Activity Chairs

Last updated 22-08-2022

Illustrative of Activity ChairsThis guide gives you a general overview of where and how you may use an activity chair in your home or at the workplace, what to consider when choosing an activity chair, and how to use it in a safe way.

An activity chair has wheels with brakes, and the chair is height adjustable. Activity chairs are designed to assist you, if you, due to physical causes, have difficulty standing for a length of time, or difficulty moving around in an activity or work area in your home or at the workplace.

With a well-adjusted activity chair you can sit, e.g. while cooking, doing the laundry, or performing another activity or work tasks, which may not be appropriately performed in an office chair or an ordinary chair.

In AssistData you may find activity chairs under activity chairs with gas spring operated height adjustment, and under activity chairs with electrical height adjustment.

Is this relevant for you?Open

Is this relevant for you?Close

If you have problems standing for a length of time, problems with your balance or have problems sitting down or getting up from an ordinary chair, an activity chair may be relevant for you.

An activity chair may be of assistance, e.g. in the kitchen. You can use it for instance when working by the kitchen sink, preparing food at the kitchen table and the stove, when you need to reach up high or reach down into a cupboard, or when emptying the dishwasher.

The activity chair may also be used to get from one room to another, because you can scoot yourself forwards with your feet. If you are able to scoot the chair into the bathroom, you can make use of it when sitting at the sink or the mirror. You can also use the chair when cleaning, because you can scoot it around the house or sit down while vacuum cleaning or watering the plants. You can also use your chair by the washing machine, as you can adjust the seat into different heights depending on the activity, whether you are putting the clothes into the washing machine, into the dryer, or folding it.

An activity chair may also be useful if you for instance need to assist a small child putting on a coat, or if you are having an activity together at floor level.

If you have a limited need for support while seated, a stool or a standing chair may be an alternative.
A stool allows you to sit during various activities. The stool can be with or without wheels, according to your needs.
A standing chair is a tall chair, which supports you in standing or semi-standing position. It is available with or without brakes, backrest, and wheels. It can relieve you and stabilize your standing position at the same time as allowing you to switch between sitting and standing activities.

A physiotherapist or an occupational therapist from your local authority can help you make a qualified assessment of your need for an activity chair, or possibly a stool or a standing chair. The specialist can also assess whether training can help to improve your level of functioning.

What should I look for?Open

What should I look for?Close

When choosing an activity chair, you may consider the properties and functions described here:

Seat

An activity chair should give you a solid support in the sitting position, and consequently you should choose a chair with a seat and a backrest that fits your size. The size of the backrest in particular depends on your need for back support.

Some chairs come with a dynamic seat. That means that the seat and backrest can be shifted, and the seat can be adjusted to an oblique position by leaning back and forth. The seat and the backrest can either be locked or remain dynamic. A dynamic seat increases the options for varying the sitting position.

Central brake and lock for rotation

Many activity chairs – contrary to office chairs – have a hand operated central brake, which can be used to brake the chair while you sit on it. This may be an advantage when you need to carry out activities in the chair. This also makes standing up from the chair safer. The brake can be placed in the right or the left side of the chair.

The seat rotation may be of great help if for example the sink and stove are relatively close to each other in a corner. This way you avoid moving the chair. However, this also makes the chair more vivid. Therefore, if you need the seat not be in rotation mode all the time, you may choose a chair with lock for rotation, or a chair with a seat that cannot rotate.

Height adjustment

If you for instance have to use the activity chair to scoot around in the kitchen, you should choose a chair, which can be lowered to a point, where you can have the feet firmly placed on the floor and move around by scooting. At the same time, you may need the chair to be at a height, where you are able to reach things in a tall cupboard.

If your chair has manual height adjustment by means of a gas spring, you must be able to ‘lift yourself’ from the chair when adjusting it to a higher position. If this is too difficult, you can choose a chair, which is electrically height adjustable.

If you often have the seat adjusted in a high position, it may be an advantage if your chair has a footrest on which you can rest your feet.

Wheels

Make sure to choose wheels suitable for how you need to use your activity chair. If you have to scoot the chair forward crossing notches in a clinker floor, on an uneven floor, or a carpet, you should choose different wheels, than if you will be wheeling it on a totally even and hard floor.

There are also wheels, which only roll if there is a load on them. They are especially suitable if you need the chair to brake automatically, when you get up.

Make a good startOpen

Make a good startClose

Adjustment

In the instructions for use, you can read about the various possible adjustments in order for you to be familiar with the properties of your chair. In general, it is advisable, if you alternate your sitting position during the day, if you sit a lot on your activity chair.

Here are some general guidelines for the adjustment of your activity chair:

  • Seat height: Adjust the seat to a height that enables both feet to be placed on the floor. You should have the feeling of your thighs being slightly supported by the seat. The knees should be placed a little lower than your hips, and it should be comfortable to sit.
  • Seat depth: Seat yourself near the back of the seat and adjust the seat depth to allow two thirds of your thighs are supported by the seat. There must be a hand’s breadth between the hollow of your knees and the front edge of the seat, in order to avoid pressure on blood vessels and nerves.
  • Adjustment of seat angle: If your seat angle can be adjusted, it may be a good idea to use this function in order to achieve an active position in your lower back.
  • Backrest: Adjust the backrest in height, distance, and angle, so that it supports your lower back. When the backrest is correctly adjusted, it should be comfortable to sit and lean back
  • Arm supports: Adjust the arm supports so that they fit in height, are comfortable, and give relief in your shoulders and arms. Make sure that they are not in the way, when you sit close to the table.
  • Brake bar: Place the brake bar for the central brake in the left or right side, depending on what suits you best.

Make space

In order to turn your activity chair into full advantage, it may be relevant to make alterations in your immediate surroundings. Consider the situations where you find it difficult to stand and walk. Use the chair where you find it relevant, and organize the surroundings, if necessary, to make the use practicable.

You may need to move some things around in order for the things you use the most to be within reach, when you sit or semi-stand. Perhaps some things have to be moved away from the cupboard under the sink to give space for your legs, while you are sitting by the sink.

If you want to move from one room to another while sitting on your chair, you may consider removing the thresholds or placing a wedge on each side of the thresholds.

Loose carpets will make it harder to scoot your activity chair, hence, it may be relevant to remove the carpets.

Cleaning and maintenanceOpen

Cleaning and maintenanceClose

Please read the user manual to find out how your activity chair should be cleaned and maintained. Possibly, there are parts that must be tightened and possibly the chair should have a periodic checkup.

It may be necessary to remove hair, threads, and dirt from the wheels to make sure they roll optimally.

It is possible to get activity chairs with a waterproof cover, i.e. an incontinence cover, which prevents fluid from penetrating. This will be an advantage if the chair is in risk of gets wet.

SafetyOpen

SafetyClose

Please make sure to have the chair adjusted to fit you. This applies both to seat height, seat depth, backrest, seat angle adjustment (if possible), arm support, and the side in which the brake bar is placed. Please make yourself acquainted with the functions of the chair to be able to use all the adjustment options in a safe way when needed. Please read the user manual and use the chair according to the instructions from the manufacturer. Make sure that the chair you have chosen fits you. Please be aware that most activity chairs are marked with a maximum user weight.

If you use the chair to scoot around, you should be aware that the seat must so low that you are able to have your feet well supported on the floor.

A man stands up from an activity chair by the aid of height and angle adjustment.

The chair may be used if you have difficulties standing up and/or sitting down. Make sure to apply the brakes and use the option for adjusting the seat height – either manually or electrically – to adjust to the height from which it is easier for you to stand up. You may prefer also to have the seat rotation locked. You can use the arm supports to support you getting up. Roll the chair over to the task which you are about to engage in, and make sure that you apply the brakes again so that the chair is completely still when you sit down.

Når du stiller sædet højt for fx at nå noget i et højt skab, skal du bagefter være opmærksom på at komme ned i almindelig højde, så du igen har fødderne godt og stabilt i gulvet.

If there is a risk that the cover can be exposed to open fire or cigarettes, please choose a fire resistant cover.

Technical safety

All motor-adjustable activity chairs, and which are not intended for persons with disability, must be CE-marked according to the Machine Directive.

Activity chairs intended for persons with disability must be CE-marked as medical equipment. This both applies for chairs that are adjusted manually and by means of a motor.

The CE-marking looks identical in the different directive areas, and therefore it must be evident from the user manual that the chair is CE-marked as medical equipment.

Activity chairs CE-marked as medical equipment must meet a number of requirements regarding, e.g. safety, stability, durability, and functionality, ensuring that the chair can be used by persons with disability. These requirements appear, among other places, in the standard:

If you need the seat cover to be fire retardent, please choose a chair, which meets the requirement of the following or similar standards:


» Expand all/