Orthopedic chairs - Lift chairs (lift and tilt chairs)

Lift chairs are also called riser and recliner chairs and lift and tilt chairs.

Lift chairs appear and feel like any regular sitting room chair, but they are equipped with special mechanisms designed to support the user when getting up from, and sitting down in, the lift chair. For this reason they have obvious orthopedic and carer benefits, but they can be just as useful for anyone who requires two or three attempts to raise themselves from a relaxed and seated position.

Who should buy a lift chair (rise and recline chair)

Lift chairs will benefit anyone with reduced (or reducing) mobility resulting from old age, injury or illness. They are also an asset to anyone who uses a wheel chair, sufferers from arthritis or obesity, and those who experiences chronic back pain.

If you have difficulty lowering yourself into, or raising yourself out of, a chair, then this form of orthopedic chair may assist you in an important and repetitive aspect of your everyday life.

Lift chairs place the seated person in an optimum position for both comfort and the alignment of the spine and skeletal structure. They offer numerous orthopedic gains, but all without displaying the appearance of a specialised item of medical furniture. When at rest, the mechanical and motorised lower sections of the chair are not visible.

The real benefit of riser and recliner chairs

The big advantage of a lift chair for most of their owners is the independence that it confers on its user. Providing that a person has the ability to move around once standing (or in a wheelchair), the lift chair removes the need for "third person" assistance in the activity of "sitting down" or "standing up". In so doing, it also removes the strain and effort required to raise the body when standing up from a stationary and seated posture.

Consequently, a lift chair enhances independence, avoids muscle and back strain and dramatically reduces the likelihood of falls when ascending or descending into, or out of, a chair.

How does a lift chair work

Different lift chairs have different mechanisms, motors and adjustments, but all fulfil the same essential role of easing the user "in to" and "out of" the chair. In essence they replace the muscle usage of the human body when it comes to sitting down and standing up.

Unlike a conventional tilting chair, which only reclines into a horizontal plane, a lift chair has the ability to rise and tilt forward. This movement typically sees the whole of the chair body rise, but with the rear of the chair continuing its elevation as the front of the chair tilts forward and downwards.

This motion places the seated person in a position where they are gradually moved into a posture similar to that of the final process of standing up from a seated position. Namely, the back is straight and, although the knees are slightly bent, a "near" standing position is achieved. The momentum of leaning forward slightly completes the standing up motion and the actions are simply reversed when it comes to sitting down.

The mechanised motion of the lift chair is usually controlled by a remote control unit and motors within the chair’s construction. This allows each user to adjust the chair to the optimum position for their personal entry and exit angle whilst allowing them to be in complete control of the entire process.

Most lift chairs have two motors and are powered directly from a mains connection (i.e. they plug in to the home’s power supply), but many offer battery back-up as an additional precaution in the event of a mains blow-out, or electricity cut. For a more detailled explanation of how the tilt and rise style of chair works see this Tilt and rise chairs page.

The appearance of a lift chair

Many of the early lift chairs originated in nursing homes, but these are a far cry from the stylish and varied lift chairs available today.

Several different manufacturers now produce lift chairs and they can be ordered in a variety of differing styles with fabrics in numerous colours, patterns and materials.

When at rest, there is no obvious way of recognising a lift chair as being anything other than a regular sitting room chair. It is only when the "raising" and "tilting" motion is in action that the chair demonstrates its additional features. Most lift chairs also recline to various degrees from the horizontal making them extremely comfortable to all.

Typical lift chair specification features

Obviously there is no such thing as a typical specification for a lift chair and you will usually select from a range of "user" size and weight capacity options.

Most chairs cater for a person of between about 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet tall and with a weight of less than 300 to 350 pounds. Chairs for larger (and smaller) people are readily available, but may cost more. The larger chairs can also be quite heavy.

Most chairs offer either, unlimited (infinite) recline positions, or a fixed number, e.g. 2, 3, or 4 settings. A remote control unit is used to manoeuvre the chairs angle (or postion) of incline.

Many chairs come with a range of options that include the obvious fabric and swatch selections, but they may also offer massage, vibration or heat as optional extras.

Online retailers generally offer extended warranties (but always check to make sure) and normally include free delivery and set-up. This should involve positioning the chair in its final location and providing a demonstration of its features.

A cheaper alternative to a tilt and recline or riser and lift chair is a high seat chair. This kind of chair has an elevated seat and a number of other features aimed at making getting in to and out of a chair a less demanding physical process.