The most common side effect of lingering illness is insecurity. Patients feel that they are already a burden to the family members who are constantly taking care of them. These specialized chairs allow patients to retain their dignity by reclaiming back their independence. They don’t have to ask for help every time they need to stand up or sit down, the heavy duty lift chairs will do that for them.
Pros and cons
Some physical therapists may advise their patients against buying a lift chair because it allegedly breeds dependence. They believe that the chair is doing all the heavy lifting instead of the leg muscles of the patients which need to be tested and pushed in order to heal better. So instead of your legs getting stronger so you can walk normally again, they instead become weaker.
Of course, there’s also the issue of price but this can be easily resolved by applying for claim from Medicare which can reimburse a portion of the cost, allowing you to save and still ensure that the therapy of your loved one remains comfortable.
As for making your knees and legs weaker, other experts think the fear is without basis. For patients who still retain motor skills to operate the heavy duty lift chairs, the experience would be less stressful for them. Using the chair, they believe, doesn’t mean the patient will already forget the exercise regimen to strengthen their leg muscles. The massager feature of some chairs is often welcomed after a day of physical therapy. The heater that comes with some chairs is also going to help alleviate the tired muscles of the patients during the cold weather.
The only other negative in buying a heavy duty lift chair —although this is often stated tongue-in-cheek—is that it will generate a minor clash of who will get to sit on it. It’s not uncommon for people to claim that the special chairs are more comfortable than all the existing chairs in the house. And it’s certainly not rare for people to be waking up on the lift chairs the morning after following a night of movie watching.
What’s the right chair for you?
Patients will have to talk to their physicians if they want to buy a heavy duty lift chair. There are some medical assessments that have to be considered. For example, if you have no full control of your motor skills, getting one may not be right for you.
Another thing to consider when buying lift chairs is the weight of the patients. Even with their sturdiness, the motors of these chairs can only handle about 375 pounds of human weight or less.