Disability Chairs

When you have a disability that limits your movement or makes it hard for you to achieve the things you would like to, the right disability chairs make a big difference!

There is a mixture of different things to be considered when you speak of disability chairs. The first thing is that disability chairs are also called mobility chairs. They are chairs specially designed for people who have some level of difficulty in their ability to walk or stand.

Also, disability chairs are structural chairs used to provide you with a very supported, comfortable and normal sitting position. You’ll find these seats invaluable if you have some kind of permanent disability that limits your ability to sit down or stand up easily.

Disability chairs vary and have a very wide range of features. It all depends on the type of disability you have and how comfortable you need them to be. For example, an armrest helps to keep your balance whilst seated, help you support yourself as you stand and will be much more comfortable if it’s made from fabric rather than metal.

On the other hand, a disability chair with a footrest is more suited to people who have problems with their leg swelling or knee pain.

Disability/ mobility chairs help to provide a support structure, so you can still sit – or stand – and move around more freely.

Sitting down when you have a disability

Sitting down for prolonged periods when you have a disability can cause pain and posture problems.

However, if you are conscious of your posture – and you use the correct disability chair, seating options and aids for you, then you can prevent/ greatly reduce any posture pain and discomfort.

If sitting down is painful, or you have to sit down more than you used to, or that you have to be sitting most times – then you’ll find your answers and solutions in here.

Let’s get started.

Importance of Sitting Posture in Disability

Posture refers to your body’s alignment and position to the press of gravity. This means that over time, your posture can be affected while you are standing, sitting, or lying down.

The longer we maintain a posture, the more that posture is sustained – sort of like, we grow into that posture!

Most of our troubles with posture comes from bad sitting postures. This will be especially true when driving, or sitting at a desk or behind a computer, as one will most likely have a slumped sitting posture.

If your disability does not affect your mobility, if you’re active and able to do tasks still, then you’ll find this video on the importance of good posture useful:

However, if your disability does affect your mobility, you’ll find this next video on 24-hour posture support very informative.

It’s about how sitting down, standing up and lying down are all connected – and how they eventually affect your sitting posture.

When you are focused on a task, your head will most likely bend forward, and wherever your head goes, your body follows. When this happens, your body gets out of balance, and this increases the use of muscular energy. And stretches your spinal ligaments. This can eventually lead to fatigue and pain in the neck and back.

Correct or Proper Chair Sitting Posture

Proper sitting posture will help prevent you from being in any discomfort, and from causing any further problems with your back or neck.

Here are some general rules for helping your posture while sitting down.

Later in this article, we look at different sitting aids that can help your seated posture.

It is possible to buy mobility seating aids – such as specialised posture seats – that will allow you to have the best posture while sitting for long periods. However, there are techniques you can practice to help your posture in any chair.

How to Improve or Fix Your Posture When Sitting

If you find yourself in a chair for big chunks of the day, then you want to be in a chair with a back that can support you throughout the day.

You will want to keep your back straight, and the back of a chair can help you here. You can also buy a posture correcting seat cushion – or roll up a towel – and pop it between your lower back and the back of the chair.

When you are sitting for long periods, it is best to have a seat where your feet will be flat on the ground. If this is not possible, you can use a stool to keep your feet at the right height.

Or simply invest in an adjustable chair to make it all easier to achieve. Adjustable chairs offer you comfort and support in more sitting and feet-up positions.

Having your feet flat on the ground helps keep your weight evenly distributed, and keep your hips from being stretched.

Also, try not to sit with your legs crossed as it can reduce blood flow and cause muscle strain.

Then, your arms should fall comfortably so that your elbows rest at your side. Having your arms too far forward and leaning on them can cause unnecessary stress on your muscles.

Poor Sitting Posture Effects 

A poor posture while sitting down can:

• cause you problems with muscle strain and reduce your blood flow and circulation
• cause you to have pain or discomfort in your back, neck, or shoulders
• impair your lung function and capacity
• compress your digestive system causing poor digestion
• constrict your nerves and alter the shape and alignment of your spine
• cause you to clench your jaw leading to pain and headaches

Poor Sitting Posture and Lower Back Pain

Many things can cause pain in your lower back, and one of them is from a poor sitting posture. 4 out of 5 adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their life. So, a good sitting posture for lower back pain would be much the same as mentioned above.

You can also apply ice or heat packs to the painful areas to help relieve pain.

However, if after correcting your posture you are still experiencing pain in your lower back you should make an appointment with your doctor or physiotherapist, to see what might be causing this continued pain.

Your pain when sitting down might be due to a herniated disc, sciatica, muscle strain, or even kidney stones; Or an issue with your gallbladder.

If you need a little extra help to keep your posture in a good position, then you can purchase a Sitting Posture Brace. These usually take the form of an X shaped strap that hooks around your shoulders – with the X falling over your shoulder blades – but can also be found in a binder or sports bra style.

You can find posture correctors that fit all budgets and all needs.

Seated Posture Exercises

If you have to sit down for long periods due to your job or a disability, then you might find it useful to do some seated posture exercises throughout the day.

Triceps Stretches

Place your hand on your shoulder blades and use your other hand to gently pull in your elbow, hold for 10 to 30 seconds, and repeat with the other arm.

Overhead Stretch

Stretch your arm above your head and lean over to the opposite side, hold for 10 to 30 seconds then repeat with the other arm.

Upper Body and Arm Stretch

Clasp your hands together and reach them above your head and stretch for 10 to 30 seconds.

Shoulder Stretch

Clasp your hands behind your back, push out your chest, raise your chin and hold the pose for 10 to 30 seconds.

Forward Stretch

Hold your arms straight in front of you, lower your head between them and push forward, holding the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds.

Shoulder Shrug

Raise both your shoulders up to your ear and repeat 5 to 10 times.

Neck Stretches

Roll your head from one side to the other slowly. Repeat going from one side to the other between 5 and 10 times.

Hamstring Stretch

Stretch one leg out long and reach towards your toes, hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds then repeat with the other leg.

Good Sitting Posture Practice

Also – if you can – it is good sitting posture practice to stand up every hour or so and walk around a little. You can even spend time during phone calls, or meetings to get up and walk/ move around.

If you are a permanent wheelchair-user, then maybe discuss with your Physiotherapist about investing in a stand-up wheelchair. You can also visit your local mobility/ independence store for your stand-up wheelchair options.

This also applies if you’re a carer for a loved one with an intellectual disability, who is also a permanent wheelchair-user. Practising 24-hour postural support, actively including stand-up times during the day, will help to ensure a good sitting posture for your loved one. You may want to revisit that earlier video on the importance of good posture.

Here’s another detailed look into 24-hour postural support.

Some people find having a desk that can switch between a sitting desk to a standing desk to be a great way to prevent pain from sitting down. Many of these desks are motorised and can be adjusted to any height, which can be useful if you have a wheelchair and need the desk to sit at a specific height.

For long-term help with the aches and pains that come with sitting down for a prolonged period, try yoga. Yoga in a seated position, in a chair, or on the floor. And regular floor and standing yoga.

This wheelchair yoga video can also be practised as seated yoga, if you are not a wheelchair user.

If you’re very limited in your movements ability, you may find this group exercise useful:

A great app for this is Down Dog which allows you to tailor a yoga or stretching session to what you need – from how long you would like your practice to be, as well as whether you would like to be seated or standing.

Pros and Cons of Sitting on the Floor

You might find it more comfortable to sit on the floor rather than in a chair or your bed and is part of many cultures around the world. It is said that sitting on the floor helps to stretch out your lower body, improve movement and flexibility, and is thought to promote the natural stabilisation of your core muscles.

However, if you already have issues with your joints, particularly in your knees and hips, then sitting on the floor can make them worse.

Sitting on the floor can also lead to you having issues standing back up again. If you are not careful with your posture, then this can cause you problems – much like if you have bad posture when sitting in a chair.

The bottom line is to find what is best for you.

If getting up and down is already difficult for you then sitting in a chair or bed might be the best place for you. But you might prefer sitting on the floor sometimes, either on your knees, with your legs out to the side with your bum on the floor, or sitting cross-legged on the floor, or even on a pillow.

You might find it more comfortable to sit on something comfy like a Yoga Mat.

Disabled Seating Aids

With a disability or chronic illness, you might find that you need to take a seat more often than others, and for activities that are not usually done sitting down. Activities such as showering.

There are lots of seating aids out there to make your life as comfortable as possible.

Taking a seat when you need to – especially when you are doing energy-sapping activities like washing – means you can reserve more energy for other things.

This hopefully means that you are also causing yourself less pain and discomfort in your daily routine.

Disabled/ Accessible Toilet Seat

Using the toilet is something that most of us have to do multiple times a day.

This is even more true if you have a disability that comes with symptoms that cause you to pee or move your bowels more often.

If this is the case, then there are a few seating aids you can use in the toilet to make yourself more comfortable.

Much like when you are sitting at a desk, you want to be sat at a comfortable level.

You can purchase raised toilet seats that also have padding if your toilet is too low.

If your toilet is too high up though, having a footstool can make sitting on the toilet for long periods more comfortable on your hips and back. Having your feet elevated, raising your knees above your hips, can also help with constipation.

Bath Seats for Disabled People

Using a seat in the bath can help to make washing easier, if you struggle to stand for the length of a shower.

Bath Seats also make sitting in a bath more comfortable.

It can also make stepping into and out of the bath a little easier, as you are already slightly raised higher.

Disabled Shower Seat

A shower seat is used much in the same way as a bath seat.

You can find shower seats that are portable or can be screwed into the wall, as well as seats that come with backrests and arms too.

There is a shower seat out there that can meet any needs you have, and will make having a shower more accessible to you.

Swivel Seat Cushion for Disabled

A swivel car seat is a cushion that you can add on top of the seat in your car that can help your manoeuvrability when you get in and out of a vehicle.

This is most useful if you have problems with your joints, especially in your legs, or if you suffer any back pain. These car seats are great as they are portable and should fit into any car seat.

They can also be used in any seat or situation that you need to turn and transfer from one medium to another.

Disability Walker with Seat

Disability walkers with seats, sometimes called rollators, function much like a walking frame but they also have a little ledge for a seat.

They give you a little extra help and balance if you find walking difficult while also giving you somewhere to rest whenever you need to take a break, without having to find someplace suitable.

These walkers come in an array of shapes and sizes and cover all price points.

Wheelchairs

If you struggle to walk or maybe walking takes a lot of energy out of you, leaving you stranded when you’re out and about; Or with no energy to complete your day, then a wheelchair might be a useful mobility aid for you.

Wheelchairs come in a variety of forms, from manually operated wheelchairs to electric ones. A wheelchair gives you a place to rest whenever you need to, wherever you are.

You should be able to find a wheelchair no matter your budget and no matter your needs.

The manual wheelchairs that you either push yourself by using the wheels or have someone push for you have fewer extras that can be helpful for you if you struggle with movement. However, there are a few wheelchair seating aids that you can use to make things more comfortable.

A wheelchair seat belt can be a useful accessory when using a wheelchair as it will keep you or the person you are caring for from falling or tipping out of your chair. This allows you much more freedom about where you might want to visit, such as something downhill.

Wheelchair seat cushions come in a variety of thicknesses and shapes to fit what you most need.

Some cushions are designed in a way that should stop you from getting ulcers or sores, if you have to sit down for most of the day. And if you struggle with haemorrhoids, then a ring cushion might be the best kind for your wheelchair.

These cushions can also be used on other types of wheelchairs, such as an electric wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs are battery-operated wheelchairs that you’ll need to charge up to use.

These wheelchairs often come with built-in extras such as padded seats, elevating/ stand-up features, or have tilt-in-space seats that can help with posture support, comfort and pressure relief.

Wheelchair Seating Evaluation

It is possible to buy mobility aids such as walking sticks, rollators, or wheelchairs on your own. You can do so online, though it’s best to buy from your local mobility aid store. There, they can evaluate which aid is best for you.

However, if you have a disability that means you will spend most of your time in a wheelchair, then medical professionals – your physiotherapist/ occupational therapist/ doctor – might refer you to a mobility aid centre to have an evaluation.

You may still have to purchase the wheelchair, but the medical professionals will have the best idea about whether you will be prescribed a mobility aid on the NHS.

If you are eligible for the Motability Scheme, and if you are claiming certain disability benefits such as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), then you might be able to claim ‘help to hire or buy’ an electric wheelchair or scooter.

The wheelchair evaluation will also help you find the best seat for your posture. We are all different shapes and sizes, so there will not be a one size fits all. Also, certain disabilities might mean your spine or other bones and muscles are shaped differently to others.

The people working at the mobility aid centre will help you find the wheelchair and accessories that suit your body best; as well as being able to give you custom advice for sitting in your chair for long periods.

You can also follow the rules written about at the beginning of this article.

Types of Disability Specialist Seating and Chairs

Chairs for Elderly and Disabled Adults

To get in and out of your chair/ sitting positions more easily, you can invest in armchairs and recliners. As well as specialised chairs that can help with complex sitting postural needs.

You can find chairs with different-sized backs and armrests, that will make it more comfortable for you to sit for longer periods. You can likewise find seats with varying levels of padding or cushioning depending on your level of pain and movement ability.

It is also possible to find chairs that sit closer to the ground meaning it won’t be so difficult to get in and out of the chair and will help you to keep your feet on the floor if you are smaller in height.

Sitting comfortably with the proper support may help relieve pressure, ease postural challenges and improve your quality of life.

Disability and Specialist Seating/ Chairs are available in a wide range of choices, to suit every price range and styles to suit every interior.

If your chair does not have pressure relief options, then adding a separate disability pressure relief cushion may help. Remember that this will change the height of your chair seat, so a footstool may be needed. 

Disability pressure relief cushions, specialist chairs and most mobility products are best bought from your local mobility/ independence living stores.

Getting mobility products from a local supplier ensures: that you can try and choose/ decide which is the best fit for you; have the product(s) serviced/ returned/ exchanged when needed much more conveniently. And helps you develop a more personal relationship with your local shops/ people – sort of like a doctor/ patient relationship.

They can watch over your mobility health, and sometimes notice changes way before you do – and offer current solutions specific to you.

Of course, you can always check up on the best 2-3 shops in your area. This will help you find one you can trust and feel most comfortable with.

Disability Chairs – Riser Recliners

Riser Recliners are armchairs or sofas that are manually or electrically operated. These chairs can be tilted upwards, providing you with extra support when you are sitting down or standing up. This will put less strain on your joints and muscles.

These chairs can often recline down, allowing you to be almost horizontal – as in a lying down position. Recliner armchairs combine both a leg-rest and back recline. This ensures you can enjoy comfort in various positions.

Riser Recliners are useful chairs if you spend most of your time sitting, or if you suffer from fatigue and pain that lead you to take a break, or you frequently need to lie down during the day

Riser Recliner Chairs

Disability Chairs – Care Chairs

Care Chairs offer high levels of support. They are suitable for anyone unable to keep a stable, comfortable position when seated. If this chair is the right option for you, it is essential that your needs are properly assessed by a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist.

These specialist care chairs usually come with adjustable head and side supports. They also feature height, width, depth and angle adjustable backs and seats.

An important feature of care chairs is their pressure-relieving, tilt-in-space ability.

Disability specialist care chairs are ideal for people who struggle with moving from a wheelchair to another seated position – eg bath, toilet; or in/out of a car (standing transfers); or need a lot of postural support. These chairs also make it easier to hoist the user, if necessary.

Care Chairs

Disability Chairs – High Seat Chairs

High seat chairs are designed for posture control, especially those with orthopaedic cushions. They are ideal for use when recovering from hip, arm/ leg, or back operations. They give more upper-back support, to reduce back pain.

They usually feature higher backs, side support and a higher height to standard armchairs. Their slightly higher seats make it easier to sit down and stand up again – especially if you struggle with your mobility, with getting in and out of your armchair.

High seat chairs and sofas also give your room a more traditional feel to it.

These chairs mostly help with getting up, especially if you get one with an electric riser feature. Standing up is easier now at the push of a button!

They come with various options and designs such as Orthopaedic High Back Chairs, Wingback Chairs and Winged Armchairs.

High Seat Chairs

Disability Chairs – Activity Chairs

Adult disability activity chairs are specifically designed to be used in work and home settings – your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room… to help with daily tasks and activities.

It is especially beneficial for people with limited mobility – or those living with a neurological condition such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s; or have suffered a stroke – and would still like to remain active. And maintain their independence!

They help you achieve a supportive posture, reducing strain on your joints and muscles as you perform your daily activities. You’ll find them quite useful in situations where bending/ squatting down – or reaching high for items on top shelves – may be tricky.

Adult disability activity chairs can be battery-powered, for increased ease of use. They are also easily adaptable with fittings and extras to suit individual needs.

Adult Disability Activity Chairs

Disability Chairs – Dining Chairs

With or without disability and mobility problems, sitting down to dine at least three times daily is a regular routine.

A sturdy, comfortable and supportive dining chair makes sitting down to meals, for the elderly and people living with a disability, more manageable.

Armrests on dining chairs make it easier to propel yourself in and out of your seat.

They add extra protection with their high sides, keeping you securely in place. Armrests on your dining chairs also help to reduce the risk of a fall.

Along with ensuring safety in the chair, your comfort is another important consideration. Firm supportive cushions that hold you up, and the right seat height ensure you’re comfortable at the dining table.

Also, with frailty and mobility challenges, occasional spillages and food messes are unavoidable. To deal with this, the dining chair fabric must require as little maintenance as is possible.

It should be durable and easy to clean. Anti-microbial, spill-proof fabrics and vinyl are easy-clean and hygienic options.

Disability Dining Chair

Conclusion

Sitting down is not always as easy as one might think, especially if you have to spend many hours a day in a sitting position.

It is essential to make sure you are sitting properly and that, if you are able to, you are stretching your body so that all that sitting is not affecting other parts of your body or making any pre-existing symptoms worse.