Sock aid: how to use one to put on socks without bending

Who needs a sock aid?

Putting on socks asks for a deep bend at the hip and a reach to the toes. When that becomes hard, a sock aid lets you do the same job sitting upright.

MedlinePlus lists a sock aid among the aids to have ready before knee or hip surgery, along with a reacher and a long-handled shoehorn. It is also used by people with stiff joints, back pain or limited reach who want to keep dressing on their own.

If you have been given movement limits after surgery, those limits come first. Ask your surgical team or an occupational therapist how to use the aid within them.

• People told to avoid deep bending after hip or knee surgery
• Anyone with a stiff back or hips that limits reaching the feet
• People who want to keep dressing independently
• Caregivers who want to make a morning routine easier

How do you use a sock aid? Step by step

Sit on a firm chair or the side of a stable bed, with both feet flat. Slide the sock over the shell so the toe end is snug at the tip and the heel faces down, leaving the opening clear.

Hold the cords, lower the shell to the floor and slip your toes into the opening. Pull the cords toward you so the sock rides up over the foot and heel, then keep pulling until the shell slides free. HSS notes that a sock aid lets you do this without bending over or crossing your legs.

After hip surgery, use the method your therapist showed you; UMass Memorial Health's guide has you hold the loaded sock in front of the foot on the operated side. To take socks off, sit down, catch the back of the sock with a reacher or a shoe horn hook, and push it down off the heel.

• Sit on a stable chair, not a soft or rolling seat
• Load the sock smoothly with the heel facing down
• Point the toes into the shell, then pull both cords evenly
• Remove socks with a reacher or shoe horn hook, not by bending
• Practice a few times before you rely on it

What to check before buying a sock helper

The shell should be flexible enough to curl around the sock, but firm enough to hold it open. A wider opening suits larger feet or thicker socks.

Cord length matters for reach. Long cords let you lower the shell without leaning forward, and padded handles are kinder to sore hands. A non-slip lining stops the sock from sliding off the shell before the foot is in.

Think about storage and travel too. A soft shell packs flat in a bag for a hospital stay, while a rigid frame takes more space but can be quicker to load for some people.

• Flexible shell that still holds the sock open
• Opening wide enough for your foot and sock type
• Cords long enough to reach the floor from a seated position
• Thick or padded handles for a comfortable grip
• Non-slip lining to keep the sock on the shell

Sock aids compared: Vive Sock Assist, the Vive kit and other types

We list the Vive Sock Assist and Vive's Sock and Shoe Assist Kit because they have manufacturer pages we could match to Amazon listings. The other rows are general types, so you can compare any listing on the same points.

Vive's page showed the Sock Assist out of stock on its own store on our check date. Confirm the Amazon listing is current before you order.

Sock aid troubleshooting, care and storage

Most early problems come from loading, not from the aid. If the sock slips off the shell before your foot is in, pull it further over the tip and check that the non-slip lining faces the sock.

If the heel ends up on top of the foot, the sock was loaded twisted, so reload it with the heel facing down. If the shell will not release, point your toes and keep a steady pull on both cords rather than jerking.

Keep the aid where you dress, on a door hook or in a basket by the chair. Replace it if the cords fray or the shell cracks, since a snapping cord can pull you off balance.

• Sock slides off early: load it further and check the lining
• Heel lands on top: reload with the heel facing down
• Tight sock will not fit: try a wider opening or stretchier socks
• Store it beside the dressing chair
• Check the cords and knots for fraying

When to get personal advice

Compression stockings are a common reason people look for a sock aid. Vive says its shell works with compression stockings, but firm medical-grade hosiery can be harder to pull on, so ask the clinician who prescribed them which aid to use.

If dressing has become hard in several ways, an occupational therapist can look at the whole routine. They may suggest a different seat, a set of dressing aids or a different order of dressing.

Some health plans and hospital programs provide dressing aids after joint surgery, so it is worth asking before you buy one yourself.

• Compression stockings: ask the prescriber which aid suits
• Movement limits after surgery: follow your surgical team's advice
• Weak grip in both hands: ask about aids with larger handles
• Several dressing tasks getting hard: ask an occupational therapist