Dressing sticks

SMG00119251

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SMG00119251
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Two dressing sticks used to help pulling clothes up and down. Both sticks are made of wood with hooks at the end; one has a red tip and the other has a rubber thimble attached.

These dressing sticks are used to pull clothes up and down the body. Elasticated hoops would often be sewn into trousers and skirts in which the device’s hook could loop in to and make dressing easier for people with shortened arms.

The mobility aids appear to be homemade; this is extremely common with equipment used by people living with impairments caused by thalidomide. Often the first people to require specific devices like dressing sticks, a lot of their equipment was made out of everyday items found around the home to fit their needs and requirements.

Details

Category:
Orthopaedics
Object Number:
2022-19
Materials:
wood (unidentified), plastic (unidentified) and rubber (unidentified)
Measurements:
overall (stick with thimble): 532 mm x 60 mm x 17 mm,
overall (stick with red tip): 511 mm x 54 mm x 18 mm,
type:
mobility aid and thalidomide