Have you ever struggled to put on your bra due to limited mobility? Perhaps you’ve had shoulder surgery or broken your arm. Or you’ve had a stroke so only have the use of one arm? If so, then I know how frustrating this can be as I’ve seen it first-hand.
Putting on a Bra with One Hand is extremely difficult!!!
While I was working in a hospital on the stroke unit as an OT, I realised how difficult it was to put a bra on using just one hand. The effects of Stroke can be devastating and reduced mobility is just one of the many impacts a stroke can have on someone’s quality of life.
The Stroke Association has produced some staggering statistics in their latest 2018 State of the Nation Report.
- More than three-quarters of stroke survivors report arm weakness, which can make it difficult for people to carry out daily living activities, such as washing and dressing.
- There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year.
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 84% of patients leave hospital requiring help with their daily living activities (occupational therapy), but 20% of those who need help will not receive it.
- Around 1 in 5 women will have a stroke in their life.
- In a survey of over 1,000 stroke survivors conducted in 2015, 4 in 10 people told us the physical impact of stroke was the hardest to deal with.
Yet, despite these devastating statistics, nothing existed on the market to help women who have difficulty putting on a bra after suffering a stroke.
So, I invented the solution myself. The solution was the Buckingham Bra Buddy – a handy dressing aid that allows you to put on bra independently with one hand.
The BraBuddy dressing aid is completely unique and works by holding one end of your bra in place, while you bring the other end around your body, so you can fasten it.
How to Use the BraBuddy to Put on a Bra with One Hand
In this step by step guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to use it. Alternatively, you can watch the video below if you prefer.
Setting up to use the BraBuddy
- Sit upright either on your bed or a comfortable chair.
- Place the base of your BraBuddy firmly between your thighs.
- Next, pull the strapping out of the funnel and let it drop down between your legs
Using the BraBuddy to fasten your Bra
- Pick up your bra and place the eyelet end of your bra strap into the fixed upper clasp of the BraBuddy.
- The hook end of the bra strap slots into the second BraBuddy clasp – the one with the strapping attached to it.
- Now, pull that clasp away from you as far as you can.
- Keep pulling until there’s enough strapping to lift it up and over your head.
- The strapping should now be wrapped right around your body
- Arrange your bra, so that it can be pulled around you.
- Then tug the strapping back through the BraBuddy – so that your bra is tugged behind your back.
- Take hold of this end of your bra strap and slide it away from the BraBuddy clasp.
- Fasten the hooks and eyes of your bra together
- Then, lift the bra up and away from the BraBuddy
Fitting the Bra into Position
- With the BraBuddy’s job done, tidy up the strapping, and put it to one side.
- Now, pull your bra around in front of you so that one cup is behind your good arm. The other cup should be in front of your shoulder – fold down this cup.
- Pick up your arm and place your hand through the bra strap to support it.
- Move your bra back into position, then pull the strap onto your shoulder
- Now slide you good arm through the other strap.
- You’ve now put your bra on independently using only one hand!
A Bra Dressing Aid for Ladies with Limited Mobility
This ingenious Bra Dressing Aid is ideal for ladies who have limited mobility or only have the use of one functioning arm such as:
- Ladies who have suffered a dense stroke
- Ladies who have a shoulder injury or have had recent shoulder surgery
- Women who have broken an arm
- Anyone who has limited reach or dexterity and struggles to put on a bra independently
The BraBuddy is a unique dressing accessory that eliminates the need for specialist adaptive bras and is suitable for use with most styles of bra.
You may also be interested in this post providing advice on using dressing aids.
For more information please visit the BraBuddy product page: