Thirteen years ago I was a rookie Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service.  After going through training on how to catch smugglers I found myself on the Southwest border of the United States chasing drug mules as they backpacked large loads of drugs into the country.  I was 23 years old and I was in good physical shape.    

During the summer 1995 I hurt my back while lifting 50 to 100 pound bales of cocaine off of a shelf.  I made the mistake of lifting with my arms and upper body and not my legs.  For the last thirteen years I have been plagued on and off with back injuries.  I am no longer employed as a federal agent but my back injuries that started during that time still cause me problems today. 

Many people who injure their back temporarily lose their normal range of motion.  When my back goes out sometimes I cannot reach down far enough to put on my socks without help.       

How do I put on my socks if I can’t reach my toes?     

1. Find a friend.  Initially, my wife put my socks on me until my back healed enough so I could do it myself.
2. Later when we had children my kids would help me out.
3. Now when my back goes out and I need extra help I use a gadget called a sock assist or sock helper.  You simply slide your sock onto the sock helper and then you lasso it down and slide it up your foot.  It is easy and saves you from asking others to help you get dressed.

As you see, this tool is not only useful for those people getting up in age but can be used by those with back injuries, during recovery from surgery and even for women during late stages of pregnancy.