Pressure Ulcers are 95% Preventable and Quality Hospital Chairs Help

Comfortable well-designed furniture is essential in the quest to prevent pressure sores. 95% of pressure ulcers are preventable, an issue affecting many people in hospitals and institutions.

A mortality rate of around 60% is found within the demographic of the elderly population upon leaving with a pressure ulcer within one year of discharge from hospital.

Sitting in a well designed chair can take the pressure off!

Patients sitting for long periods of time need chairs that can be adjusted to their unique size and allow for weight redistribution as needed.

Chairs that promote good posture can help prevent pressure ulcers.

People who are unwell and elderly are as susceptible to sitting in awkward positions which can lead to poor posture and uneven weight distribution. This can be of particular issue when someone has a condition like pelvic obliquity. Weight can travel unevenly down the spine and unequally through the Ischial Tuberosity creating pressure and potentially pressure ulcers.

Keep moving

There are special cushions with air that circulates with a ripple effect for those who are not so mobile. Diabetics are particularly vulnerable as it is hard for skin to heal once a pressure sore has developed so they have to be very careful, they are a priority in the care system.

Keeping people as mobile as possible is also important. Getting them to move their legs, elevate where possible to relieve pressure on the glutes. Move a little often so not one place is under duress for any length of time.

Wheelchair users need correct moulding on the seats as they sustain a lot of use particularly from those who are wheelchair bound

When lying down and waiting for your blister to heal is not an option at work, what do you do?

Blisters are painful and none worse than those formed by high heels

Take a leaf out of the hikers hand book ‘The 2oz Backpacker’ By Robert S. Wood and aim for prevention rather than cure. Once a blister has formed it can rub and become more painful, even infected.

So what can be done? Hikers learn to read their body, adjust their weight, rebalance their clothing and balance themselves full stop. By much the same token we can bring awareness to our bodies and our balance at work. 

Balance helps prevent blisters

An injury, even one as seemingly small as a blister can cause all sorts of issues when out in the wilds. The wilds of the office are no exception. The workplace is no friend to blisters. Balance is an interesting perspective on blister prevention, if we are out of balance it may cause the body to lean more heavily or rely on an area more than usual. This might be caused by carrying a bag, sitting awkwardly, holding something with undue pressure or wearing new shoes or high heels.  

Sitting in a well designed chair can take the pressure off!

Ideally no, but not all blisters survive to heal without bursting. Covering a blister with Vaseline or a beeswax or emollient cream may help. Also removing the source of the friction, if possible. Hobbling on through the day or working through a blistered hand or shoulder can lead to further pain and is not a cool thing to do. Where possible allow air to reach the affected area and rest it, allow your body to heal as much as possible.

Good quality office furniture and gel heels can help prevent blisters

Well balanced furniture that supports the body, especially when sitting for long periods of time, can help prevent blisters from forming. Ergonomically designed hospital chairs ease pressure on the body from the spine to the skin. Gel heels are a support and certainly can help with the downward pressure of high heels, or best of all investing in a good pair of well-fitting shoes.

An office is as harsh as a hike, it's just not as obvious

So take care of yourself, eat well, keep hydrated, wear sensible clothing and footwear and equip yourself properly with supportive furnishings and anything else you can think of.