Health Chairs – main page

Orthopedic, ergonomic, lift and tilt, evac, massage etc

The kind of chair that someone sits on can have a significant impact on their short term and long term health. Chairs that offer poor support or produce a bad posture can cause harm to the body, whilst chairs that are supportive and well designed protect and look after the back. Special chairs are also available for those who find bending or sitting down problematic.

You can find out about the different types of healthy, orthopedic and purpose-specific chairs that are available by using the links below.

1. Health chairs general - this page
   
2. Rise and recline (riser recliner) chairs
   
3. Therapy chair
   
4. Task or ergonomic chair
   
5. Massage chair
   
6. Evac chair
   
7. Bathroom seating options
   
8. Dependency and high dependency chair
   
9. High seated and high backed chair
   
10. Child and baby seating

For a quick summary covering some of the more popular types of health, task and ergonomic chair, read on.

Different kinds of health chairs

Most people will spend some time during the day seated on both an easy (living room) chair and an office or task chair, however there are many different types of chair with specific support and comfort aims. Here is a brief summary of some of the most common health related chairs.

Lift and tilt chair

A lift and tilt chair is a chair designed to help someone sit down and stand up by using an electrically powered lifting and tilting motion. This type of chair is ideal for the elderly, or anyone who has difficulty bending their knees when standing up or lowering themselves. These chairs take the look and style of a living room chair and they may sometimes be described as rise and recline chairs.

Orthopedic chair

An orthopedic chair is a blanket term used to describe any chair that has been designed with the back, good support and a healthy posture as primary aims. Most orthopedic chairs tend to be high backed chairs with a higher than average seat level and arm supports. These chairs have a healthy upright incline and their extra height makes them easier to get out of than a standard easy chair.

Ergonomic chair

An ergonomic or task chair is a chair that has been designed for a specific purpose, typically to use in conjunction with office equipment like a computer on a desk. Chairs of this type have features, usually adjustable, that allow anyone using them to personalise their sitting position for the task in hand. This usually results in a number of the chair's settings being flexible so that the height and projection or angle of the seat and backrest can be altered. These variables allow the optimum seated position to be achieved for most office based tasks.

Massage and heat chair

Some chairs are intended to act as a therapy or relaxation chair. When this is the case they will include special features that extend beyond posture adjustment to massage motions and the application of gentle heat. Massage chairs can be fairly basic or they can have multiple motors, programmable settings and big price tags.

Evac chair

An evac or evacuation chair is a chair intended for emergency use to enable an injured person or a disabled or immobile person to be carried out of a building. Chairs of this kind are for emergency use only and they are lightweight, easy to carry and have straps or seat belts to secure the patient in the chair.

High seat and back chair

Chairs with high seats and backs are easy to sit into and stand up from and they offer good support and promote a healthy posture. For this reason this type of chair is popular with older people who prioritise a chair's function over its appearance.

Please see our section on wheelchairs and mobility scooters if you are interested in chairs that offer mobility.

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