One-Handed Strategy To Don Tops–Dress The Affected Side First!

“Dressing is a way of life.”–Yves Saint Laurent

You don’t have to be a fashion designer like Yves Saint Laurent to have your very own style or way of dressing. What’s most important is ease, comfort, and a way to dress that is uniquely yours. And, if you’re challenged with upper body weakness or limited range of motion, remember to dress the weaker or affected side first! This will be simpler, conserve energy and also protect your joints.

• PUTTING ON A PULLOVER ONE-HANDED: To start, sit securely in a locked armchair or wheelchair and have supervision, if needed. Place pullover front-side down on your lap with the collar away from you. Our model is wearing an arm-sleeve to represent the weaker or affected arm.

• Use the unaffected arm as a helping hand to assist the affected arm. Next, use the unaffected hand and pull the sleeve up and over the affected hand and forearm.

• Continue to use the unaffected hand to pull the sleeve up and over the affected elbow and shoulder.

• Place the unaffected arm into the remaining sleeve.

• Next, gather the back portion of the pullover between unaffected thumb and fingers.

• Tuck chin and pull the gathered material up and over the head.

• Continue until the pullover is completely up and over the head.

• Insert unaffected arm all the way through sleeve.

• Use the unaffected hand to adjust the pullover on the affected shoulder.

• Make final adjustments and if needed, ask a friend or family member to assist with any final help you might need.

• Violà! Shenandoah rests his head to praise daddy for a job well done.

• PUTTING ON A BUTTON DOWN SHIRT ONE-HANDED: Sit securely in locked wheelchair or armchair and have supervision, if needed. Place the back-side of the shirt on your lap with the collar near your waist and the label facing up. Spread the shirt wide open with the armholes visible. With the unaffected hand, place the affected arm into the armhole.

• Continue to use the unaffected hand to pull the sleeve up and over the affected forearm and elbow.

• Now, put the unaffected arm into the armhole.

• Continue to place unaffected arm through the sleeve and up and over elbow.

• Next, gather the back portion of the pullover between unaffected thumb and fingers.

• Tuck chin and pull the gathered material up and over head.

• Continue until the back portion of the shirt is completely up and over the head.

• With the unaffected hand, pull the shirt tail completely down from all the sides and the back.

• Make any final adjustments and if needed, ask a friend or family member to assist with any further help you might need. Although wearing the clothes you already have and love is economical, for ease of dressing you may want to consider sizing up, if and when adding to your wardrobe.

Voilà, congratulations in your self-care efforts. You don’t have to be a fashion designer to have your very own style or way of dressing. What matters is ease, comfort, and know-how. And when you dress the affected side first, it’s simpler, conserves energy, and protects your joints. Thanks for visiting Human Touch OT, and remember to embrace independence and love ❤️ life. Stay healthy and be well.

References:

Yves Saint Laurent Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/yves_saint_laurent_115252