Daily Living Skills: Can You Get Up Out of Your Chair?

 Chair exercises have become quite popular with the senior set and yes, it is possible to get a good workout from a sitting position. Chair exercises are a good way to strengthen and maintain the muscle tone that you need if you want to be independent. Today, we are talking about a different kind of chair exercise.  It is not unusual for a senior to have trouble getting up out of a chair.  Modern chairs can be tricky for everyone; sometimes you wonder what the designers were thinking when they designed the low slung chairs that suck you into the cushions when you sit down.

 

 What kind of chairs should you have in your living room?  The chances are pretty good that the ones you have right now not a good fit for you.  There are things that you can do to make a chair more adaptable but if your furniture is old you might like to consider something new.   The main thing is not to be mesmerized by the nice looking floor displays at the furniture store.  If you are going to remain independent in your own home, you need to buy furniture that works for you.

 

 Can you get in and out of that fancy chair without help?  It is important that you practice.  Take your time and get up and sit down as often as you need to before making up your mind. The right chair is out there somewhere.   Your chair needs to have firm cushions and sturdy arms.  From personal experience I can tell you that chair arms that extend out so that they are aligned with front of the chair are easier to exit than when the arms are recessed.  Lift chairs are marvelous but I am all for using muscles and technique as long as possible, so lets look at how to get in and out of a regular chair.

 

There is a technique for getting out of a chair.  Mary Anne Dunking gave a mini-demonstration in The Arthritis Today magazine (March/April 2008), that I thought hit all of the high points.  Practice this a few times at home before you go shopping.

 

·        Slide buttocks to the front of the chair.  Place feet flat on the floor (several inches apart), with heels a few inches closer to the chair than the knees.

·        Lean forward with upper body (place hands on the chair’s armrest), until your nose is above your toes.

·        Raise your body, simultaneously straightening your knees and back.

 

Okay, that doesn’t sound too hard does it? Practice doing this until it is second nature to you, and then take your new found skills to the furniture store and pick out one or two chairs.  This is for your home and you should love it, not just because it is attractive but because it is perfect for you.