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Article published in Devon Link Summer 2002

Getting dressed up can be a pleasure, but when your choice of clothes is limited to what you can wear rather than what you want to wear, and dressing and undressing is painful and tiring, it becomes an ordeal, wasting time and energy that could be used elsewhere.

If dressing is taking over your life have a look at where you get dressed. If you are sitting on a bed or chair, is it the right height? Can you reach your feet and can you stand easily to pull garments up? It may help to have your room layout re arranged, or put up a carefully positioned grab rail to make the process of getting dressed easier. A footstool can reduce the need to bend and stretch when putting on socks, tights or shoes. Would it be easier to get dressed, or to do up fasteners when lying on the bed?  

Clothes choice is an important aspect of dressing and undressing with ease.

Obviously loose fitting styles in stretchy fabric are the easiest, but these days that doesn't mean wearing a tracksuit! You can now find a wide range of styles using finer quality jersey fabric, in natural, man made and synthetic fibres. Stretch fabrics that include elastane or Lycra help avoid the saggy knee look that gives jersey garments a bad name!

As an alternative to jersey fabrics, look out for bias cut garments and crinkle fabrics, as they have a built in stretch that helps when putting them on and off. Many garments made in woven fabrics now have added Lycra, which gives them a bit of stretch too.

Look for styles with raglan or a drop shoulder seam, as these give a deeper sleeve opening than a set in sleeve. A gusset can also be inserted in seams under the arm to increase the size of the armhole, reducing the need for shoulder movement when dressing.

Underwear can be a problem if you have pain or reduced movement in your joints. Men and women often find that pulling pants up with arms crossed over the front of the body, reduces strain on wrists, elbows and shoulders. Loops added to the side of the waist band helps you to pull with fingers loosely hooked around the loop instead of gripping the fabric tightly.

Bras with fastenings at the front are available from shops and Mail order catalogues (Woods of Morcombe Tel. 01524 840084). Pull on bras from Patra (Tel. 0181 209 1112) are made from soft silk jersey and can be pulled on over the feet in the same way as pants, reducing the need for shoulder movement. Do call me at the Independent Living Centre (Tel. 01392 687276) for advice about adapting your bras to fasten at the front.

Swimsuits can also be a struggle and many women have found the Tankinis pioneered by Landsend (Tel. 0800 220 160 ) have the convenience of a bikini without the exposure!  

Fasteners can be avoided by choosing elasticated or drawstring waists and stretch fabrics, but if you can't avoid them make sure you can reach them; front or side is better than back fasteners. Choose a fastener that you can manage, or that can be adapted to make it easier for you. Buttons sewn on with shirring elastic are easier to manipulate, and can be left done up on cuffs. Zip tabs can be made bigger with the addition of a loop of tape or a curtain ring, and small hooks and eyes can be replaced with larger versions as found on trouser waistbands. Press studs can be a great substitute for buttons, and velcro is useful in moderation, but won't take the strain needed on a bra or waistband unless used in conjunction with a tape and 'd' ring. Shoes can be found with velcro fasteners, and there are many gadgets that will replace conventional laces.

Stocking,sock and tights gutters are a bit of a fiddle, but work well for some people who need to avoid bending, and there are some other clever gadgets available. The Snappi Dressa from Ways and Means (Tel. 01530 418916) will hold your coat / jacket or cardigan at the right height for you to slip your arms in without having stretch upwards or take the weight of the coat on painful shoulders. A dressing stick helps you to ease clothes on and off, over your shoulders or feet without having to stretch so far.

The Independent Living Centre in Exeter is staffed by occupational therapists giving free, impartial advice and information about equipment, techniques or services that will help to enhance independence. Access to the centre is free to anyone calling, writing or making an appointment to visit. As well as a display of bathing, household and mobility equipment for assessment and demonstration purposes, the centre also has a clothing advice service. (Tel. 01392 687276)

The centre is one of a network of Disabled Living Centres across the country that are affiliated to the Disabled Living Centres Council. Do contact the head office to find your nearest centre. (Tel. 0161 2145959 )

• Philippa Greenslade
  Senior Occupational Therapist
  Clothing Adviser