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Defined as “relating to or specialising in the treatment of obesity”, bariatrics relates to all users with large body shapes and sizes that impact mobility, health, or access to available services and equipment (NSW Health, 2024).
Bariatric patients face unique challenges when it comes to mobility and wheelchair use. When prescribing
products for bariatric users, it’s important to consider issues specific to the user.
Key Considerations:
1. Professional Assessment: A thorough assessment by a health professional, such as an occupational therapistor physiotherapist, is crucial. This is required to provide personalised recommendations based on their unique body shape and future adjustments where relevant. For accurate measurements specific for bariatric clients, please refer to the Bariatric Wheelchair Assessment Measuring Guide.
2. Skin Integrity and Pressure Injury Prevention: Bariatric patients are at increased risk of skin integrity issues due to reduced mobility, poor vascularisation, increased heat generation and greater shearing risk on skin surfaces. Regular repositioning and skin care routines can help manage these issues. Specialised seat cushions that have higher weight capacity and use materials that reduce moisture and heat are often required.
3. Excess Tissues: Users with excess adipose tissue, who have a bulbous gluteal shelf or an ‘apple shape’ can benefit from a more open seat-to-back angle. Variations of bariatric shapes and sizes are described in greater detail in our blog series: Seating and mobility considerations for individuals who are bariatric, part 1: Body shape
Bariatric backrests can assist to manage these issues. Some offer a vanity flap or pannus support specially designed to manage excess tissues, reducing discomfort and improving support. This vanity shell extension pivots, accommodating the redundant tissue, allowing a client to sit further back into the chair and managing
their skin and positioning issues.
4. Legrests: Legrests come in a variety of styles to accommodate user’s functional needs. Swing-away legrests are easily removable to provide access for transfers. Consider whether the user can support and position the weight of larger oedematous lower limbs. Such users may benefit from a centre-mounted power elevating legrest option found on power wheelchairs. These are better able to accommodate heavy/large calves and feet. They can also help manage circulation, swelling and oedema issues, and reduce the physical strain on caregivers.
5. Weight Capacity: Bariatric wheelchairs are designed to support higher weight capacities and offer larger seat widths. Bariatric wheelchairs are typically made from robust materials like reinforced steel or high-grade aluminium to withstand additional stress. This benefits longevity and reduces the need for repairs. Ensure the chair, cushion, backrest and any power-assist weight capacities can accommodate the user’s weight plus additional weight from items carried on person.
Choosing the right wheelchair and seating systems for bariatric patients requires careful consideration of the key factors outlined. By addressing these factors, bariatric patients improve their support and mobility needed to optimise quality of life.
Sunrise Medical offers a range of products to support Bariatric users. For more information, please visit our website links:
● Bariatric Brochure: https://www.sunrisedice.com/asset-bank/assetfile/103587.pdf
● Cushions: JAY cushion series, JAY LowZone Gel Switch, JAY ClimaZone
● Manual Wheelchairs: Breezy EC series, Breezy RubiX2 XL, Quickie 2HD, Quickie M6
● Powered Wheelchairs: Q700 Series, Magic 360