Riser Recliners – Choose The Best One For You

Riser Recliners might be the perfect option for you if you find yourself sitting in the same chair for long periods of time, needing extra support, or beginning to experience difficulty in sitting down or getting up. This kind of chair can give people much needed independence and comfort in their everyday lives.

What Is A Riser Recliner And What Can It Offer Me?

Rise Recline Chairs are specially manufactured to help people to sit and stand with ease, as well as offering comfort to those with medical issues and those who sit down for a great portion of the day. All Rise Recliner Chairs have a reclining and rising action that can be controlled at the press of a button.  These buttons are usually situated on the right hand side of the chair. However, if you have issues using your right hand you should ask your supplier if it is possible to have this button fitted to the other side.

The rising action of the chair allows you to raise the whole chair slowly, allowing you to stand up with ease in a gentle and safe manner. In reverse, this action also helps you to sit by simply placing yourself onto the raised chair and pressing the button to lower the chair. This then starts the movement to ease you into a comfortable sitting position.

The reclining action of the chair is ideal for those who sit down for long periods as it allows you to change your position with ease, and therefore relieve any soreness. For those who are choosing one of these chairs for problems of pressure and soreness there are  certain rise recliners that tip back completely, meaning that all of your weight will be supported completely and evenly.

People who are affected with leg problems also find the rise and recliner chair a perfect solution as it means they can raise their legs whilst sitting. However, we would recommend that you make sure the chair you choose supports the whole length of your leg when in this position.

Choosing The Best Rise And Recline Chair For You

With a choice of motors, fabrics, sizes and styles it is no wonder that people get confused when it comes to choosing the best chair for their needs. So, with our experience and expertise in this area we have broken the choices down into a few easy steps to help you on your way to selecting your perfect chair.

Step One: Make Sure The Chair Fits & Supports

Rise Recliners often come in a variety of sizes so when it comes to  chairs, one size does not fit all. Therefore, it is very important that you try before you buy, and take your time when doing this. Don’t rush this step as you need to make sure you are comfortable and leave yourself time to try out any of the features that the chair might offer. If you are of an average size and shape then it may well be that you can walk into a shop and find the perfect one for you.  However, if this is not the case for you, there is the option of ordering a made to measure chair. Although these can be a little more expensive and will mean waiting for it to be made and delivered, it is well worth doing this to ensure you have a chair that fits perfectly.

When you sit in the chair you like the look of make sure that you place your bottom right at the back of the seat. In this position you should find your thighs are level and straight, your feet flat on the floor and your lower legs straight down to the ground. Now you should be able to get two fingers between the front of the chair and your knees.

Whilst sitting in the chair give some thought to the width of it also. It should be wide enough to fit you without any squashing whilst still giving you support at your sides. If the chair you have chosen has arm rests, try and put your hands on each side to make sure there is plenty room and you are still comfortable. Your arms should be supported below the elbow without making you lift your shoulders.

If the chair feels right so far you should now give some thought to the support of your back. There should be padding on the chair for your lower back and head and you should feel supported by this. If you have particular issues with your back there are specialist back supports you can get to help with this.

In terms of the firmness of cushions, these should feel soft and comfy, but not so soft that you can feel the frame of the chair through them. If you expect to be sitting in the chair for long periods of time then we would certainly recommend acquiring some pressure relieving cushions to prevent any soreness.

Step Two: Think About How The Chair Will Fit In Your Home

There are a number of important things to consider here. Firstly, do you have any small animals or children at your home? If so, then it may be worth you considering getting a chair that is fitted with a safety device to prevent the chair moving when anything is in the way. This ensures that no trapping accidents occur.

The other consideration for having a riser recliner in your home is the space required. A lot of these chairs require a certain amount of space to be left behind them so that they do not hit the wall during the reclining motion. It is possible to purchase ‘wall hugging’ rise recliner chairs so that they can be positioned much closer to the walls in your home. However, you should bear in mind that ‘wall hugging’ chairs will require more space to be left in front of them.

Whilst most people purchase a rise recline chairs for comfort and ease rather than design. It is of course, important to a lot of people that their new chair fits in with the decor of their home. For this reason, many manufacturers will offer a range of fabrics from which to choose making it easy for you to find something that will fit your style and taste.

Step Three: What Additional Features Do You Require?

Many Rise Recliners come with one or two motors. Essentially, the more motors a chair has the more flexible the chair will be. For instance, a chair with one motor will lift the leg rest and recline the back of the chair together and in unison.  Single motor recliners will not fully recline. A chair with two motors  will move the leg rest and back rest independently of each other, giving much more movement possibilities.

Some chairs will also offer a rechargeable battery pack meaning that power cuts won’t leave you stuck in your chair and unable to move.

On some chairs you may be offered the option of built in heat pads and/or massagers. Whilst these can certainly offer more comfort we are not aware of these being able to offer any therapeutic value to the user.

If you think you may have difficulty in gripping the arms of your chosen chairs then there is the option of a chair with wooden arm ends/knuckles. These are much easier to get hold of than a wide upholstered arm rest and also can reduce wearing of the chair.

Step Four: What Style Of Back Rest Suits Me Best?

Many rise and recline chairs come with different styles of back rest.

The button back chair usually offers a  firm kind of support

The waterfall (or pillow back) style has 3 separate pillows at the back of the chair, with each pillow having it’s own zip meaning you can adjust the filling in each to give you maximum flexibility and achieve perfect comfort. This style of back is generally considered to be a softer kind of support.

If you require any further advice please do not hesitate to contact us. And don’t forget that the Bed and Chair Centre, Northumberland offer FREE home visits. This allows you to choose a chair in the comfort of your own home as well as being able to see first hand how well it fits into the space of your home. We hope you have found our guide helpful in selecting the perfect Riser Recliner.