Lift Chairs and Arthritis Patients

As a person ages, there are often many tasks that become more difficult. This is often the result of diseases that are more common with age, such as arthritis and glaucoma, however while these diseases are more common, they are not a natural part of the aging process. Often, one of the most difficult tasks for a senior is that of standing up and sitting down, which is why many rely upon lift chairs in their home.

What Are Lift Chairs?

Lift chairs are an important type of home medical equipment used to make it easier for an individual to stand without assistance. In most cases, lift chairs look much like a simple recliner, but instead of just being a place to sit and relax, lift chairs are so much more. The base of the lift chair contains a lifting system that raises the chair up. When the lift chair is completely raised, the occupant can exit on their feet, with a greatly reduced risk of personal injury.

In addition to make standing easier, the backrest can also be reclined and is controlled electronically, making it much easier to find a comfortable sitting position.

Lift Chairs and Arthritis

Arthritis patients are one of the biggest users of lift chairs. There are many different types of arthritis, but joint pain is a consistent symptom of arthritis that can make standing very difficult. Depending on the type of arthritis, the joint pain could be constant or only occur in the morning or evening.

Often, this joint pain becomes worst when the person has been inactive for an extended period of time, such as after having been sitting down for an hour or two. For many seniors, this can make it very difficult to stand up after having watched a television program or taking a nap.

Unfortunately, this can also often result in a very dangerous cycle, where the senior does not stand up to avoid pain, but because they do not stand up and move around, they increase the amount of pain and how long the pain will remain will occur. With a lift chair, the senior is no longer forced to participate in this vicious cycle and can instead stand whenever they wish at the push of a button. There is also no longer a requirement that someone must be present to lend an elbow, so by using a lift chair, it is possible to maintain an independent lifestyle, while reducing arthritis pain.

As well as making it much easier to stand, the lift chair also provides a much easier to use sitting experience, because the entire lift chair is controlled electronically. This means there is no need to rely upon back pressure to recline the chair, instead it is only a matter of pushing a button. This can greatly reduce back strain and back pressure, while promoting an ergonomic sitting position.

Lift chairs can be very important tools for seniors and others who are mobility challenged. Among arthritis patients, lift chairs can not only increase safety, but also help reduce arthritis pain from occurring.