Specialist Seating for Rehabilitation Wards

Occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals prescribe specialist seating for many different reasons. Having the correct support and positioning when sitting helps with treating all kinds of illnesses, injuries and conditions. Therefore, seating forms part of the treatment plan for thousands of people across the UK. It is a valuable piece of equipment for enhancing quality of life and independence!

Sometimes, an individual will need specialist seating for the rest of their life. Other times, they will only require specialist seating temporarily to aid rehabilitation and recovery.

This guide covers some common scenarios where specialist seating is used to support recovery, as well as explaining the key features to look for when choosing specialist seating for rehabilitation.

When is specialist seating used for rehabilitation?

Typically, specialist seating will be used to help treat issues like mobility restrictions, poor balance, and muscle weakness. Here are some applications:

• Recovery after a stroke
• Brain injury rehabilitation
• After injury or surgery to the hips or knees
• When someone has been bedridden e.g. during a hospital stay and after discharge

However, there are a wide range of specialist chairs available. Different models are designed to support people with different abilities and challenges.

So, specialist seating could help with rehabilitation for any number of conditions, illnesses, and injuries.

Our assessment team carry out free seating consultations. They will be happy to offer advice and suggestions.

Features to look for in chairs for rehabilitation

Focusing on the common rehabilitation scenarios listed above, there are three key features you should consider when choosing a chair.

Tilt-In-Space

Tilt-in-space is one of the most popular specialist seating functions. It offers several benefits for the user, especially throughout rehabilitation!

Tilt-in-space is ideal for the early stages of recovery. When someone still feels very unwell and spends most of their day sitting unable to move much, tilt-in-space is used to easily reposition them.

Regular repositioning is crucial!

Sitting in the same position for too long allows pressure to build up in specific areas — often the buttocks or lower back. This can quickly lead to pressure ulcers if left untreated.

During rehabilitation, the last thing anyone wants is to develop a pressure injury. They are painful and an infection risk. It will make their recovery time longer and more complicated.

Fortunately, tilt-in-space helps to redistribute the user’s body weight throughout the day. So, pressure never builds up too much in one area.

Promotes good breathing, communication, and swallowing

As well as taking the pressure off, tilt-in-space can help to improve other everyday functions.

Altering the seat’s back position helps the user to maintain good posture. This opens up the chest and keeps their head up which promotes good breathing and can make communicating, eating and drinking much easier.

Think about independence

You can get chairs with electric tilt-in-space, which the user can operate themselves. Or you can choose manual tilt-in-space, which requires help from a carer.

Electric tilt-in-space is usually slightly more expensive. But, if the user can operate the chair themselves, it really enhances their independence.

For many people, independence makes them feel more positive about their rehabilitation, which is linked to quicker recovery times!

Riser function

Rise and recline chairs recline back so the user can sit back comfortably. But they also have a riser function which helps the user to sit down and stand up safely.

For anyone who is mobile but struggles with weakness or stiffness in the lower body, this is perfect!

As the whole chair rises, the seat tilts forward slightly at the same time. This means the user remains supported all the way from sit to stand. It takes some of the weight off their feet, avoiding falls or other injuries.

You can actually use this function to support other rehabilitation exercises! If sit to stand transfers are a key problem for someone, they can use a riser recliner chair to practice. However, we always recommend speaking to your OT or physiotherapist before trying any new techniques.

Adjustable Support

An adjustable chair is extremely helpful during rehabilitation. You avoid having to replace the chair as the user’s condition improves.

This saves time and money because you won’t need to buy multiple chairs to help one person. More importantly, the user can focus on their rehabilitation rather than repeatedly having to get used to new chairs.

Best Chairs for Rehabilitation

What is the best chair for someone going through rehabilitation? Not every person will need all three features we’ve discussed here. There’s also a difference between which chair is best for rehabilitation in hospitals and at home. So, we have three top recommendations:

Lento Mobile Riser Recliner

The Lento Mobile was initially designed with the Acute Care Team at Manchester Royal Infirmary for hospital use. It’s a hybrid chair, so is flexible and versatile with built-in seat adjustment and tilt-in-space. Every aspect is focused on patient mobilisation, with its slim profile, portering design and vertical rise options. If you’re looking for an acute spec chair to aid patient rehabilitation for discharge, the Lento Mobile is our top choice.

The Sara Stedy compact is one of multiple standing patient hoists that can be used alongside the Lento Mobile riser recliner chair.

HiBack Bedside Chair

The HiBack Bedside Chair was developed as a solution to the age-old problem of hard, uncomfortable bedside chairs in hospital wards. After many prototypes and extensive research, we were finally able to bring to the acute market something that didn’t previously exist – a modular, adjustable bedside chair with exceptional levels of comfort.

Transferring into this chair from a hospital bed could not be more inviting – flipback arms for easy sideways transfers, with plush Levitex foam cushioning and a nicely raked seat and backrest angle for ultimate comfort. Pyjama paralysis becomes a thing of the past when patients have such a comfortable chair to transfer into!

Once in the chair, every aspect is designed for early mobilisation to prevent discharge delays. Getting patients back on their feet is essential to prevent deconditioning, and the HiBack chair is designed to do just that. The chair is fully compatible with standaids, which can be positioned right up against the front of the chair to make transfers seamless.

Lento Care Chair

If adjustability is key, and especially if the user is hoisted, we recommend the Lento Care Chair.

The Lento care chair is a tilt-in-space chair for users who require round-the-clock support at home or in residential care. It is fully adjustable, so the size, support and positioning can all be tailored to the individual user.  You can alter the posture support and pressure relief levels to suit someone as they progress from high risk to low risk. The backrest can be altered to change the levels of trunk support. Plus, all the seat sizing can be adjusted if weight changes are expected throughout recovery.

Conclusion

Specialist seating plays a vital role in supporting rehabilitation by promoting safe positioning, reducing the risk of complications such as pressure ulcers, and encouraging independence. Whether used in hospital settings or at home, the right chair can significantly enhance comfort, mobility, and overall recovery outcomes.

Features like tilt-in-space, riser functionality, and adjustability ensure that seating can adapt to a patient’s changing needs throughout their rehabilitation journey. By investing in appropriate specialist seating and seeking professional guidance, healthcare providers and caregivers can create a safer, more effective recovery environment that empowers individuals to regain confidence and independence.