How to Reposition Someone in a Chair

Moving and handling professionals will be well versed in these techniques because of how important they are to use. If you don’t adopt the correct methods and processes when moving someone, it can be detrimental to everyone involved. We’ve taken a look at how you can reposition someone in a chair and written this guide with the help of our physiotherapist, Padraig. Moving someone in a chair can be done properly with ease, but we recommend that these techniques are carried out by someone who is trained or qualified in moving and handling. Let’s take a look at how to reposition someone for comfort, and how to fix a sling to someone sat down.

The Hip Hitch

This a manual technique used to reposition someone who is sat in a chair.

Step 1: Kneel in front of the person who is sat in the chair.

Step 2: Get the individual to lean to their right, and with one hand on their left hip and the other hand on their left knee, facilitate a backwards movement.

Step 3: Repeat this method with the opposite leg. So get the person to now lean over to their left-hand side.

Step 4: With one hand on their right hip and the other one on their right knee, facilitate a backwards movement.

Step 5: The individual should now be seated further back in the chair. If necessary, repeat the method on alternate legs until the person is properly positioned.

Using a One-Way Slide Sheet

As the name suggests, one-way slide sheets only allow something to slide on them in one direction. This is a great tool for repositioning someone in a chair without too much manual handling involved. Just make sure the person is sat on the slide sheet, and slide them backwards in the chair. The structure of the sheet will then stop the person from sliding forwards in the chair.

One-way slide sheets can help people adjust their positioning in a chair.

Fitting a Sling to Someone Sat Down

The objective here is to position a sling under a person who is sat in a chair. You will need two oval-shaped manual handling boards and the appropriate sling.

Step 1: Place your manual handling boards one on top of the other, and slide them down between the person’s back and the backrest of the chair so they’re positioned just above the buttocks.

Step 2: Get the sling, and place it in-between the moving and handling boards. Slide the sling right through to the person’s posterior, ensuring that the leg pieces are on either side of the individual. You can then remove the moving and handling boards.

Step 3: Kneel down in front of the person. Facilitate the person’s right foot on to your left knee/thigh, and this will allow for right hip flexion.

Step 4: Move the right leg piece into position under the individual’s leg, and then place their leg and foot back down on the floor.

Step 5: Facilitate the person’s left foot on to your right knee/thigh, and this will allow for left hip flexion.

Step 6: Move the left leg piece into position under the individual’s leg, and then place their leg and foot back down on the ground.

The sling should now be in position underneath the person, and from here, you can attach the sling in the correct fashion to the appropriate hoist.

Mobile hoists allow carers to have greater control over how the person is repositioned.

Summary

These are simple, easy steps that guarantee a safe and secure repositioning experience. Following these instructions will keep the carer and the individual from getting unnecessarily injured. Again, we want to stress that these techniques should be carried out by someone who is trained or qualified in moving and handling procedures, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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