Weight shifts to relieve pressure
Weight shifts help relieve the pressure points on your body while sitting. Relieving the pressure over your sitting areas helps keep the area’s skin healthy and prevent pressure sores.
Your therapist will recommend specific types of weight shifts as well as a schedule if needed. Plan to do these at prescribed intervals for a full minute each in order to relieve the pressure properly. If you have a skin sore, weight shifts will need to be done more often.
Manual wheelchair users will need to keep their chair locked throughout the exercises.
Individual exercises
Forward lean weight shift
The forward lean weight shift allows you to relieve pressure from both sitting bones at one time.
- Lean forward as though you are looking at your feet, making sure to clear your buttocks off the seat of the chair.
- Be careful when leaning forward so as not to tip over. To prevent tipping, keep the small front caster wheels facing forward.
- It is helpful to scoot all the way back in the chair first before leaning over.
- Hold 60 seconds.
Push-up weight shift
Push-up weight shifts relieve pressure on both sitting bones at one time. You must have enough strength in your upper body to push down on the armrests or tires of the wheelchair and lift your buttocks completely off the chair seat. This weight shift should take a total of 60 seconds.
Side-to-side weight shift
Leaning side to side relieves pressure over one sitting bone at a time.
- Lean on each side for 60 seconds.
- Notice the hip is lifted off the seat to relieve pressure.
Standing weight shift
This weight shift relieves pressure on the whole sitting area at one time.
- Depending on the nature of the injury, standing may be possible. The standing weight shift should only be done if you can safely support your body weight on your legs and maintain your balance.
- When rising from your wheelchair to stand, make sure that the chair is locked and that you have a solid structure to hold onto while standing. You may need another person to assist in supporting you.
- Hold for 60 seconds.
Tilting weight shifts
Tilting weight shifts relieve pressure on both sitting bones at the same time. You may need the help of another person, depending on the type of wheelchair you use and your own strength and ability to move.
- Tilt the chair back and have the leg rests raised up so you are in a lying position. Hold for a full 60 seconds.
- Motorized wheelchair: You may be able to make it tilt on your own.
- Manual wheelchair: Raise the wheelie bars to the up position and lock the brakes. Recline the person back gently.
Turning to relieve pressure
Turning in bed is just as important as doing weight shifts in your wheelchair to help protect your skin. Stay on your schedule, which your rehabilitation team developed based on your individual health, age, type of injury, newness of injury, and/or type of bedding you have.
Remember to spend time on each side, your back, and, if suggested by your rehabilitation team, your stomach. The stomach is actually preferred if you can tolerate it. Check with your doctor before using the prone position.
If you have a sore in a particular area, avoid lying on that part of your body unless otherwise directed. Visit Causes and Signs for tips on recognizing a skin sore.