You can wring out a towel with one hand: a simple tip from an occupational therapist

Do you think a towel can't be wrung out with one hand?

When one hand becomes hard to use, because of hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) after a stroke or because of an injury, a worry like this can come up:

• I can't wring out a towel.

This is a common worry.

It may seem small in daily life, but when wringing out towels or cloths becomes difficult, there are quite a few moments when it feels inconvenient.

So this time, we'd like to share a tip we learned from the occupational therapist who works at our shop.

Using a handrail or tap lets you wring with one hand

The method is very simple.

Wrap the towel around a handrail or tap to hold it in place, then pull it with the other hand in a twisting motion.

Holding the towel in place like this can make it easier to wring out with just one hand.

At home, you may be able to use:

• The kitchen tap
• The washbasin tap
• A firmly fixed handrail

and similar places.

"I can't" becomes "I can"

In occupational therapy, rather than "giving up on things you can no longer do",

finding a way to do it through a little ingenuity

is the way of thinking that is valued.

Just changing the way you do something a little can increase what you can do yourself.

Building up those small successes often leads to confidence.

Don't overdo it, and put safety first

This method assumes the handrail or tap is firmly fixed.

Don't do it anywhere wobbly, and take great care to avoid falls and injuries.

The right method also differs depending on the person's physical condition.

If there is pain or it is difficult, don't push yourself; talk to your occupational therapist or physical therapist.

Care is full of "little tips"

In care and rehabilitation, there are many tips that make you think:

• I didn't know you could do it that way.

There are many like this.

At Setagaya Kaigo, we'll gradually introduce in these columns the daily-life tips we have learned from physical and occupational therapists.

We'd be glad if they help make daily life even a little easier.

Finally

"Little tips" like this exist not only for wringing out towels, but in many everyday situations, such as changing clothes, eating and bathing.

At Setagaya Kaigo, working with physical and occupational therapists, we share useful tips for daily life and how to choose care products and care clothing that suit each person.

If you have any trouble, please feel free to ask us.

*The method introduced in this article is one example. The right method differs depending on the person's physical condition, so please take care of safety when trying it.