher to pull your pants up past the knee, making sure that your foot comes completely through the pant leg.
  5. Stand up and pull your pants up the rest of the way, with support from your walking aid.

To safely take off your pants while following your precautions, follow these steps:

  1. Stand in front of a firm armchair or the edge of your bed. Hold on to your walker with one hand.
  2. Use your other hand to lower your clothes to the floor, making sure not to bend over.
  3. Lower your clothing enough so that you can sit in the chair or on the edge of the bed without sitting on the clothing.
  4. Use the reacher to lower your clothing the rest of the way. Remove your non-operated leg first, then your operated leg second.
  5. Use the reacher to pick up your clothes from the floor.

To watch a video clip on how to put on and take off pants using a long-handled reacher, please see below.   Please note that you may be prompted to install Microsoft's video software called Silverlight to view the video.

Using a Sock Aid – Socks

Use a sock aid with ankle high or higher socks (loose fitting above-ankle socks work best). You may use baby powder to help with sliding socks on.

To put on and take off your socks while following your precautions, follow these steps:

  1. Put your sock on the sock aid.
  2. Lower your sock aid to the floor, making sure not to bend over.
  3. Slide your foot into the sock aid and pull up.
  4. If the sock does not come up all the way, you can use a reacher to help pull the sock up.
  5. Note: You can remove your socks by using the reacher or a long-handled shoe horn. 

To watch a video clip on how to put on your socks using a sock aid, see the video below. Please note that you may be prompted to install Microsoft's video software called Silverlight to view the video.

Using a Long Handled Shoe Horn – Shoes

Use slip-on shoes with an enclosed heel (or shoes with elastic laces) that are a half-size larger than you normally wear, to make room for possible swelling in the early days after surgery.

To put on and take off your shoes while following your precautions, follow these steps:

  1. Position your shoe with a long handled shoe horn. Slide your foot into the shoe using the shoe horn to help, and avoid a lot of hip rotation.
  2. Use a long handled shoe horn to slip off your shoe, and avoid a lot of hip rotation.

To watch a video clip on how to put on your shoes  using a long handled shoe horn, see the video below.  Please note that you may be prompted to install Microsoft's video software called Silverlight to view the video.