Sitting disability
Encyclopedia
A Sitting disability is a condition in which a person may not be able to sit
, usually due to pain
, but can also happen to persons sitting in wheel chairs. It is also known as "reduced ability to sit", "sitting problems" or "inability to sit".
Sitting disability has generally been an unrecognized disability. The term "sitting disability" is not a well known expression although it is a term used to describe notable symptoms for people with severe back pain
. The disabilities usually mentioned in research and legal documents are reduced mobility and visual or auditory impairments.
, coccyx
pain (coccydynia
), failed back surgery and back pain in general. An inability to sit is one of the signs of chronic low back pain. Low back pain is a condition that affects a large part of the general United States population at some point in life. 65 to 80% of Americans have an episode of low back pain at some time in their lives. Although most cases resolve quickly, 40% recur and 5% result in a residual disability after 1 year.
In the U.S., acute low back pain
(also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.
With several severe pain syndromes, like neuralgia
or Pelvic Pain (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), pain during pregnancy or after given birth, the pain can be aggravated by sitting.
The specific problems for persons with back problems are usually not addressed anywhere in research, legal documents, accessibility or anti-discrimination laws.
Sitting problems are usually an invisible disability
. This combined with the fact that reduced ability to sit is not mentioned in research or anti-discrimination laws, makes it even harder for people to live with this kind of impairment.
caused by excessive pain
, is unable to sit or stand for long periods of time, and will need to lie down. The availability of benches or other devices where one may lie down may be a critical factor that determines whether a means of transportation or a public building is usable or not for many people with this form of disability. Public buildings and transportation such as flying are often inaccessible to people with severe sitting problems. People with both sitting- and mobility problems often have to use a wheelbench
, which is usually too large to fit into an elevator.
A sitting disability is a medical condition that makes a person unable to sit, not unable to move. It is not the inability to access the building that prevents a person from being in a building, it is the lack of places to lie down or comfortable reclining chairs. Accommodations for people who have a sitting disability are being enforced as Western nations integrate Universal design
into their societies. The Norwegian back pain association has described this in relation to sitting problems in a document to the Government in Norway.
For some medical conditions like Pudendal neuralgia, avoiding activities like sitting, which worsen the condition , is regarded as crucial. A severe sitting disability requires major life adjustments.
SIT
- Organizations :* Singapore Improvement Trust, a government public-housing organization* Society of Instrument Technology, a British learned society* Strategic Information Technology, a banking-software company...
, usually due to pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
, but can also happen to persons sitting in wheel chairs. It is also known as "reduced ability to sit", "sitting problems" or "inability to sit".
Sitting disability has generally been an unrecognized disability. The term "sitting disability" is not a well known expression although it is a term used to describe notable symptoms for people with severe back pain
Back pain
Back pain is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.The pain can often be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain...
. The disabilities usually mentioned in research and legal documents are reduced mobility and visual or auditory impairments.
Possible causes
Pain while sitting is a well known symptom when having ischial tuberositypain, Myofascial Pain SyndromeMyofascial pain syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome , also known as chronic myofascial pain , is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain caused by multiple trigger points and fascial constrictions...
, coccyx
Coccyx
The coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...
pain (coccydynia
Coccydynia
Coccydynia is a medical term meaning pain in the coccyx or tailbone area, usually brought on by sitting too abruptly.-Diagnosis:A number of different conditions can cause pain in the general area of the coccyx, but not all involve the coccyx and the muscles attached to it. The first task of...
), failed back surgery and back pain in general. An inability to sit is one of the signs of chronic low back pain. Low back pain is a condition that affects a large part of the general United States population at some point in life. 65 to 80% of Americans have an episode of low back pain at some time in their lives. Although most cases resolve quickly, 40% recur and 5% result in a residual disability after 1 year.
In the U.S., acute low back pain
Low back pain
Low back pain or lumbago is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives. In the United States it is the most common cause of job-related disability, a leading contributor to missed work, and the second most common neurological ailment — only headache is...
(also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.
With several severe pain syndromes, like neuralgia
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves that occurs without stimulation of pain receptor cells. Neuralgia pain is produced by a change in neurological structure or function rather than by the excitation of pain receptors that causes nociceptive pain. Neuralgia falls into two categories: central...
or Pelvic Pain (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), pain during pregnancy or after given birth, the pain can be aggravated by sitting.
The specific problems for persons with back problems are usually not addressed anywhere in research, legal documents, accessibility or anti-discrimination laws.
Sitting problems are usually an invisible disability
Invisible disability
Invisible disabilities are disabilities that are not immediately apparent. Some people with visual or auditory disabilities who do not wear glasses or hearing aids, or discreet hearing aids, may not be obviously disabled. Some people who have vision loss may wear contacts...
. This combined with the fact that reduced ability to sit is not mentioned in research or anti-discrimination laws, makes it even harder for people to live with this kind of impairment.
Equality and accessibility
A person with a sitting disabilityDisability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
caused by excessive pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
, is unable to sit or stand for long periods of time, and will need to lie down. The availability of benches or other devices where one may lie down may be a critical factor that determines whether a means of transportation or a public building is usable or not for many people with this form of disability. Public buildings and transportation such as flying are often inaccessible to people with severe sitting problems. People with both sitting- and mobility problems often have to use a wheelbench
Wheelbench
A wheelbench is a wheeled mobility device in which the user lies down. The device is propelled manually. The user pushes the wheels with their hands in the same manner as propelling a wheelchair or the wheelbench can be moved by a second person pulling or pushing it by the handles.A wheelbench is...
, which is usually too large to fit into an elevator.
A sitting disability is a medical condition that makes a person unable to sit, not unable to move. It is not the inability to access the building that prevents a person from being in a building, it is the lack of places to lie down or comfortable reclining chairs. Accommodations for people who have a sitting disability are being enforced as Western nations integrate Universal design
Universal design
Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities....
into their societies. The Norwegian back pain association has described this in relation to sitting problems in a document to the Government in Norway.
For some medical conditions like Pudendal neuralgia, avoiding activities like sitting, which worsen the condition , is regarded as crucial. A severe sitting disability requires major life adjustments.