Rise & Recline Chairs Explained: What to Look For

A rise and recline chair — often called a riser recliner — uses a quiet electric motor to tilt the whole seat forwards and upwards, bringing you gently to a near-standing position. Instead of pushing up through your knees, hips or wrists, the chair does the work for you.

In the other direction the chair reclines, usually far enough to rest fully with your legs raised above hip height. For people with arthritis, chronic pain or circulation problems, that combination often replaces two or three pieces of furniture.

A single-motor chair moves the backrest and footrest together on one fixed path. It's simpler and cheaper, and it suits people who mainly need help standing up.

A dual-motor chair controls the back and the legs separately, so you can raise your feet without leaning back — the position most often recommended for swelling, oedema or breathing difficulty. If a condition affects how you need to sit, dual motor is usually worth it.

The single biggest cause of disappointment with a riser recliner is a chair sized for an average person rather than the person sitting in it. Seat height, seat depth, back height and arm height all need to match your body.

A seat that is too deep pulls you into a slouch and puts pressure on the backs of your knees. A seat that is too high leaves your feet dangling. Both undo the point of the chair.

This is exactly why an in-home assessment exists: a proper partner measures you, watches how you currently stand up, and recommends from there.

Ask how the chair behaves in a power cut — most quality models have a battery backup that returns the chair to a seated position.

Ask about the warranty on the motor and the frame separately, and whether servicing is carried out in your home.

Ask about delivery and removal: a good supplier will take away your old chair and set the new one up in the room you actually use.