What should you wear after breaking an arm? Front-opening clothing that's easy to change

Do you have worries like these?

After breaking an arm or having surgery, worries like these can come up:

• I can't raise my arm, so I can't wear my usual clothes
• It hurts every time I change
• I don't know what clothes to choose
• My sleeve won't go over my cast

These are common.

Even clothing you normally wear without thinking can become a big burden to change into after a fracture.

Front-opening clothes are easier to change into without raising the arms

At such times, we recommend front-opening clothing.

Because the front opens with buttons or snap buttons, there's no need to raise the arms high, and changing becomes easier in a comfortable posture.

For example:

• Front-opening shirts
• Front-opening pajamas
• Front-opening cardigans

These can sometimes reduce the burden of changing after a fracture or surgery.

The width of the sleeve opening matters too

You might think front-opening clothing is enough, but sometimes it isn't.

For example, when wearing a cast or brace:

• The sleeve opening is too narrow for the arm to go through

This can happen.

Even with a front opening, a narrow sleeve can make changing difficult.

Depending on the size of the cast or brace, clothing whose sleeves open wide can also help.

When thinking about ease of changing, "front opening", "stretch" and "roomy sleeves" are useful points to consider.

Tips for changing

When an arm is broken:

It is said that putting the injured arm into the sleeve first when dressing, and taking the other (uninjured) arm out first when undressing, helps reduce the strain.

Don't force the arm to move, and if the pain is strong, follow the guidance of the doctor or rehabilitation staff.

Please feel free to ask us if you're having trouble

When choosing clothing after a fracture or surgery, what helps differs depending on the person's physical condition.

• I can't find clothes I can wear over my cast
• I don't know what clothes to choose

At times like these, please don't struggle alone, and feel free to ask us.

We are a shop specialising in care clothing, but we also welcome questions not only from older people but from anyone who has temporary trouble changing after a fracture or surgery.

Changing can be difficult for a while after a fracture or surgery, but adjusting your clothing can sometimes lighten the daily burden.

We will help you choose clothing that is easy to change, to suit your physical condition and lifestyle.

*This article introduces general points for choosing clothing. Suitable clothing differs depending on the fracture and the treatment, so if you are worried, please consult your doctor or medical staff.