The Side of Arthritis We Don't Talk About: What I've Learned as an Occupational Therapist

Working as an occupational therapist, I've seen how arthritis and joint mobility limitations can turn seemingly simple parts of the day into frustrating, painful tasks.

Getting dressed is a perfect example. I've worked with patients who have the strength and motivation to dress themselves, but limited shoulder range of motion makes reaching behind their body or getting an arm into a fitted sleeve painful and exhausting. Others struggle with buttons because of arthritis in their hands, or avoid certain pants because managing a zipper requires more grip strength and coordination than they have that day.

Over time, I've watched people start choosing what's easiest to wear instead of what they actually want to wear.

And as an OT, that matters to me.

When I'm recommending a product, I'm not simply asking, “Can this person complete the task?” I'm asking: How much pain does it cause? How much effort does it take? How much stress are we putting on already painful joints? And is there a way we can make this easier?

For someone living with arthritis or limited joint mobility, small design details can make a huge difference. I look for ways to reduce repetitive or forceful movements, gripping, twisting, and pinching. I consider whether something requires coordinated use of both hands, reaching overhead or behind the body, prolonged standing, or manipulating tiny buttons and zippers.

I also think about fluctuation. Someone may be perfectly capable of fastening a traditional button today and struggle significantly with that same task during a flare-up.

This is one reason adaptive clothing has caught my attention. Adaptive products address many of the barriers I see in practice by incorporating features like easier fasteners, accessible openings, flexible materials, and designs that reduce the amount of reaching, pulling, and joint mobility required to get dressed. Instead of simply making clothing “easier,” thoughtful adaptive design can allow someone to continue wearing clothing that actually feels like them.

Ease of removal is just as important as ease of dressing.

When clothing can be managed quickly and independently, particularly during toileting, it can reduce the need for hands-on assistance from a caregiver. That means more than convenience — it can allow someone to maintain their privacy, dignity, and independence during some of the most personal activities of daily life. The right clothing design can be the difference between needing another person to help manage your clothing and being able to take care of yourself privately.

Because independence shouldn't mean giving up personal style — or personal dignity.

Occupational therapy looks at dressing and self-care as more than boxes to check off during the day. These activities are connected to identity, confidence, privacy, dignity, independence, and self-expression.

My goal when recommending products is never just to help someone get the task done. It's to find ways for them to complete everyday activities with less pain, less effort, and more independence — while still allowing them to look and feel like themselves.

OT Choice Pick: Vegetable Chopper and Spiralizer Slicer Set. In home health, I've worked with many patients who became dependent on loved ones or caregivers for meal preparation — or relied more heavily on frozen and pre-prepared foods — because arthritis and joint pain made chopping difficult and exhausting. This veggie chopper supports joint protection principles by reducing repetitive gripping and shifting force away from painful finger joints to the palm and larger joints. This simple adaptation can increase participation in the meaningful activity of cooking, support healthier food choices, and reduce caregiver burden.

OT Choice Pick: Waltz Wrap Dress. I often see people recovering from injuries or surgeries spending weeks in loose hospital gowns or oversized sleep shirts simply because their usual clothing is too difficult or painful to manage. While practical, not feeling dressed or put together can affect confidence, mood, and reinforce the feeling of being a “patient” rather than getting back to yourself. This dress offers flexible, easy-to-manage fabric while still providing a flattering, fitted look. The waistband-free design simplifies dressing and toileting, while ties, magnetic fasteners, and snaps provide options based on mobility and dexterity — making it easier to dress comfortably while still feeling like yourself.

OT Choice Pick: Drop Front Jersey Wheelchair Trousers. I've seen how something as simple as managing pants can become the reason someone needs caregiver assistance with toileting. For many of my patients, toileting already involves a transfer, clothing management, and personal hygiene, and adding difficult buttons or zippers can make the process even longer. This easy-to-manage flap with Velcro closures reduces the gripping, dexterity, joint mobility, and prolonged standing required with traditional pants. It can allow for more independent clothing management — including urinal use without fully standing or undressing — helping preserve independence, dignity, and privacy during a very personal daily activity.

OT Choice Pick: Sleeveless Hospital Gown by Hudson & Broome. This is a major upgrade from a standard hospital gown. It offers the same easy access — with an open back and snap-away sleeves — while providing more comfort, coverage, and dignity. Working in skilled nursing, I saw many patients stuck in hospital gowns for weeks because regular clothing was simply too difficult to manage. This design allows easy access to IVs, ports, and wound dressings while helping people feel more comfortable, put together, and like themselves. Great for surgery recovery, chemotherapy, dialysis, radiation, nursing, labor and delivery, hospice care, and anyone with limited mobility or prolonged medical needs.

OT Choice Pick: Cape Demi by MOS By Alicia. This easy on-and-off cape offers the warmth and polished look of a jacket without the difficulty of managing sleeves. For wheelchair users, putting on a traditional jacket can be challenging for both the individual and caregiver, not to mention painful on arthritic joints. This cape allows full use of the arms, while simple fasteners create the appearance of sleeves without being necessary for donning or doffing. The longer fabric also covers the lap for added warmth, making it a stylish, functional alternative to draping a blanket over the shoulders or wearing a jacket without the arms in the sleeves (which I see far too often).

OT Choice Pick: Everyday Magnetic Button-Down for Men by Joe & Bella. I've seen the fear and dread on patients' faces when I hand them a fitted, button-down shirt during dressing — and I've seen favorite dress shirts pushed to the back of the closet because they've simply become too difficult to put on. For many people, those shirts represent personal style, identity, and a sense of normalcy that can get lost when physical abilities change. This men's button-down maintains the classic look of a traditional dress shirt while incorporating magnetic fasteners and stretchy cuffs that reduce the dexterity, grip strength, coordination, and range of motion required. It makes dressing easier and more independent without asking someone to sacrifice a part of their personal style.

OT Choice Pick: Samantha Magnetic Necklace by The Able Label. I've worked with patients who stopped wearing jewelry they once loved because small clasps became too painful or difficult to manage with arthritis or limited hand function. This beautiful necklace features a magnetic closure that requires minimal strength, dexterity, or coordination to fasten. It's a simple adaptive feature that reduces joint strain and makes accessorizing easier, allowing people to maintain independence and personal style without giving up the pieces that help them feel like themselves.