Reacher Grabber for Dressing: How to Use a Reacher to Put On Pants, Socks, and Shoes

Dressing independence is one of the functional goals most important to patients in rehabilitation -- and one of the most commonly compromised by hip replacement precautions, lower extremity weakness, or back pain. The challenge is specific to lower body dressing: putting on pants, socks, and shoes all require reaching below hip level or past 90 degrees of hip flexion, which is precisely what hip replacement precautions prohibit. A reacher grabber used with correct technique can restore lower body dressing independence -- but the technique is specific and must be learned.

Direct answer: A reacher can be used to pull pants up from seated, position underwear for step-in, hook socks for positioning (though a dedicated sock aid is better for socks), and pull shoes on (with a long-handled shoehorn completing the heel). The reacher is used to hook the waistband or leg loop and guide clothing, not to grip and pull with full force. A sock aid is more efficient than a reacher for socks specifically; the reacher is best for pants, shorts, and shoes.

Reacher Dressing Technique: Lower Body

Pants/Shorts

1. Sit on the edge of the bed or a firm chair
2. Use the reacher to hook the waistband of the pants at the back or one leg loop
3. Lower the pants to the floor in front of you
4. Use the reacher to hold one leg opening and guide your foot into it; repeat for the other leg
5. Work pants up each leg using the reacher to pull the waistband up incrementally
6. Stand and pull pants to final position; do not bend forward -- stand and reach down only as far as comfortable with hips above 90 degrees

Shoes

1. Hook the heel loop or lace area with the reacher jaw and position the shoe on the floor in front of your foot
2. Slide your foot into the toe of the shoe
3. Use a long-handled shoehorn (not the reacher) to ease your heel in -- the shoehorn is better for this final step
4. For slip-on shoes, the reacher can hook the heel loop and pull the shoe on directly

Socks: Reacher vs Sock Aid

A dedicated sock aid (a plastic form that holds the sock open so you can drop your foot into it) is significantly more efficient than using a reacher for socks. If sock independence is a primary need (hip replacement, back pain, knee limitation), a sock aid should be purchased alongside the reacher -- they address different aspects of lower body dressing.

The GrabbersTool 32-inch Reacher is the standard length for most dressing applications. Browse the full reacher collection.