A recliner chair for tall people is not chosen simply by looking for a higher backrest or an XXL size. Five measurements need to be compared: the height of the head support, the depth and height of the seat, the extension of the footrest and the usable length when lying back. The proportions of the trunk and legs vary from person to person. The trial is therefore used to check the supports during everyday activities, without assuming that the biggest chair is also the most suitable.
In brief
For a tall person, overall body height alone is not enough to choose the chair: what matters is the relationship between the trunk and the backrest, the depth of the seat and the support for the legs and feet. The five measurements help you check these supports without confusing footrest length with weight capacity. Seat widths of 52 or 63 cm, three depths, the Push Head and the footrest extension should be considered against the person’s actual proportions.
Why being tall does not mean needing all the largest measurements
One tall adult may find the headrest too low but have enough room between the armrests. Another may be looking for more support under the thighs, while the head support is already adequate. For an older person who uses the chair for many hours, telling these problems apart avoids buying a bulky seat that does not solve the main difficulty.
Start from what happens today. Does the person slide their pelvis down to reach the backrest? Are the knees raised very high in the usual seated position? Does the leg rest end at an uncomfortable point? These observations do not establish a diagnosis, but they show where to focus the comparison.
The relationship between the pelvis, the spine, balance and the direction of gaze is also highlighted in resources from Swiss Paraplegic Research on the sitting position in a wheelchair. The principle is useful for reading the supports as a whole; it does not allow measurements or prescriptions specific to a wheelchair to be transferred automatically to a recliner. [1]
The five measurements to check, one by one
The chair’s dimensions must be compared with the person’s proportions, in the position they normally adopt. There is no need to move them onto a rigid chair or remove prescribed supports to obtain a number. When taking the measurement is not straightforward, agree on how to proceed before attempting it.
1. Usable backrest height and head support area
The external measurement of the backrest is not enough. What matters is where the part that actually supports the back of the neck and the head is located when the pelvis is in the intended position. A high edge that is far from the head may not provide the support you are looking for.
Observe the usual seated position and, in the agreed trial, the recline angle chosen for resting as well. Do not ask the person to slide down to reach the headrest. The Push Head powered headrest allows the support of the upper section to be adjusted, but it should not be considered an unlimited extension of the backrest. [2]
2. Usable seat depth
Depth needs to be assessed in relation to the length of the thighs and contact with the backrest. A tall person does not automatically need the maximum depth: a long trunk can go with relatively short thighs.
Describe where the edge ends in relation to the back of the knee and whether the person has to move forward to find a comfortable position. Do not convert the body measurement into an ordering size by subtracting a standard amount. Padding, supports and actual posture change the relationship.
3. Seat height in the position of use
Measure the height of the surface the person sits on, making clear whether the figure refers to an empty or occupied seat and whether a cushion is present. These conditions matter in the comparison: they are not details to be left out.
The check concerns foot support, leg position and the way the person gets in and out. If the person stands up, that movement is what counts; if they use an assisted transfer, the height relative to the other surface is what counts. A higher seat is not automatically better in either case.
4. Usable footrest extension
Ask for the length and the support area available with the footrest extension provided. Observe where the legs rest and where the surface ends in the positions actually used. A photograph of the open chair alone does not describe the comfort of a person with long legs.
Do not call this measurement the “footrest capacity”: capacity refers to the permitted load. Do not deduce a separate limit for the leg rest from the chair’s total weight capacity. If load data for a component are needed, they should be requested from the manufacturer.
5. Usable length of the extended surface
Distinguish the external length of the open chair from the surface that actually provides support. The first figure also helps you plan the room; the second helps assess how well the person can rest.
Do not apply the automatic rule “the chair must exceed the person’s height by a certain number of centimetres”. You need to observe how the supports are distributed in the chosen position. Any healthcare instruction to keep the heels free, for example, cannot be replaced by a generic rule that always requires them to be in contact with the surface.
The five-measurement sheet
This sheet gathers information; it does not certify suitability. Fill it in with the Sollevita Team when some data are not available. Keep the centimetres actually measured, the observations and the points still to be checked separate.
| Measurement | Chair data to ask for | What to observe in the person |
|---|---|---|
| Backrest and head | Usable height and adjustable headrest area | Where does the back of the neck find support when seated and in the relax position? |
| Depth | Usable space between the backrest and the front edge | Do the back and thighs find support without forced adjustments? |
| Seat height | Height, position and conditions of the measurement | How do the feet rest and how does the person get out of the chair? |
| Footrest | Extension and usable surface with the footrest extension | Where are the legs supported in the preferred positions? |
| Extended surface | Usable length, distinct from the overall external size | Is resting comfortable along all the necessary supports? |
Width, weight and armrests are additional checks: they are not hidden within the five measurements. It is useful to note them in the same file, because a chair that is well proportioned in length may still have side supports that are too far away or an inadequate weight capacity.
Armrests and width: tall does not mean wide
The shoulders should not be used as a yardstick for seat width. Instead, observe where the forearms rest and where the person reaches for the armrests during their usual activities. Too great a distance can be impractical even on a chair that looks spacious.
Sollevita seat widths are 52 or 63 cm and three depths are available. Being tall does not automatically call for either the 63 cm width or the greatest depth. The details of the Sollevita measurements and construction should be read together, without choosing a single dimension in isolation. [2]
If the person uses side access, it is also necessary to distinguish the removable upper armrest section from the fully removable side panel. Clearing the side can help with transfers, but it does not correct an unsuitable seat depth or height.
The rise function and vertical height adjustment do not address the same difficulty
The rise function assists the movement towards standing and, in reverse, back to sitting. Vertical height adjustment, on the other hand, changes the height of the whole chair with the person seated or lying down. Sollevita integrates both functions and has a system of 5 to 8 independent motors, depending on the weight capacity. [2]
For a tall person who struggles to stand up, it is therefore not enough to ask for a chair “that goes up”. You need to clarify which movement is useful and from which position it starts. The number of motors does not replace the assessment of the movement, the supports and any care and support that may be needed.
The adjustments allow the positioning to be adapted; they do not continuously transform all the chair’s dimensions. Width and depth cannot be changed with the handset. Even when two people want to share Sollevita, the proportions of both must be considered before ordering.
A useful trial covers reading, resting and returning to the usual position
The trial should not turn into a demonstration of every extreme position. First identify two important activities: for example, reading and taking a break lying back. Start from the agreed set-up and ask the person where they feel the support is insufficient, rather than judging only from how things look from the outside.
Bring the real objects: the book, the glasses or the device used most often. A screen placed too far to the side or a book held too low can create a problem that has nothing to do with the height of the backrest. The head adjustment should be observed together with the activity.
Also check the return to the usual position. Is the remote control still within reach? Can the footrest be closed without obstruction? Does the person providing care understand the sequence explained for that configuration? There is no need to prolong the trial when the person is tired: note what remains to be checked and agree on a suitable time.
Footrest extension: a support to be matched to the legs
The Sollevita footrest extension lengthens the support surface for the legs. Together with the high backrest, the Push Head and the three-layer seat construction, it offers more elements to work with when looking for a comfortable position. The presence of these components does not, on its own, prove suitability for users of any height. [2]
For a very tall person, the Sollevita Team compares the body’s proportions with the usable measurements of the configuration. If there are asymmetries, prescribed supports or difficulties in controlling the trunk and head, the trial is accompanied by an assessment from the professional responsible for the person’s seating. [3]
For those who remain independent, the adjustments dedicated to comfort and rest can be valuable for the activities they do now, without tying the purchase to the fear of future deterioration. For those who need care and support, they must fit into the routine already in place.
Mistakes that make a chair that is too small or too large seem suitable
Do not choose an XXL size just because the person is tall. Do not measure the backrest from the floor when you are looking for the distance from the seat to the head. Do not confuse the usable surface with the overall external size, and do not use the total weight capacity to deduce the strength of each component.
Another mistake is moving the body to fit the product photograph: sliding the pelvis down, removing a support or forcibly stretching out the legs does not prove that the chair is suitable. Preparation must start from the position the person tolerates and the activity they want to do.
Finally, do not expect a remote consultation to remove every doubt from a single image. Measurements, a description of the person’s day and any trial play different roles. When a piece of information is missing, the most practical choice is to gather it, not to turn an estimate into a certainty.
FAQ
Common questions
How do you choose a recliner chair for tall people?
Compare head support, seat depth and height, footrest extension and the extended surface. Add width, weight and how the chair will be used. The person’s overall height is a starting reference, but it does not replace checking the supports.
Does a tall person always need the greatest depth?
No. It depends on the length of the thighs and the position of the back. A person with a long trunk does not necessarily need a very deep seat. The three Sollevita depths should be assessed against the person’s proportions, not assigned by size.
Does the Push Head make the backrest longer?
No. It adjusts the support for the head and neck in the upper part of the backrest. It can improve comfort at different recline angles, but it does not replace an adequate usable height and must not be used to compensate for a pelvis that slides forward.
Should the heels always touch the footrest?
There is no rule that applies to every person. What matters is the comfort of the legs, and any instructions to avoid pressure on the heels must be followed. A prescribed support must not be changed just to make the whole body match the surface of the chair.
Can two people of different heights share Sollevita?
It can be assessed, but it is not automatic. The backrest and supports can be adjusted, whereas width and depth do not change at the press of a button. The measurements of both people must be discussed, making clear who will use the chair for longer.
What is the maximum user height compatible with Sollevita?
The check is based on the person’s proportions and the configuration available, not on the person’s height alone. The Sollevita Team compares the usable backrest height, depth, footrest and length when lying back. The weight capacity is checked separately.
Sources and references
[1] Swiss Paraplegic Research — The sitting position in a wheelchair (in French): the relationship between the pelvis, the spine, gaze and balance, in the context of the wheelchair.
[2] Sollevita — Care riser recliner: three depths, seat widths of 52 or 63 cm, Push Head and footrest extension.
[3] Swiss Paraplegic Centre — Wheelchair Seating Centre (in French).
The next step: comparing the measurements with your day
Prepare the measurements you have and describe where the current chair does not provide the support you would like. To understand which aspects to check during the trial, also use the criteria of Sollevita’s construction and functional differences and discuss them with the Sollevita Team. The result to aim for is a well-proportioned seat, not simply a bigger one.
