Orthopedic chairs - Tilt and Rise Chairs

These special rise and tilt chairs can also be called riser, lift, rise and recline, or easy access chairs. They are designed specifically to make sitting and standing up easier for the elderly or anyone with reduced mobility, joint or muscular problems.

Normally we sit into or stand up from a chair by using our arms, legs, stomach and back to lift us up to a standing posture (or down to a seated position). This action sees the alignment of our body and legs transform from being bent and relaxed to being straight and erect. The physical effort involved in making this transition becomes more demanding as we get older and less flexible and it can also be difficult for those with any disability that limits their mobility.

What a rise and tilt chair does

A riser chair works by helping the body to perform the sitting down and standing up movements. It does this using remote controlled electric motors that adjust the seat and backrest of the chair to help lower or raise the seated person.

Here is an explanation of how a tilt and rise chair works when a seated person wants to stand up. The reverse of the actions described below will bring a standing person back down to a seated posture.

By operating the remote control the chair's seat slowly rises. As it does so it brings the angle of the knee joints to a gradient greater than 90 degrees. Whilst this is happening the seat and backrest of the chair slowly tilt forward and the seat continues to rise upwards. When the actions have finished the chair has a seat that is elevated and both the backrest and the seat are tilted forwards – encouraging the seated person to move forward and stand up. The process takes only seconds to complete, but all of the motions take place in a slow and controlled way and can be terminated or reversed at any point.

The effect of the chair's action on the body

This chair's motorised action has the effect of slowly straightening the knee and hip joints of the seated person whilst simultaneously lifting them both upwards and forwards. Once the chair is in its most elevated position the seated person can use their own body weight and the momentum that it produces to lean forward and stand up.

In short, the riser chair does most of the initial and most physically taxing and energetic straightening and weight bearing movements. This means that it significantly reduces the strength and effort required to sit down or to stand up.

Comfort and appearance

Rise and lift chairs have an extensive degree of comfort adjustment. This enables the seated individual to adjust the seat height and angle of the backrest for maximum comfort. Many riser chairs have massage features and memory settings that enable a favourite position to be recalled at the press of a button.

Rise and tilt chairs do differ (very) slightly in appearance from regular sitting room chairs, but they come in a range of styles, colours and fabrics that make them hard to distinguish from regular chairs.