An armchair for shorter people needs to let the person find back support, thigh support and a foot position suited to the activity, all at the same time. Height alone is not enough to choose: two people of the same height can have different proportions. Four measurements help you prepare for the consultation, but they need to be read together with the current seat, any supports and the trial. There is no small size that is automatically right for every petite person.
In brief
For a shorter person, seat depth and seat height must let the feet rest properly without the back moving away from the backrest. Leg, thigh, pelvis and trunk measurements help the consultation, but they do not automatically turn into the dimensions to order. Sollevita offers seat widths of 52 or 63 cm and three seat depths: supports and adjustments complete a well-proportioned seat; they do not make up for an unsuitable base.
The first sign: back supported or feet on the floor
A person may seem comfortable in a large armchair because it is well padded, yet have to slide the pelvis forward to reach the floor. When they move back towards the backrest, their feet may lose support. This is not a choice between two equally comfortable options: it is a sign worth describing when the size is being assessed.
Observe the usual seated position without asking for a forced posture. Does the back reach the backrest? Does the front edge of the seat come very close to the crease of the knee? Can the armrests be reached without leaning? Also ask the person what they feel: what looks right in a photograph may be uncomfortable over the course of the day.
This guide concerns shorter adults and petite older people: proportions, habits and supports matter more than a simple size label. Children, or needs related to growth, require a dedicated assessment: choosing the smallest seat available is not enough.
Four body measurements, not a formula to apply on your own
The measurements are taken in a stable, habitual position, with the footwear and any supports normally used. Do not arrange a new transfer or remove a prescribed cushion just to fill in the sheet. When a measurement is not easy to take, ask the professional or the Sollevita Team how to obtain it.
1. From the floor to the crease at the back of the knee
Popliteal height is the distance between the floor and the crease behind the knee, with the foot resting in the position used for the measurement. It helps you think about the relationship between seat height and foot support.
Do not transfer this value directly to the order form: footwear, cushion, seat compression and posture all change the relationship. State how the measurement was taken and point out if the foot could not rest naturally. The figure needs to be interpreted, not adjusted by forcing the leg into a set position.
2. From the back of the pelvis to the crease of the knee
This length helps assess the usable seat depth. It describes how much of the thigh needs to be supported without forcing the person to slide forward to free the knee. What counts is the surface actually usable between the rear support and the front edge, not the external depth of the chair.
Do not automatically subtract a fixed number of centimetres. The clearance and the support need to be checked taking into account build, sitting ability and supports. Two models with the same declared depth may also have backrests and padding that change the actual space.
3. Pelvis width in the seated position
Width guides the distance between the armrests. It needs to take into account the body, the clothes usually worn and the space needed in real use. Being short does not mean having a narrow pelvis: height and width are different pieces of information.
A seat that is too narrow can limit space, but a very wide one can move the supports further away. So do not look for the maximum possible space without observing where the forearms rest and how the person uses the handset.
4. From the seat surface to the top of the head
Trunk height up to the head helps compare the backrest and the headrest. A petite person may have a relatively long trunk; a low backrest is not automatically better proportioned.
Specify which surface the measurement starts from and which cushions are present. The value does not prescribe a neck adjustment: it helps prepare the trial of the backrest and the head support, once the position of the pelvis has been defined.
The sheet to bring to the consultation
This sheet collects four body measurements to discuss during the consultation, keeping them separate from the additional checks on the footrest. The figures help prepare the trial, but on their own they do not determine the dimensions to order. Where a measurement is missing, write “to be measured” rather than estimating it to complete the table.
| Reference measurement | Figure to note | Context needed |
|---|---|---|
| Popliteal height | Floor–crease of the knee | Footwear, foot position and surface used |
| Pelvis–knee length | Back of the pelvis–crease of the knee | Usual posture and supports in place |
| Pelvis width | Body width when seated | Clothing and space needed near the armrests |
| Trunk–head height | Seat surface–top of the head | Cushion and how the measurement was taken |
Add overall height, weight, hours of use and a description of the current seat. A side-on photograph, taken with the person’s consent, can clarify the relationship between back, front edge and feet; it should not require unusual positions or personal data that is not relevant.
The Swiss Paraplegic Centre describes individual, multidisciplinary work when seating involves problems of asymmetry, pain or support. [1] The four measurements suggested here prepare the discussion; where these problems are present, an assessment by the professional involved in the person’s care is also needed.
Seat height and the rise function: two linked checks
Lowering the seat a lot can make it easier to reach the floor but change the effort needed to stand up. Raising it to make getting up easier can, on the other hand, take away useful support for the feet. The choice is not resolved by always looking for the highest or the lowest setting.
The rise function guides the person towards standing and, in accordance with the instructions, can also be used to return to sitting. Its usefulness should be assessed only when that movement is appropriate for the person. It must not be used to find out by trial and error whether someone can bear their own weight.
Vertical height adjustment is a separate function: it changes the height of the whole chair while the person stays seated or lying down. Having this adjustment does not guarantee that the model’s lowest height is low enough for a petite person. You need to know the measurements of the actual configuration and compare them with the supports required. [2]
This distinction is also useful when comparing products. The differences in measurements and functions between riser recliner chairs do not come down to the fact that both have a motor or a reclining backrest.
Depth, armrests and Push Head must work together
If the person stays too far forward, they may not reach the backrest properly and may try to reach the headrest by over-adjusting it. Before adjusting the head support, you need to understand whether the depth and the other supports are right for that seat.
The distance from the armrests also changes when the pelvis cannot settle into its proper position. The arms may stay outstretched, or the shoulders may be raised to reach the support. The trial must therefore include hand and forearm, not just a side view of the legs.
Sollevita’s high backrest supports the back, while the Push Head powered headrest adjusts the support for the head and neck. The three-layer seat construction combines a sprung seat base, an individually pocketed springs cushion and a comfort top layer to encourage balanced weight distribution and support the pelvis. The choice of depth makes it possible to match these supports to the person’s proportions. [2]
A prescribed cushion may have a precise function. A cushion picked at random and added to shorten the seat, by contrast, can change height, support and the relationship with the head. Do not confuse the two situations, and do not remove a specialist support without being advised to do so.
Sollevita’s three depths are not three sizes chosen by height
Sollevita offers seat widths of 52 or 63 cm and three available seat depths. The choice is about proportioning the chair to the person; it does not automatically follow a “short, medium, tall” table. For a petite person the reduced depth may be important, but width and other supports need to be assessed separately. [2]
The Sollevita Team can compare the measurements you have collected with the configuration data and explain which set-up is possible. You do not need to guess the depth to order on your own. If the numerical dimensions of the proposed version are missing, ask for them before confirming.
The usable width is not the same as the overall footprint. After assessing the seat, also check doors, room and table. The fact that a chair fits into the home does not prove that it is proportioned to the body; conversely, a size suited to the person must also be usable in that setting.
Footrest and resting positions: a check on top of the four measurements
Leg length and foot position deserve a separate check in the resting configurations. This is a functional check that complements the four body measurements, to be adapted to the intended use.
Observe where the calves and feet rest during the permitted adjustment. An extended footrest is not automatically too long for a petite person; what counts is how the support is distributed in the positions used and whether the body stays supported without having to compensate.
The Sollevita footrest extension lengthens the support surface, but you do not have to use full extension in every situation. Tilt-in-space, recline and the Push Head should also be considered in relation to actual comfort. For more on this, the page on Sollevita’s comfort and adjustments is also relevant. [2]
A useful trial also includes the return
During the agreed trial, first check the usual seated position and the priority actions: resting the arms, reaching the remote control, talking or reading. Only then are the appropriate resting positions and the return to the initial configuration considered.
There is no need to stay seated for a set length of time or to try every function. Ask the person what changes and note any difficulties. If support with daily activities is needed, involve whoever will actually provide it: the way a technician handles the demonstration does not, on its own, describe the routine at home.
If pain, numbness, marked asymmetries or difficulties with control appear, the assessment should be taken further with the relevant professional. Do not keep changing cushions and angles in search of a quick solution. The trial is not meant to diagnose a symptom.
Mistakes that make an unsuitable size seem right
The first mistake is trying the chair only in a reclined position: a person may enjoy resting yet find active seating or the return difficult. The second is choosing on height alone, overlooking width and trunk. The third is adding improvised supports before understanding which dimension is not working.
Finally, avoid assessing the chair only through those who accompany the person. The observations of family members and carers matter, but the comfort reported by the user must not disappear from the decision. Keep a record of the measurements, the questions and the configuration tried: if something changes, you will know what information to go back to.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the most important measurement for an armchair for shorter people?
There isn’t just one. Popliteal height and thigh length guide seat height and depth; pelvis width and trunk height help assess the armrests and backrest. The figures should be read together with the trial.
Should a petite person always choose 52 cm?
No. Width is chosen according to build and the supports needed, not just height. Sollevita comes with a 52 or 63 cm seat width; the choice should be checked together with the depth and the rest of the seat.
Can I solve a seat that is too deep with a cushion behind the back?
Not automatically. An added cushion changes several supports at once. A prescribed support has a specific function; an improvised solution is not the same as a well-proportioned depth.
Does vertical height adjustment always make the seat height right?
No. It adjusts the height within the limits of the configuration, but it does not guarantee that the lowest position suits everyone. You need the data for the proposed version and a check of the supports.
Do I also need to measure the length of the footrest?
The relationship between the support and the legs in the resting positions should be checked. It is a check that complements the four body measurements; comparing the overall length of the product with the person’s height is not enough.
Can I send the measurements without the person trying the chair?
You can use them to start the consultation, stating how they were taken and what remains uncertain. They do not always replace a trial or a more in-depth assessment, especially where supports or specific postural needs are involved.
Sources and references
[1] Swiss Paraplegic Centre · Switzerland. Centre for wheelchair seating (in French). Accessed 9 September 2026.
[2] Sollevita · La Castellana. Sollevita care riser recliner. Accessed 9 September 2026.
The health sources support the principles cited, not a recommendation of Sollevita. Product features are information from the manufacturer; the practical sheets are editorial content, not clinical tests.
The next step: choose the right measurements, not an imagined size
Prepare the four measurements, the description of the current seat and the most important activities. Compare them with the customisation options of the Sollevita chair and with the Sollevita Team, to clarify which configuration is worth trying with the person.
