How does a recliner with lift work?

Most People don’t know how a lift chair works or even what they look like. The funny thing is you might have sat in one and not even realized it. Lift Chairs are just like recliners except they have a few more features and benefits inside of them.

A lift chair is a power recliner that has a lift assist technology in the scissor mechanism that allows the chair to raise up where an individual that needs help getting out of a chair can stand up easier. The chair will also allow you to recline back. 

There are many different style lift chairs on the market. The biggest thing to look at is what is the key feature you need other than the lift feature on the chair.

2 Position Lift Chairs

These are you most basic lift chairs out on the market. They take you from a seated position to a lift position. It’s very simple to use. While seated you can have your feet raised. We find that most people want to be able to at least semi recline so these are not as popular as the other chairs we are going to discuss.

3 Position Lift Chairs

This type of chair allows you to not only lift but you can also recline. The lift chair has one motor that controls the scissor mechanism so when the chair reclines the back the feet move up and when the feet go down the back comes up. 

Infinite Position Lift Chairs

This is really where the lift chairs start to separate when it comes to what a lift chair can do. Infinite lift chairs have two motors that control the scissor mechanisms. One motor controls the bottom portion of the chair, this motor lifts the chair up and down and also controls the footrest. The other motor controls the back on the chair and this allows the back to recline farther back. By having a two motor chairs you can keep your feet and your back in the position you like.

Zero Gravity Position Lift Chairs

This position was created to eliminate pressure on the body. A body in the zero gravity position will decompress after a long day by gliding into pressure free comfort and experience a natural relaxation with minimum muscle tension.

Twilight Position Lift Chairs

The 30-degree angle takes the usual TV watching and zero gravity positions to a whole new level. Only Twilight offers a TRUE zero gravity sensation. This innovative, new tilt technology, combined with our patented positioning technology, cradles your body allowing it to rest, relax, and rejuvenate

Heavy Duty Lift Chairs

Pride & Golden Technologies make Heavy Duty Lift Chairs. They both have chairs that have a 500 lb option and Golden Technologies has one that has a 700 lb option as well. They have seat widths from 26 to 30 inches wide.

Petite Lift Chairs

If you are under 5’2 you would need a specially sized lift chair to fit your needs due to your height. We highly recommend making sure your feet touch the ground so you want have a tendency to slouch in the chair.

Added Features on Lift Chairs

Heat and Massage

This is a feature that you can add to almost any lift chair. The Heat and massage is not a head to toe feature. It typically is put in the seat and lower back area. This can vary by Manufacturer. Most lift chairs have a separate remote for this feature and it allows you to control the level of the heat and the intensity of the massage.

Power Headrest or Pillow

This has become a really popular feature in the last few years. By having a Power Headrest this gives the end user the ability to have contact for the head, neck and shoulders.

Power Lumbar

The power lumbar is a great feature that allows you to personalize your lumbar comfort with the touch of a button. This is a great feature for individuals with lower back pain.

Built in Charger

You can now charge your cell phone or tablet right from the remote control on your chair. This is becoming more popular and you can find this on many styles of lift chairs.

Who can benefit from a lift chair?

Lift chair can be very beneficial for those that have difficulty getting to a standing position from a regular chair but they also have a lot more benefits than that. With the twilight feature alone you can help with the treatment of:

• Lymphedema
• Post-surgical or Chronic Edema 
• Diabetes/Wound Care

It may also contribute to faster recovery times for the following procedures. Some companies even rent these lift chairs for short periods.

• Cesarean Sections
• Hysterectomy 
• Mastectomies, 
• Breast Plastic & Reconstructive surgery, 
• Shoulder, Heart, Abdominal, hip, knee & foot surgery
• Spinal or Cervical Fusion Surgery
• Amputation
• Acid Reflux
• Sleep Apena
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Failure
• Congestive Heart Failure

Many people can not find a position in a bed that give them the ability to sleep comfortably. These people will choose a lift chair because a large amount of these chairs lay flat so you can easily sleep in them.

Where can I purchase a lift chair.

When it comes to purchasing a lift chair I recommend sitting in the chair if at all possible. Here at All Star Medical we have 2 locations in the surrounding Nashville TN area with over 50 chairs to choose from. If you can’t get to a location then reach out to use at www.allstarmedicalllc.com. We can answer help you answer questions like:

What type of fabric should I get? 

I sleep in my chair, should I get a one motor or two motor chair?

I’m 5’2, what size chair do you recommend?

I’m over 400 lbs, do you have any chairs that will work for me?

We hope this information helps you, give us a call at 615-730-9438 for any lift chair questions you may have.