When it comes to choosing a riser recliner chair, it’s important to do a spot of research beforehand. It’s not as easy as just picking any other piece of household furniture. After all, if it was simply a matter of replacing your favourite chair, you probably wouldn’t need a riser recliner at all.
Here at Disability Trading Company we have been helping customers with their mobility needs for 32 years. We’ve put together the following tips to assist customers in making this big decision
DO I NEED A RISER RECLINER CHAIR?
It’s an excellent question, and one that deserves consideration. There are a number of factors to look at. Do you spend long periods sat in the same chair? Do you require extra back support? Do you have problems standing or sitting? If the answer to any of those questions is “Yes” then a riser recliner chair could certainly help.
WHAT SIZE RISER RECLINER CHAIR DO I NEED?
Getting the right size of riser recliner chair is crucial. Our seating specialist can offer a full seating assessment, this can be done in one of our showrooms or in the comfort of your home. But there are some basic rules. You need to be able to sit with both feet flat on the floor and your bottom square against the back of the seat. Your lower legs should be straight up from the ground, and your thighs horizontal from hip to knee. A good chair should be wide enough to accommodate you, whilst also providing side support. There should also be sufficient room to fit your hand comfortably between your body and the arm rest.
- A good riser recliner chair offers support for the entire body. Positioning remains important if you’re to make the most of it. Your back rest needs a slight backwards incline and should support the entire length of your back and head. They normally provide padding at the bottom and top of the back rest for extra support. If you have an existing back problem, extra support accessories are available for most chairs.
- You should be able to rest your forearms on your arm rests without having to lift your shoulders to do so.
- You should use a cushion of medium softness. A good rule of thumb is that if you can feel the chair frame through it, the cushion is too soft. Pressure relieving cushions are also available if you are likely to spend a lot of time in the chair.
RISING AND RECLINING
These are all important pointers for buying any chair. Of course, riser recliner models offer several advantages. These include a motorised mechanism to lift the rear of the chair, assisting you when rising to a standing position. When putting your chair into a recliner position, you get the added support of a foot rest, which will take the weight of your lower legs and relieve pressure on your lower back.