Getting the right chair for someone who has had a stroke can be a little challenging. On top of the usual things to look for in a specialist chair, we need to consider features that will help the user to recover and rehabilitate.
Having the correct chair is incredibly important, so we’ve put together this guide to explain what to look for in care chairs for stroke patients.
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Lateral Support
Supporting the individual’s trunk is a prime concern in seating for stroke patients. It is important to try and maintain a healthy posture and prevent the person from slumping sideways – which could possibly lead to a scoliotic spine (a spine shaped like a letter ‘C’).
Lateral supports are generally placed at waist level and will help to keep the user’s body straighter and more supported for long periods of time.
The Lento Care Chair is ideal for stroke patients who tend to lean heavily to one side.
Adjustable Head Positioning
For individuals who have had a more severe stroke, their neck strength may have been compromised. This can lead to the individual letting their head droop sideways, therefore causing pain and possibly damaging their neck further.
Head supports will help to keep the person’s head straight, relieving any extra pressure or stress on the neck. People who spend a long time seated may also fall asleep in the chair and let their head drop to the side.
Head supports will help to minimise any further damage that could be caused to the person’s vertebrae. Having adjustable supports also means that the chair can be altered to suit the needs of the individual on a day-to-day basis, making them as comfortable and supported as possible.
Tilt-in-Space
A built-in tilt-in-space feature would be ideal for stroke patients as it will help to reposition them with ease. Tilt-in-space means that the entire chair moves and maintains the angles of the hips, knees, and ankles.
This is particularly useful for combatting deteriorating posture. You may find that the user has their shoulder slumped, and even their head drooped.
The tilt-in-space feature can help to correct this by having the user open up their shoulders and rest their head back thanks to the change in angle. The Lento Care Chair and Duo Care Chair both feature excellent head and lateral supports, as well as tilt-in-space and easy mobility.
Moreover, tilt-in-space is brilliant for relieving pressure build-ups, which can sometimes lead on to pressure injuries and ulcers. However, built-in pressure relief may also be beneficial for preventing pressure ulcers and other injuries.
Mobility and Accessibility
The ideal chair for a stroke survivor would also be mobile. If the individual has lost the use of their legs, a care chair on wheels is essential to helping them get around with ease and dignity.
The chair should also be hoist-friendly, and able to be used alongside other transfer equipment to facilitate easy, efficient movement of the individual. The Lento Care Chair was designed for use with hoists – it offers good ground clearance so the base of a mobile hoist can fit easily underneath.
Summary
These are a few essential things to look out for in chairs for stroke patients. There may even be other features to look for depending on the individual; for instance, they may require more leg support.
We believe that the Duo and the Lento are two of the most suitable chairs. For a stroke patient that is hoisted, the Lento is likely more suitable as it is more compatible with mobile hoists. However, our number one suggestion is to have an assessment from an OT or a chair specialist to help outline the needs of the stroke survivor.
Then the best option can be discussed and agreed, and the individual will benefit from long-lasting support and comfort in the right chair. If you need more information on specialist seating for stroke patients, download our free 88-page seating eBook.
