What is a Lift Chair? Design, Types, Benefits

A power lift recliner chair offers many great state-of-the-art features that provide a level of comfort, independence, and gentle movement for individuals with limited mobility. Power lift chairs are great for lounging and for extending the chair to reach certain items in the room, usually where a manual chair would fall short.

Lift chair manufacturers that sell lift recliner chairs provide several different mobility and reclining capabilities, depending on consumer needs. Some chairs provide automated, remote control features to adjust the lift chair’s headrest, armrest, as well as lifting the body of the lift chair at different reclining angles or a completely flat surface to work with. Some lift recliner chair models - like the ones sold by Living Spaces - even have the option of power buttons built into the armrest.

For many individuals with disabilities or those with limited mobility, lift chairs are a great transition from a manual or power wheelchair. For instance, a lift chair is another great mobility purchase if an individual is looking to transport themselves from their wheelchair to a more comfortable seated position in the living room so they may relax, enjoy, or watch TV. Certain lift chairs are also made out of different types of fabric or leather, depending on whether you’re looking for an aesthetic that matches your room. Lift chairs also provide an opportunity for individuals to restore movement by using the recliner option to move in as many different ways as possible to avoid numbness in the legs or sitting in one position for too long. It can be difficult for some individuals to get out of a chair, which is why lift chairs make it easy to do. A lift chair’s stellar mobility features and ability to control the speed at which certain positions can be made is remarkable.

While these power lift chairs are intended for anyone to use, they are great for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility. For some people, sitting down or standing up from a chair can pose a challenge. Power reclining lift chairs can help encourage and provide enough back support to help an individual move to either a seated or standing position. Electric recliners also help individuals who may suffer from a spinal disorder gain the independence they need to move themselves into and out of a lift chair if someone else is not able to move them.

Individuals with joint pain can also benefit from lift chairs because they ease the amount of pressure on the body, and slowly recline to offer support for those with arthritis or other health problems.

A lift chair, which is considered medical equipment, works through an automatic powerlifting method that is able to then help push the chair from its resting spot and help the consumer reach a standing position. A chair’s reclining capabilities provide great safety features and can be stopped at any time by releasing the button from the armrest or the remote control feature if the lift chair has one.

When purchasing a lift chair, you can choose from various upholstery options and hi-tech features depending on your budget and the type of reclining capabilities you are looking for in a sleep chair or power lift recliner.

There are some lift recliners that are made out of faux leather or a more velvet and more breathable material fabric material. In terms of the color, the sky is the limit. Depending on the lift chair you purchase, you can choose from a variety of colors such as beige, black, grey, green and other colors. Some recliner chairs can offer a more luxurious aesthetic, while others focus more on a comfortable aesthetic where the chair might blend into the other furniture in the room and not be a focal point. Some of the chairs are either made of high quality foam or faux foam. Typically, a standard lift chair should range and measure around 31 inches in width, 36 inches in depth, and 40.5 inches in height, though this may vary.

Types of Lift Chairs

In general, there are three different types of lift chairs: two-position lift chairs, with the ability to recline at a 45-degree angle; a three-position lift chair, and an infinite position lift chair.

There are also other position lift chairs such as the Zero Gravity Lift Chair, and the Trendelenburg Positioning Lift Chair.

Two-position lift chairs

Two-position lift chairs are the standard choice for comfort and reclining capabilities with a recline of up to 45 degrees. These chairs are typically used for reading, watching TV, or doing other tasks that require gentle movement. However, these lift recliners are not ideal if you are looking to fall asleep on a flat surface, as they will not be able to recline all the way. Think of it as a half-way recline standard chair - the very basic plan if you are new to lift chairs.

Three-position lift chairs

Three-position lift chairs offer better reclining capabilities if you are hoping for a chair that offers more flexibility and movement options. However, these chairs may be a bit pricey as they offer added features and some even offer heated or massage options to alleviate pressure in the joints or back. These recline 180-degrees, which makes it optimal for taking long naps or falling asleep. The footrest moves at the same rate as the rest of the body of the chair, which makes it great for a full recline.

Infinite-position lift chairs

These are generally the fanciest and expensive chairs that are luxurious and comfortable. It is ideal for individuals who use it frequently. Consumers are attracted to these chairs because there are infinite possibilities for reclining at nearly any position. A majority of these chairs will also come with additional amenities and features such as heat and massage functions and independent handling for the recliner and footrest.

Zero-Gravity Lift Chair

The Zero-gravity position is ideal for preventing stress and pressure on your spine. It allows for optimal comfort by letting you raise your feet at the same level as your other organs, thus reducing back pain and other discomfort areas.

Trendelenburg Positioning Lift Chair

This lift chair allows for the feet to be elevated above the heart, and the heart elevated above the head for ample comfort and maximum relaxation.

Chart of Lift Chair Position Modes You Can Set

We’ve compiled a helpful chart of lift chair positions that are optimal for lounging and watching TV, and doing other tasks that require lift chairs with limited or more reclining capabilities.

• LOUNGE: This position is often found through various collections of Infinite and Zero Gravity lift chairs. These lounge chairs, which often have two independent motors, are perfect for watching TV. The back and leg rest of these chairs operate together with a single motor.
• LOUNGE RECLINED: In this position, you can comfortably recline the backrest for lounging or napping positions. The leg rest will be raised to its full extent. This does not come in a 2-position lift chair model.
• TV: This is also known as the “TV watching position,” which allows an individual to recline the chair in a position that is eye-level with the TV. The TV position can also be available on various Infinite and Zero Gravity lift chairs, depending on what’s in stock. The TV watching position chairs often have two independent motors, which lets the leg rest be set to any position.
• SLEEPING: This position is ideal for helping individuals attain a comfortable deep sleep on a completely flat surface. Both the Infinite position and Zero Gravity lift chairs are luxurious and ideal for achieving this 180-degree flat position, which gives ample room for the back and legrest.
• TRENDELENBURG: The Trendelenburg lift chair position can help elevate the legs and help an individual sustain a sleeping position for ultimate comfort and several therapeutic benefits. The headrest is completely flat, and the legrest is gently raised enough to help provide some movement so that the circulation in the body can be improved.
• INFINITE ZERO GRAVITY: The Infinite Zero Gravity position helps position one’s thighs and lower legs both higher than his or her upper body to help improve alignment and posture while reducing pressure and providing more support to the body. This position helps improve the flow of body circulation while eliminating aches and pains and any pressure.
• TWILIGHT LOUNGE POSITION: This position relies heavily on a unique tilting position for extra lounging comfort and subtle reclining capabilities that provide relaxation. With a sturdy base, this position can provide a slight reclining position in which the backrest can easily recline at a very gentle tilt.
• TWILIGHT LOUNGE RECLINED: This position incorporates Twilight Technology, which uses a unique 30-degree angled tilting movement so a user can tilt to a preferred lounge recline which is best suited for lounging or napping. This position can be achieved on Twilight Zero Gravity Chairs.
• TWILIGHT TV: This position is ideal for watching TV. It adds special Twilight Technology for extra capabilities such as a tilting feature which can add a 30-degree tilt for reclining to the preferred TV position. The leg rest in this position can be set to any comfortable position or adjusted by the user as needed.
• TWILIGHT ELEVATED: This position helps you feel “weightless” and provides the greatest extension capabilities for your leg rest above 90 degrees through the use of Twilight Technology. This position can help you feel pressure relief from back areas, the hips, and the legs. It is available in the Twilight 3-Position and the Twilight Zero Gravity lift chairs.

Choosing the Right Lift Chair

A lift chair is great for elevating and enhancing posture while providing comfort and reclining positions. Before you purchase or invest in a lift chair, consult your physician first to see if a lift chair is suitable for your mobility needs to help alleviate any pressure points in your body and making the sit to stand position easier.

You should consider the following questions when purchasing the right lift chair:

• Am I looking for a lift chair for leisure and comfort, or watching TV and lounging?
• Am I looking for more of a support mobility mechanism that gently reclines and supports my posture?

A lift chair can help accommodate and make it easier to attain certain mobility movements, but it is should not be used in replace of other mobility devices such as walkers or canes. The goal of a lift chair is to support or make it easy for transporting an individual from a power wheelchair.

The Benefits of a Lift Chair

As we noted earlier, a lift chair is greatly beneficial for individuals with limited mobility or lack of muscle strength to move. A power lift chair can help seniors or individuals with disabilities or mobility issues attain independence in the comfort of their home, in the event there is no caregiver present. A lift chair is automated, so the risk of injury is greatly decreased as the user is in control of the reclining speeds.

A lift chair can help an individual get from a seated to standing position.

When choosing the right lift chair model, an individual should consider one’s mobility needs as well as budget and cross-comparing the various positions of a lift chair or any other features.

Some of the other benefits of a lift chair, depending on the model, include therapeutic benefits for individuals with arthritis or muscular limitations and back or joint pain. It can help alleviate some pain through extra features such as heat and massage options on the lift chair.

Recommendations for Determining the Right Lift Chair

It’s important to work with a physician or expert who can help you find the best lift chair that suits your mobility needs. When determining the right lift chair, you should consider the model/brand, the cost, as well as additional features such as massage/heat options, as well as the level of reclining capabilities and the texture and fabric of the chair. Are you looking for a chair for napping and lounging, or a more substantial chair that will help you get from a sit to stand position?

Some of the other recommendations or questions to consider:

• Will you use your lift chair for an extended period of time?
• What is your budget?
• Are you looking for a chair for transport?
• Do you plan to sleep in a flat position in the chair, or are you looking for a slight recline to get you to a seated position?
• Do you have a preferred power lift chair?
• Where would you place your lift chair? Do you have enough room to accommodate the type of chair?
• What is the ideal weight of the lift chair you are looking for?
• Is there a particular reclining position you are looking for?
• Are you looking for a vinyl or leather-textured lift chair?

These are some recommendations and questions to consider when helping you find a lift chair that can help provide more mobility independence and flexibility.

Where can you get a Lift Chair?

You can find a new or used lift chair from Marc’s Mobility and dozens of other websites that have the right type of reclining chair you are looking for. Some of the most popular brands on Marc’s Mobility include Golden Technologies and Pride Lift Chairs. Take a look and browse our selection for different features.

All in all, finding a lift chair doesn’t have to be difficult. We can help you find the answers you are looking for in terms of chair features, capabilities, and staying within your budget for the right power lift recliner or electric recliner that works for your needs.