A Practical Guide to Seating Plus Size Patients

We’ve discovered from speaking to clinicians, physiotherapists, nurses and occupational therapists across the world during training sessions and at industry shows, that there is an increasing need for guidance and support when dealing with people of size who have low mobility. There is currently a lack of both proper equipment to optimise postural support and pressure redistribution, and understanding of how to best treat this patient category.

Common Mistakes and Challenges

The most common challenge for clinicians in seating plus size people is in getting the measurements of the patient correct. This can be often a daunting task and clinicians might require extra help from another clinician to make sure the measurements are as accurate as possible. Other Common Issues to Seating plus size people are,

1. Not Accommodating the Gluteal Shelf

Unlike most patients, the gluteal shelf or bulbous gluteal region in bariatric patients, makes it more difficult to give these patients the full back support that they need. The extra tissue in the posterior lumbar region often forces patients to sit forward in their chair, which leaves their back unsupported.

2. Incorrect Seat Depth and Seat Height

A patient is more at risk of developing pressure ulcers in interface areas if the seat is not making maximum contact to load the body. Improper loading can lead to an uneven distribution of weight on interface areas. The seat depth and seat height needs to be adjusted to match the patients’ leg length but must be at an appropriate length so as to avoid pulling the patient forward and into a sacral sitting position.

3. No Footplates

On the few bariatric chairs that do have tilt in space, they often do not come with appropriate footplates. Approximately 19% of a person’s weight is exerted through the feet in sitting, a key area prone to pressure ulcer development. However, with plus size people, this percentage can be greater due to the weight of the abdomen resting on the legs. When chairs do not have footplates and are reclined or titled, you are actually increasing the interface pressure instead of decreasing the pressure the patient experiences.

4. Not Accommodating Calves

The correct leg rest and calf pad is an important function to consider in seating plus size people. With larger calves, there is often increased risk from falls during standing as the feet can be positioned far in front of the patient when the calf pad does not accommodate the mass of the patients’ legs. The leg rest must accommodate larger calves to help maintain a typical 90 degree knee flexion posture, and to enable a safe, stable standing position.

5. No Back Angle Recline or Tilt in Space

It is well known that tilt in space can aid repositioning, improve respiration and reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. For plus size people who have decreased mobility and other medical issues, often the need for tilt in space is magnified but many bariatric chairs do not provide this important function.

The Risks of Improper Seating

1. Manual Handling Risk to Patient and Caregiver

Seating plus size people can pose risks to clinicians and staff alike. The unique body shape and increased weight and size of the patient can increase the risk of injury to caregivers. The patient too can be at risk of manual handling injuries when working with improper equipment that does not provide support and stability.

2. Limitations in Mobility and Independence

The patients themselves can suffer even further from limitations in mobility, and reduction in independence due to improper seating. It is important to encourage early mobilisation when suitable and begin the rehabilitation process as soon as possible. Improper seating can inhibit this vital piece of the treatment plan.

3. Longer Hospital Stays and Increased Risks of Pressure Ulcers

Due to the difficulties incurred in transferring plus size people, it has often been the case that these patients remain in bed for longer and longer, increasing the risk of pressure ulcers and decreasing their mobility even further. Instability provided from an improper chair can lead to pelvic tilts further increasing the risk of pressure ulcers in high interface areas.

The Solution - The Sorrento Bariatric

The journey of developing this chair was a long and careful one. We wanted to create something that was user friendly and easily moved and respected the dignity of the user of the chair. The process of design, testing and clinical evaluation were focused around these goals:

Can increase the mobility of plus size people, help with transfers and encourage early mobilization

In sit to stand transfers, the anterior tilt function empowers the patient to be more independent and can reduce the need for caregiver assistance and/or the use of patient lifts/hoists. This gives the patient more confidence and independence, encouraging them to be more mobile.

Can reduce the risk of moving and manual handling injuries

The easily removable arms on the Sorrento™ Bariatric , assist with side transferring or sling application and removal. The powered tilt options can give the user the ability to control their angle of tilt, back angle recline, and therefore pressure redistribution. These functions make the adjustments effortless and easily performed by the patient or carer. This in turn can help reduce risk of unnecessary injuries.

Can reduce length of stay in hospitals and care environments for plus size people

The Sorrento Bariatric™ is mobile and perfectly suitable for a home environment, meaning patients do not need to be resigned to bed rest in a hospital or care home for longer than necessary. The chair provides optimum pressure management and therefore reduces length of stay in hospitals or care environments by drastically reducing the risk of developing pressure ulcers. Everything down to the chair dimensions were carefully considered – even the widest Sorrento Bariatric™ will fit through a normal door frame.

Can accommodate the gluteal shelf and unique body proportions of plus size people

Due to the extra tissue in the posterior lumbar region, bariatric patients are often resigned to sitting forward in their chair which leaves their back unsupported. The Sorrento Bariatric™ has a removable cushion at the lumbar level to help accommodate the gluteal shelf, whilst providing full back and leg support.

Can encourage more independence, greater functional ability and therefore improve the psychological health of the patient sitting in the chair

By accommodating individuals up to 650 lbs (294 kg / 46 stone) often we hear that the Sorrento Bariatric™ is the only solution that has let their patient or loved one get out of bed, and sit upright for a long time. The difference in bed rest versus seating on a patients’ psychological health cannot be underestimated. Prolonged bed rest often leads to various health complications which are eliminated or vastly reduced if we can get the patient to sit in a proper chair, i.e. contractures, digestive problems, as well as fatigue and depression. In sitting up they can often perform minor tasks for themselves that they might not be able to do on bed rest i.e. read, write, and self feed

Can reduce risk of pressure and provide optimal pressure redistribution

Pressure risk whilst using the Sorrento Bariatric™ can be reduced through various functions such as the back angle recline and tilt in space, which can enable safe and easy pressure distribution. They are motor controlled by the patient or the caregiver.