12 replies to this topic

[wheelie182]

Well i get dressed in my chair, i find it easyier, and its what im use to,

[BillS]

paddydfireman, on Nov 5 2006, 01:08 PM, said:

ok i just want to know is there any other way i can get dressed instead of lying down on the bed

Well you could get dressed lying on the floor. But I find the bed abit easier.

I can if really needed get my pants up while sitting in my chair. They have to be loose pants so they go up easily. I rock back and forth sort of the same way I do in my bed pulling up one side of the pants at a time. Eventually I can get them up around my waste. However it's alot of hard work for me and I only do it in the most extreme cases. I'd usually rather get down on the floor and put my pants on and then make that major transfer back into the chair then put my pants on while I'm in my chair.

[juls]

Well..i don't know alot about this but..in rehab to teach us to start with, they put tabs on our pants...i had two broken arms and all fingers so this was good for me..they taught us how to twist around so eventually we were wearing the pants..i'm not saying that they were on perfect..but it is a start.....can you see an ot about this...they should be able to help you to alter your clothing so you are able to put it on yourself
sorry..as i said, i'm not much help but you never know

Edited by juls, 06 November 2006 - 02:14 PM.

[DaveP]

There only one way to get dressed - your way - and it's never pretty!

Just keep trying and experimenting with different ways to get your kit on and off, and you'll work out a way that works for you. There is no simple way - just keep trying and trying, and don't give up! After a while you'll discover new tricks and what clothes work better than others and you'll become more agile and better at it, and it gets easier and quicker.

Go for it Paddy - you can do it mate!

[RYAN68]

i lay on my bed and pull my legs up so my knees are right close to my chest, then i put my socks on and jeans on that way, than just wiggle/roll around till there up, i also put my cowboy boots on this way too...takes about 5 mins or less to do...I've even put on bib overalls this way too

[lune14]

I have always dressed in my chair (except the first year post rehab, then it was always the rolling in bed thing). I had to learn to dress from chair when I started at university and working as I had to cath from my chair.

Currently I just slip a leg at a time into slacks, panties or skirt then pull them up using a pressure lift from my wheels while pulling up the garment with my thumbs. For shoes I also do one foot at a time, although when I put my boots on I usually prop my foot up on the edge of the bed. My right leg however I can cross my ankle over my left knee to put my boots on. I think I have lost some flexibility in my left leg/hip as it doesn't contort to that position too well.

But like Dave stated, the best way really is your way. Although I do believe you can pick up ideas from everyone and incorporate them. When I developed carpal tunnel I was thankful for knowing how my girlfriend, who is a quad, managed to dress as her technique became mine while I recovered. It helped me in MANY ways that I never considered. I guess we take things for granted more than we realize sometimes.

Happy dressing!

[Adams]

I say you do it the old fashioned way, "One leg at a time".

[livewriter]

If you bounce on the bed real high, you can use the parachute method. If you can't you can't just remember to thank you wife...

[gsp23]

I find the couch the easiest (after the bed of course) and am just starting to work with the chair but my chair is difficult for me to get my socks & shoes on. But here is how I do it.

I sit on my couch so that my butt is slid forward in about the middle of the cushion and angle slightly to the side. I put my pants on the ground to the side a little bit as I cant lean straight forward and touch the ground. I then lean to the side and pickup the waistband of the pants and get my feet started into them. Once each leg is started down a pants leg, then I lean back on the couch. Since I had my butt in the middle of the cushion, my body is pretty straight at this point. I pull the pants up as far as I can from a seated position and then hop up a bit to slide them up the rest of the way. At this point, my legs are still stright out in front of me so I situp again and do a modified version of crossing my legs. I put my ankle up on my opposite leg just below the knee and then I put my sock and shoe on that foot. I then put that leg down and reverse them to do the opposite foot. The shirt I am able to lift my arms up now and can do that without issues myself but while I was still healing I put both arms in my shirt in front of me instead of the traditional over the top of the head. I was then able to grab my shirt from the front and pull it down as much as possible while leaning against something, then when I had it down as much as possible, I would twist to the side a little bit and grab one of the sides (my right arm had mobility sooner than my left) and pull down, then just twist the opposite way and it would drop down on its own.

Now, I did read your post that someone else would be doing this for you, but hopefully you can pass along some of these tips for seating positions and it will be come of some use. Good Luck!

[brackman22]

I like to look through all of the O.T. merchandise catologues like sammons preston. You don't necessarily need to buy anything. Just looking through the things they offer can spur ideas about how to better or more efficiently do the things you do. I've found this to be very helpful.

Brett

[hrvoje]

first i put shirt on and trousers, usualy i sit on the edge of bed to put trousers to my knees and then i just roll myself on bed and pull trousers up( i have little problems if i want to put on jeans) and then i put myself in wheelchair and put socks on. iti is simply, you just need to excersize it.