Best Pressure Relief Cushions for Recliner Chairs

The use of pressure relief and pressure reduction cushions is widely accepted as an effective way to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers and bedsores, but selecting the right one for you might not be as simple as you think. While most pressure relief cushions are designed for use in a wheelchair or conventional seating surface, often an individual's favourite (and most used) seating surface is a recliner chair or rise recliner. If you're looking for a pressure care cushion for your rise recliner chair, you'll need a specially designed cushion system that will stay put and move with your chair, while preventing the forward sliding that can happen as your chair reclines – especially if you suffer from a low level of mobility.

Do I Need a Pressure Relief Cushion?

If you're wondering if you or a loved one requires a pressure relief or pressure reducing cushion, there are some key risk factors to look out for. In most cases some form of pressure relief cushion will be required if any of the following are true:

1. The individual suffers from low mobility due to suffering an injury or sickness, and sits for long periods of time.
2. The individual cannot reposition themselves, leading them to slump to one side or slide forward, and requires assistance to gain a proper position in the chair.
3. The individual is deemed to have thin skin and/or high pressure sore risk.
4. The individual requires a hoist to be transferred.

Why Won't a Regular Pressure Relief Cushion Work for My Rise Recliner?

Pressure relief cushions are best used in wheelchairs, or chairs that are designed to provide a good level of support to the user. These chairs will allow weight to be distributed along the patient's body, as true pressure reduction can only take place by maximising the surface area in contact with the user. When a standard pressure relief or reducing cushion is placed on a rise recliner chair, it will often raise the user so that legrests, armrests, headrests and back supports lose partial or complete contact with the user, placing the entirety of their weight on their buttocks. Even with a high quality pressure relief cushion, this kind of localised pressure can be a recipe for disaster.

Rise Recliner Pressure Relief Cushions

When selecting a pressure relief cushion system for your rise recliner, you need to account for the movement of the chair, the entire surface in contact with the user, and a tendency for the user or cushion to slide forward during movement. With these things considered, there are a few features that you MUST look for when choosing your rise recliner cushion system:

1. The cushion system should have multiple movement points to allow it to move with the cushion.
2. The system should feature affixing straps to ensure is stays put during movement
3. It should be large or long enough to cover the entirety of the user's body, with all contact points catered to (head, back, buttocks and legs).
4. It should ideally feature a non-slip base as a further measure to prevent forward sliding.

With these factors considered, there are two appropriate pressure relief cushions for rise recliner chairs currently available at HospitalBeds.co.uk:

Ultimate Healthcare Ultra-Cline Pressure Relief Rise Recliner Cushion Set

Developed to stay put during the movements that occur when tilting a rise recliner, the Ultimate Healthcare Ultra-Cline Pressure Relief Rise Recliner Set meets all the requirements set out above. Made with viscoelastic foam, it can provide pressure relief for high risk users and features:

• Three pieces with a seat, back and leg cushion
• Two width choices to suit different rise recliners
• Securing straps to keep cushions in place while tilting
• Non-slip base to prevent forward sliding
• Waterproof cover to protect cushion and chair from spills
• Maximum user weight of 159kg

Harvest Ultra-Thin Pressure Relief Cushion, Leg and Lumbar System

Another option is the Harvest Ultra-Thin Pressure Relief Cushion, Leg and Lumbar System, designed much like the above choice to provide a high level of comfort and pressure reduction suitable for those at high risk of pressure sore development. Redesigned with 35mm foam for extra comfort, this system features:

• Three piece system with leg, lumbar and buttocks sections
• Hinged area between cushions to allow movement with chair
• Securing straps to keep all sections in place during movement
• Non-slip base to prevent forward sliding
• Waterproof cover to protect cushion and chair from spills
• Maximum user weight of 159kg

Safe and Comfortable Reclining

The two options above are quite similar in nature, and both are excellent pressure relief options for rise recliner chairs. Since these systems are specifically designed for rise recliners, they won't present the same pitfalls as standards wheelchair or chair pressure relief cushions, and can be a useful part of a larger pressure care strategy.

Do you have any questions, or would you like a recommendation? Please don't hesitate to contact our Customer Care Team at 020 7501 0592 or leave us a message in the comments section below.