Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990                   TAG: 9006270164
SECTION: SENIOR STYLE                    PAGE: SS-13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

KEEPING COOL AND COMFORTABLE, AND FEELING

Clothing can be modified to make it more comfortable and easier for handicapped people to use, said Vera B. Keeble, a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist. Knowing which features to choose in new garments can help handicapped people avoid some difficulties they might otherwise experience in dressing.

"Clothing that is easy to deal with allows handicapped people to be more independent in their daily lives," said Kenneth Davis, director of the Department of Practice of the American Physical Therapy Association. "It gives them more time to cope with other aspects of daily living."

Easy changes to make in garments for people with limited use of their hands include replacing buttons with Velcro fasteners to ease closing the garment. Another example is sewing buttons with elastic thread in cuffs, for instance, so that hands can go through the cuffs easily. The elastic keeps the cuffs closed while the buttons remain buttoned.

"Sewing loops at the waist of pants can help handicapped people in dressing," said Keeble, who is on the Virginia Tech faculty. Loops provide a handle for people with limited use of their legs. Or disabled people can use a hook to help them pull on a garment.

Convert back openings to front opening, she said.

Reinforce areas of stress on garments. Use iron-on patches to provide extra strength underarms for those using crutches. Add action pleats and gussets in the underarms for ease of movement.

Garments that have a smooth lining are easier to slip on and off, Keeble said.

An elastic waistband can be more comfortable and easier to put on than a belted one. The same is true of raglan, square-cut or kimono sleeves. Those styles often are more likely to be wide enough to accommodate braces, casts or prostheses.

It is especially important for people with no sensation in their extremities to select clothing carefully. Clothing plays a vital role in insulating their bodies from cold weather.

Garments need not be heavy to be warm, Keeble said. Heavy clothes tend to restrict movement and they are difficult to put on and take off. Light clothes make movement easier. Two lightweight layers may provide more insulation for keeping warm and comfortable than one heavy, bulk layer.