For patients at risk for pressure injury (PI) development, time sitting in a chair should be limited to how many hours?

Limiting the time that patients at risk for pressure injury development sit in a chair to two hours aligns with current best practices aimed at minimizing the risk of tissue ischemia and pressure injury formation. Prolonged sitting can lead to increased pressure on bony prominences, particularly the sacrum and heels, which may compromise blood flow and contribute to tissue breakdown.

Research and clinical guidelines suggest that frequent repositioning and limiting sitting time to a maximum of two hours can significantly reduce the risk of developing pressure injuries. Interventions often include encouraging patients to change positions, stand up, or perform weight shifts regularly to redistribute pressure and improve circulation.

While shorter sitting durations can be beneficial, not every patient may need the same level of restriction, and the two-hour guideline serves as a practical approach for many individuals at risk while still allowing for some comfort during their daily activities. Therefore, adhering to this time frame is a key aspect of pressure injury prevention protocols.