Parkinson's Disease Chairs

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It arises when certain nerve cells in the brain fail to produce sufficient amounts of dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement and emotions.

A dopamine deficiency can lead to symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and difficult with balance. These symptoms develop gradually and worsen over time.

While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, quality clinical seating may help alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life.

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease may develop a range of symptoms, both motor (movement-related) and non-motor. No two people will experience Parkinson’s the same way, so every patient’s treatment and Parkinson’s disease chairs will be unique to them.

Common motor symptoms that may impact seating for Parkinson’s disease patients include:

Tremors: Involuntary movements, often starting in the hands, fingers, or limbs.

Bradykinesia: Slowed movement, making simple tasks more difficult and time consuming. Steps may become short and shuffling, and patients may have difficulty rising from a chair.

Rigidity: Muscle stiffness and resistance to movement, causing discomfort or pain.

Postural instability: Difficulty maintaining balance and coordination, leading to an increased risk of falls or sliding from a chair.

Loss of automatic movements e.g. blinking, swinging arms when walking

Other non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease may include:

• Cognitive symptoms including mild memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and problems with planning or organisation
• Depression, anxiety or irritability
• Loss of sense of smell
• Nerve pain, burning or numbness
• Urinary incontinence
• Constipation
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Hypotension leading to dizziness and blurred vision, especially when moving from a sitting or lying to a standing position
• Excessive production of saliva (drooling)
• Dementia, visual hallucinations and delusions (in more advanced cases)

Seating individuals with Parkinson’s disease presents numerous challenges due to its impact on mobility, balance, muscle control, and posture. These challenges include:

Muscle Rigidity: Parkinson’s often causes muscle stiffness, making it difficult for individuals to relax into a seated position. This stiffness can lead to discomfort and difficulty adjusting posture. A riser recliner chair may alleviate some of these issues.

Postural Instability: Patients may lean to one side, slouch or have difficulty sitting back in their chairs. When selecting a clinical chair for someone with Parkinson’s, it’s crucial to incorporate head and lateral supports to address these concerns.

Reduced Mobility: Parkinson’s can hinder mobility, making it challenging for individuals to move in and out of chairs independently. Assistance or additional support may be necessary for transitions between seated and standing positions.

Tremors: Tremors, particularly in the hands and limbs, can interfere with fine motor tasks like reaching for arm rests or adjusting seating positions. This can impact activities requiring precision, such as using a chair remote.

Recognising and addressing these challenges with suitable support and accommodations is vital when seating individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, and its effects vary from person to person. When selecting a clinical chair for Parkinson’s patients, it’s crucial to consider their unique needs and level of independence, while also addressing potential future challenges.

Adjustability is a critical requirement of Parkinson’s disease chairs.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s, a riser recliner chair like the Seating Matters Denver offers optimal support. Its slight forward tilt can help a patient initiate movement from sitting to standing.

Other essential features of Parkinson’s disease chairs include:

• An adjustable back angle recline to prevent falls or sliding
• Options for head, leg and lateral supports
• Pressure management materials for prolonged sitting comfort
• Larger, easy-to-operate controls for tremor or rigidity management

In the later stages or with advanced symptoms of Parkinson’s, a tilt-in-space feature becomes necessary. This encourages movement initiation and maintains the patient’s upright posture, while helping to prevent falls and sliding.

As the patient may still be mobile, it’s important that the chair also includes a forward tilt function.

It is important to find the balance between maintaining independence and providing postural support when choosing a chair for Parkinson’s disease patients.

The first step is to Book a Free Seating Assessment, or request this from the patient’s occupational therapist. 

This personal approach involves testing the range of motion of a patient’s joints, understanding their specific cognitive, behavioural and psychological symptoms, and assessing the standards and impact of their current bed or chair.

On the basis of this assessment and any personal goals of the patient, their family and their care team, a specific Seating Matters chair will be recommended to meet their needs.

Yes, our Parkinson’s disease chairs are available to trial.

The first step is to organise a Free Seating Assessment, conducted by a clinically trained Seating Matters Specialist. This Assessment takes approximately 60 minutes and can be completed at home or hospital.

Based on this Assessment, the most suitable Seating Matters chair will be provided for the patient to trial. This will be adjusted to fit them correctly, taking into consideration things like seat depth, seat width and chair height. Postural supports and further customisations can also be added.