When you develop mobility issues, activities that you used to do without a second thought become more of a struggle. While you used to get up and walk from room to room to collect a book or make a mug of coffee, you can now often find yourself struggling to push yourself out of a chair. If you find changing from a seated to an upright position difficult, then one of the best solutions is to start using a lift chair instead of a regular chair.

What are lift chairs?

Electric lift chairs are designed to make your life easier. They are intended to provide you with a comfortable reclining seat and to prevent you from injuring yourself by assisting you to gain an upright position when you need to get up. Trying to stand up by lifting yourself can sometimes place strain on your hips, arms and shoulders. Allowing a lift chair to take the strain instead of your body saves your energy and eliminates the risk of injury to you or anyone trying to assist you. In addition to their primary function, lift chairs also offer a number of other medical benefits for sufferers of pressure sores, back pain, arthritis or poor circulation.

How to choose a lift chair

There are a lot of lift chairs available in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes. If you are going to buy a lift chair, it is essential that you take the time to pick the chair that is most suitable for your needs. The first point that you will want to check is that you are able to operate the chair safely.  Think about if you understand how to work the chair and if you can reach and use the controls without assistance. After that, you will want to ensure that you pick a lift chair that is designed to safely accommodate your size and weight.

If you are unsure if a particular lift chair is the right choice for you, it can help to speak to your occupational therapist. Your therapist will be familiar with your condition and will be able to advise you on if a lift chair is the best option for you and which type of lift chair would be best. Your occupational therapist may also be able to assist you by giving you specific exercises to do to strengthen the muscles you will need to safely operate the lift chair.

To learn more, contact a lift chair supplier.