Office Chair Selection for Fracture Patients

**Fracture patients should choose office chairs with specific functions based on the fracture site and rehabilitation needs, while also paying attention to proper usage. **

Chair Selection for Different Fracture Sites

• Patients with lumbar compression fractures: They should choose chairs with armrests, adjustable height, and a relatively hard seat cushion. The armrest design provides support when getting up and sitting down, allowing patients to move slowly with the help of the armrests, avoiding sudden bending or twisting of the torso, and reducing stress on the lower back. The adjustable height function can be adjusted to the most suitable sitting height according to the patient's height and rehabilitation status, making it easier to sit down and get up. A relatively hard seat cushion provides stable support, preventing excessive sinking of the lower back, maintaining the normal physiological curvature of the spine, and aiding in lumbar recovery.
• Patients with rib fractures: They should choose chairs with an upright backrest, lumbar support, a moderately firm material, and armrests. The upright backrest provides good support for the chest, reducing pressure on the ribs. Lumbar support can fit the curve of the lower back, relieving lower back fatigue. A chair with a moderately firm material is neither too hard to cause discomfort nor too soft to affect support. Armrests also play an important role when getting up and sitting down. In addition, priority should be given to seats with adjustable height, strong stability, and ergonomic design. Soft or too-low chairs should be avoided. Soft chairs can cause the body to sink, increasing pressure on the chest, while too-low chairs make it difficult for patients to get up.

Precautions for Using Office Chairs

• Getting up and sitting down movements: Regardless of the type of fracture, when using an office chair, patients should move their bodies slowly with the help of the armrests, avoiding sudden bending or twisting of the torso to prevent secondary damage to the fracture site.
• Sitting time: The sitting time for a single session should not be too long, not exceeding 30 - 40 minutes. Patients should get up and move around regularly to promote blood circulation, reduce body fatigue, and facilitate fracture recovery.
• Types of chairs to avoid: Fracture patients should avoid using bean bag chairs, soft fabric lounge chairs, office chairs with casters and no locks, too-low stools or small benches, etc. These chairs either fail to provide sufficient support or have poor stability, making it easy for patients to lose balance when getting up or sitting down, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.