Getting dressed can become much more difficult after a stroke, particularly when one side of the body is weak or difficult to control.
A stroke may affect strength, balance, coordination, sensation and fine motor skills. Someone who previously dressed without thinking about it may suddenly find it difficult to put an arm into a sleeve, pull up pants or fasten a button.
The right dressing technique can make the routine more manageable.
One of the most important principles is simple:
When getting dressed, put clothing on the affected or weaker side first. When getting undressed, remove clothing from the unaffected or stronger side first.
Occupational therapists can also teach dressing techniques based on the person's specific abilities, so follow any individualized instructions provided by the stroke rehabilitation team.
Which Side Do You Dress First After a Stroke?
Dress the affected or weaker side first.
For example, if a stroke has caused weakness on the left side:
- Put the left arm into the shirt sleeve first
- Bring the garment around the body
- Put the stronger right arm into the other sleeve
- Adjust and fasten the garment
When getting undressed, reverse the order:
- Remove the garment from the stronger side first
- Remove it from the affected side last
This approach allows the stronger arm or leg to do more of the work.
NHS occupational-therapy guidance specifically recommends dressing the affected arm first and undressing the unaffected arm first.
Why Do You Dress the Affected Side First?
Starting with the affected side makes it easier to position the weaker arm or leg while the stronger side is still available to help.
It can also reduce the amount of pulling and maneuvering required once the garment is partly on.
The goal is not to force the affected limb through the clothing.
Move slowly and support the limb throughout the process.
This is particularly important with an affected arm. Stroke guidance recommends supporting the arm carefully and avoiding pulling on it because improper handling can cause pain or shoulder injury.
If moving the person's arm is painful or you are unsure how to position it, ask their occupational therapist or physical therapist to demonstrate the appropriate technique.
How to Put on a Shirt After a Stroke
A front-opening shirt can make upper-body dressing easier for someone with weakness on one side.
Try this sequence:
- Sit in a stable position
- Place the shirt where it can be reached easily
- Support the affected arm
- Guide the affected hand and arm into the sleeve first
- Pull the sleeve carefully over the affected arm
- Bring the shirt around the back
- Put the stronger arm into the remaining sleeve
- Adjust and fasten the shirt
Avoid pulling on the affected hand, arm or shoulder.
If the person can participate, give them time to do as much of the process as they safely can.
How to Take Off a Shirt After a Stroke
When taking a shirt off, use the opposite order.
Remove the stronger or unaffected arm first.
Then carefully remove the garment from the affected arm.
A simple way to remember the technique is:
Dress the weak side first, undress the strong side first.
That same basic principle applies to many upper-body garments.
How to Put on Pants After a Stroke
Lower-body dressing may be difficult when a stroke affects leg strength, balance or coordination.
Sitting during dressing can provide a more stable position than trying to put pants on while standing.
A common approach is:
- Sit in a stable chair or on the edge of the bed if appropriate
- Place the affected leg into the pants first
- Put the stronger leg into the other pant leg
- Pull the pants upward as far as possible while seated
- Stand only when necessary and when it is safe to do so
- Finish adjusting the waistband
A reacher or other dressing aid may help someone guide pants over the feet without bending as far.
The person's occupational therapist can recommend the safest technique based on balance, mobility and the amount of assistance required.
Sit Down While Getting Dressed
For many people recovering from a stroke, sitting makes dressing easier.
A stable seated position can reduce the amount of balance required when:
- Putting a leg into pants
- Pulling on socks
- Putting on shoes
- Reaching toward the feet
- Taking clothing off
Heart and Stroke Foundation resources provide stroke-specific dressing demonstrations and recommend occupational therapy guidance when physical impairments make dressing difficult.
If a therapist has given the person specific positioning or transfer instructions, follow those instructions rather than relying on a general dressing technique.
Protect the Affected Arm
An affected arm may be weak, difficult to control or have reduced sensation after a stroke.
That means the person may not always recognize when the arm is hanging awkwardly or being pulled.
When helping with dressing:
- Support the affected arm
- Move slowly
- Avoid pulling on the hand, wrist or arm
- Follow any positioning instructions from the rehabilitation team
- Stop if movement causes pain
Heart and Stroke Foundation guidance specifically recommends supporting the affected arm during personal care and avoiding pulling on it.
If the person uses a sling or another arm-support device, follow the instructions provided by their occupational therapist or physical therapist.
Encourage the Person to Participate
Helping someone after a stroke does not necessarily mean doing the entire dressing routine for them.
Give the person an opportunity to complete whatever steps they can safely manage.
That may mean:
- Choosing their own clothing
- Putting the stronger arm into a sleeve
- Pulling a zipper
- Fastening a magnetic closure
- Pulling up part of the waistband
- Making final clothing adjustments
Recovery looks different for everyone.
Some people regain substantial function while others continue using adapted techniques long term.
The occupational therapist can help determine how much assistance is appropriate and identify techniques that support greater independence.
What Clothing Is Easiest to Wear After a Stroke?
The easiest clothing depends on how the stroke has affected movement, dexterity and balance.
In general, look for clothing that reduces the amount of fine motor control and two-handed coordination required.
Helpful features can include:
- Front-opening shirts
- Magnetic or hook-and-loop closures
- Stretch fabrics
- Elastic waistbands
- Wide pant openings
- Side-opening pants
- Larger zipper pulls
- Clothing that can be put on while seated
Heart and Stroke Foundation specifically identifies elastic waists, simpler closures, button hooks, zipper aids, sock aids and long-handled shoehorns as options that may help with dressing after stroke.
Adaptive Clothing After a Stroke
Adaptive clothing for stroke patients changes the way a garment opens or fastens so the wearer does not have to perform as many difficult movements.
For someone with one-sided weakness, useful options may include magnetic shirts and side-opening pants.
If you are new to adaptive clothing and want to know what it's all about, check out this blog.
Magnetic Shirts
Traditional buttons require pinching, gripping and two-handed coordination.
Magnetic closures can reduce the amount of fine motor work required to close a shirt.
They may be particularly useful for someone who can manage the shirt itself but finds individual buttons difficult.
Joe & Bella offers magnetic shirts that are designed to look like traditional button-down shirts once closed.
Side-Zip Pants
Traditional pants can be difficult when someone has trouble bending, lifting a leg or pulling clothing over the feet.
Side-Zip Pants open much wider along the legs, which can make them easier to position while seated.
The wider opening can also be useful when one leg is weaker than the other.
Stretch and Elastic Waistbands
Stretch fabrics and flexible waistbands can reduce the amount of pulling and fastening required.
A simpler waistband may be especially helpful for someone dressing primarily with one hand.
For more options, see Joe & Bella's adaptive clothing for stroke patients.
Dressing Aids for Stroke Survivors
Adaptive clothing is one option, but sometimes a simple dressing tool is enough.
Useful aids can include:
Reacher
A reacher can help bring clothing toward the feet or retrieve an item without as much bending.
Sock Aid
A sock aid can help someone pull on a sock when reaching the foot is difficult.
Long-Handled Shoehorn
A longer shoehorn can make it easier to put on shoes without bending as far.
Button Hook
A button hook can help someone manipulate traditional buttons with less fine finger control.
Zipper Pull
A larger zipper pull or ring can make a zipper easier to grasp with one hand.
An occupational therapist can help determine which tools are actually useful rather than purchasing a collection of aids the person may not need. Heart and Stroke Foundation specifically recommends OT guidance when selecting and learning to use assistive devices.
What About One-Handed Dressing?
Many stroke survivors develop ways to dress primarily using their stronger hand.
One-handed dressing techniques depend on:
- Which side was affected
- Arm and hand function
- Leg strength
- Balance
- Sensation
- Coordination
- Whether the person can safely sit or stand independently
The basic principle of putting the affected side into clothing first can still apply.
However, one-handed dressing is best practiced with an occupational therapist because small changes in technique can make a significant difference based on the person's specific impairments.
Tips for Caregivers Helping Someone Get Dressed
If you are helping a family member after a stroke, try not to make speed the goal.
A routine that takes longer but allows the person to participate may support more independence than immediately completing every step for them.
Helpful caregiver strategies include:
- Have clothing ready before starting
- Ask the person what they want to wear
- Encourage them to complete the steps they can manage
- Keep frequently worn clothes easy to reach
- Sit during dressing when appropriate
- Support the affected arm carefully
- Avoid pulling on weak limbs
- Use the same dressing sequence consistently
- Allow extra time
- Ask the occupational therapist to demonstrate techniques you are unsure about
A stroke can change how long dressing takes, but that does not mean the person should lose control over what they wear.
What Should You Avoid When Dressing Someone After a Stroke?
Avoid making the dressing process harder than necessary.
Try to avoid:
- Tight sleeves that are difficult to guide over the affected arm
- Narrow pant legs when leg movement is limited
- Complicated fasteners when hand dexterity is reduced
- Pulling on an affected arm
- Standing for lower-body dressing when sitting is safer
- Rushing the person through steps they can still perform themselves
- Moving an affected limb in a way that causes pain
The person's rehabilitation team should provide individualized advice when there are significant mobility, shoulder, balance or positioning concerns.
Making Dressing Easier After a Stroke
Getting dressed after a stroke may require a different technique, different clothing or both.
Start with the basic rule:
Dress the affected side first and undress the unaffected side first.
Then look at the parts of the routine that remain difficult.
Maybe traditional buttons require too much dexterity. Maybe narrow pants are difficult to pull over the affected leg. Maybe balance makes standing during dressing challenging.
Those are problems that can often be addressed individually.
Joe & Bella's adaptive clothing for stroke patients includes magnetic shirts, Side-Zip Pants and other clothing designed to reduce some of the fine motor control, bending and two-handed coordination traditional clothing can require.
The goal is not simply to get someone dressed faster.
It is to make dressing as manageable, comfortable and independent as possible.