A chair with a 63 cm wide seat can be useful when the space between the armrests limits comfort or movement. It is not, however, the automatic choice for anyone with a higher body weight: width, depth, supports and weight capacity answer different questions. Before choosing between a 52 or 63 cm seat, you need to observe how the person sits, where they rest their arms and which activities they want to carry out. The right size offers space without moving the supports out of reach.
In brief
A 63 cm wide seat offers internal space; it does not indicate the external footprint, nor does it determine the weight capacity on its own. The choice takes into account body build, depth and the ability to reach the armrests and the handset. Sollevita offers seat widths of 52 or 63 cm and three depths to be matched to the person; the load limit of the configuration is checked separately, including the functions intended to be used.
When side space becomes a real problem
An older person may spend a good part of the afternoon in the chair and notice that their hips keep touching the armrests. Another may have enough room when sitting still, but be unable to adjust their clothing or shift position slightly. These observations are more useful than the generic phrase “we need a big chair”.
Ask what feels uncomfortable: contact at the sides, the distance to the supports, the front edge or the position of the back. Describing the exact point avoids attributing every difficulty to width. A depth problem, for example, is not necessarily solved by increasing the space between the armrests.
There is no need to ask the person to squeeze into a narrow seat to prove it. You can start from the chair or wheelchair they already use, noting its usable width, the clothes they usually wear and the sensations they report. The check should help you understand the need, not become an endurance test.
Seat width and external footprint are two different measurements
Usable width describes the space available in the area where the person sits. External width also includes the sides, armrests and upholstery. To know whether the body fits, you need the first; to check doors and corridors, you need the second.
When comparing specification sheets, ask where the measurement was taken. A padded edge, a shaped armrest or an additional cushion can change the space that is actually usable. Do not compare an internal dimension with the overall width of another product: it would look like a difference in comfort, but it would only be a difference in how it was measured.
For Sollevita, the seat widths are 52 or 63 cm. This does not mean you can work out the external width by adding a fixed amount. Before ordering, the Sollevita Team can clarify the dimensions of the configuration being considered and those of the modules used for delivery. [1]
How to describe body build without letting the scales decide
Height and weight are necessary information, but on their own they do not describe proportions. Two people of the same weight may occupy the seat differently and reach the armrests with differing ease. A short person may also need side space, while a tall person does not automatically require a wider seat.
Record the width of the body in the usual seated position, without compressing soft tissue with the tape measure and without changing supports that have already been prescribed. Note which clothes are normally worn. If a measurement is not easy to take, mark that field as still to be clarified: the Sollevita Team will indicate which information or images are useful.
Do not automatically add a fixed number of centimetres to turn the body measurement into the width to order. The space needed must also be assessed in relation to trunk control, usual movements and any supports. A photograph, shared with the person’s consent, can help to describe these aspects but does not replace a seating assessment.
The Swiss Paraplegic Centre addresses complex seating problems through an interdisciplinary assessment. When pain, asymmetries or specific supports are present, choosing the supports therefore requires input from those involved in the person’s care, not just the chair’s measurements. [2]
52 or 63 cm seat: look at arms and controls too
A wide seat is useful when it gives more room while keeping the supports within reach. If the person has to lean their upper body a long way to reach an armrest, the initial benefit may come with a new difficulty. This matters particularly for people with little strength in their arms or who often use the handset.
During the trial, observe where the forearms rest, how the remote control is picked up and where it is put away. Do not ask the person to push on the armrests or to stand up if that movement is not within their abilities and the guidance they have been given. It is enough to describe the activity actually planned and whether someone providing care is present.
The difference between the two widths does not indicate a higher-quality version and a lower-quality one. Sollevita remains a single, complete product; measurements and weight capacity are defined around the person. The details of the configurations for a larger body build and high weight capacity help to distinguish this choice from a simple increase in size.
Three depths to avoid a seat that is wide but out of proportion
Depth is the usable distance between the back support and the front edge. A chair may offer plenty of side space and still force the person to slide forward to rest their feet. Conversely, a shallow seat may not provide the desired support under the thighs.
Sollevita offers three available depths, to be considered together with the 52 or 63 cm width. They are not three sizes to be assigned on the basis of height alone. The choice takes into account proportions and the relationship between pelvis, backrest, back of the knee and feet. [1]
The seat height and any specific cushion in use are further details to pass on. Do not remove a prescribed support to make the trial look right, and do not compensate for an unsuitable size with random cushions. The high backrest and the Push Head powered headrest help to adjust the supports, but they do not replace the correct sizing of the base.
A practical worksheet for comparing the two widths
Fill in the worksheet starting from current use. It is not a clinical test and does not assign a score: it helps to distinguish what you already know from what still needs to be clarified. There is no need to try both widths if that would require unnecessary or tiring transfers.
| Aspect | What to note | Question to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Usual seat | Usable width and the point measured | Is space lacking at the hips, at the thighs or during an activity? |
| Body build | Seated measurement, clothing and supports in use | Which width leaves room without moving the supports out of reach? |
| Armrests | Where the forearms reach | Can they be reached without unplanned leaning? |
| Depth | Contact of the back and relationship with the knee | Which of the three depths should be assessed? |
| Remote control | Hand used and where it is put away | Does it stay within reach in the usual positions? |
| Weight capacity | Weight and declared configuration | Is the limit appropriate for the intended use? |
| Environment | Narrowest passage and the side from which care is given | What is the external footprint of the assembled chair? |
Add a short, concrete observation, for example “when reading, the elbow stays away from the armrest” or “space is needed to adjust clothing”. These are sample descriptions, not anecdotes attributed to customers. A precise sentence guides the consultation better than an abstract preference for the largest size.
Weight capacity and width: why one cannot stand in for the other
Weight capacity indicates the maximum load intended for the configuration; width indicates the space available. A wide seat does not on its own prove a high load capacity, just as a high-capacity structure does not prove that the supports are suitable for the person.
Sollevita reaches a weight capacity of 340 kg in the dedicated configuration, and the certified weight capacity also covers the rise function. The motor system uses from 5 to 8 independent motors, according to the weight capacity. The consultation relates these data to measurements and use, in order to prepare the configuration suited to the person. [1]
The 63 cm width therefore does not automatically equal the 340 kg configuration. The specifications of the chair being ordered must be stated explicitly. To compare two proposals correctly, the differences between a standard riser recliner and Sollevita should be read by considering seat, structure and functions together, without using a single number as proof of quality.
Prolonged comfort: space does not replace construction
When a person spends long periods in the chair, what lies beneath the upholstery also matters. The Sollevita seat combines a sprung seat base, a cushion with individually pocketed springs and a comfort top layer. The high backrest, Push Head and footrest extension complete the supports in the different positions. [1]
These features should be tested within the daily routine, not judged only on first contact. Can the person chat and then rest without constantly looking for another support? Does the remote control remain within reach? Can the person providing care approach from the intended side? The observation can be stopped as soon as discomfort appears: there is no minimum time that has to be reached.
The three-layer seat construction is designed to encourage balanced weight distribution and to support the pelvis. If the person uses a specific cushion or has instructions about changes of position, these must also be taken into account when choosing the width, without suspending them because the new seat feels comfortable.
Mistakes to avoid before choosing a wider seat
The most common mistake is asking for “the biggest one” to be on the safe side. It is more useful to ask for a proportionate seat. Buying on the basis of weight alone, confusing internal and external width or forgetting about the armrests can also lead to an unsuitable size.
Another shortcut is to treat the electric adjustments as a universal remedy. Vertical height adjustment changes the height of the whole chair; it does not change the distance between the armrests. The Push Head adjusts the head support; it does not shorten the seat depth. Each function must address the right problem.
A greater width makes sense when it improves a concrete activity and remains compatible with everything else. If sliding, pain or difficulty maintaining the position persist, do not keep adding space or padding: describe the problem and ask for an appropriate assessment.
FAQ
Common questions
When is a chair with a 63 cm wide seat the right choice?
When the space in the person’s usual seat limits comfort or movement, and a 63 cm seat still keeps the supports within reach. The choice also requires considering depth, height and weight capacity and checking the daily routine; it does not depend only on the feeling of having a bigger chair.
Should a person with obesity always choose 63 cm?
No. The width should be chosen based on the person’s actual proportions and supports. Weight, seated body dimensions and the ability to use the armrests and the remote control must be considered separately, without automatically assigning a size to the person.
Might a petite person need a wide seat?
Yes. Height and body width are different dimensions. A wide seat combined with a proportionate depth can be useful, as long as the back, feet and arms find the supports they need. The case should be described without starting from size labels.
Does 63 cm also indicate the width needed to get through the door?
No. It is the seat width. For the door you need the external dimensions of the assembled configuration and, separately, those of the delivery modules. The fact that the chair fits through when disassembled does not prove that it can be moved around the home once assembled.
If I choose the wide seat, do I give up any of Sollevita’s functions?
No. Sollevita is conceived as a single, complete product. Sizing the chair should not be confused with giving up the relax function, adjustments, vertical height adjustment or other intended functions. The practical use of each option is explained in relation to the person’s needs.
What information should I prepare to choose between 52 and 63 cm?
Prepare height, weight, the usable width of the current seat, seated proportions, supports already in use and the most frequent difficulties. Add information about armrests, depth and routes through the home. Flag any missing data without estimating it and agree on how to measure it.
Sources and references
[1] Sollevita — Riser recliner chair with integrated care features: widths, depths, weight capacity and construction.
[2] Swiss Paraplegic Centre — Centre for Wheelchair Seating (in French): assessment of complex seating problems.
The next step: bringing measurements and activities into the same conversation
Describe where space is lacking and which supports must remain within reach. Compare these observations with the measurements and functions of the Sollevita riser recliner chair with integrated care features and with the Sollevita Team: the choice between 52 or 63 cm must start from the person, not from the biggest number.
