Sollevita is a fully optioned assistive armchair manufactured in Italy by Poltrone La Castellana, a company active since 1969. The project brings together in a single platform functions that, in simpler products, are often separate: a lift-assist mechanism, vertical lifting of the entire structure, Zero Gravity tilting, the 180° bed position, a reclined side-by-side configuration, lateral access and in-home movement with the person on board.
The standard equipment includes a removable and extractable armrest, a Push Head motorised headrest, a footrest extension, a lithium battery and a wheeled trolley. The seat is built with three levels of springing, the armchair is modular and has fully removable two-part covers, while width, depth and load capacity are defined according to the person and the intended use.
The purpose of this page is not to attribute therapeutic effects to the armchair. It is to show, in accessible language and with verifiable sources, why a technical choice can make standing up, resting, transfers, assistance, reaching the table and prolonged sitting easier to manage.
In brief
- Sollevita is offered exclusively as a fully optioned project: the main functions are not added later as mere extras.
- The lift-assist and vertical lifting are different movements: the first guides the person towards a standing position, the second changes the height of the entire armchair.
- Removable armrests, the 180° bed position and adjustable height can facilitate lateral access and positioning alongside the bed, but every transfer must be assessed on the actual case.
- Sollevita’s Zero Gravity is an advanced tilting of the entire armchair body, combinable with independent backrest and footrest.
- A 52 or 63 cm seat, three depths and a load capacity defined by the configuration make it possible to adapt the product to different heights and body types.
- In the European regulatory documentation the model is identified as TERRY; Sollevita is the commercial name of the fully optioned project.
What it can facilitate and what it cannot guarantee
| Sollevita can facilitate | Sollevita cannot guarantee |
|---|---|
| More gradual standing up and sitting down, with controllable electric movements. | The cure of Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, stroke, arthritis or other conditions. |
| Height adjustment for the table, personal care, massage and caregiver activities. | The absence of falls, pain or injuries without an overall assessment of the person and the environment. |
| Lateral access and positioning alongside a bed or wheelchair when armrests and heights are correctly managed. | The automatic replacement of hoists, transfer boards, slide sheets or professional procedures when these are necessary. |
| A change of position during long hours, thanks to tilting, backrest, footrest and Push Head. | The automatic prevention of pressure injuries, thrombosis or other clinical complications. |
| Controlled in-home movements with the wheeled trolley and the person on board. | Use as an outdoor wheelchair or as a hospital stretcher for transport. |
1. The design logic: starting from everyday movements
An assistive armchair becomes useful when it responds to observable actions: standing up, sitting down, resting, changing position, moving closer to the table, receiving assistance, moving between two rooms or transferring onto an adjacent surface. The diagnosis remains important, but on its own it does not describe how much strength the person retains, for how many hours they remain seated, on which side they transfer or how much the caregiver intervenes.
The World Health Organization defines assistive technology as the set of products, systems and services that maintain or improve functioning, independence, inclusion and participation. From this perspective, the value of an aid does not lie in “curing” the illness, but in making more feasible activities that would otherwise become difficult or dependent on the help of others. [1]
Customisation is part of this logic. The study by Phillips and Zhao on the abandonment of assistive technologies highlighted the weight of user involvement, device performance and the change in needs over time. A technically advanced product that is poorly suited to the person or the home risks not being used. [2]
For this reason Sollevita is not chosen based solely on a photograph or the name of the condition. The service assesses body type, height, weight, hours spent seated, residual independence, daily activities, home spaces and the possible evolution of the need.
2. Lift-assist and vertical lifting: two movements, two different jobs
The lift-assist function guides the pelvis upwards and forwards to make the transition to standing more gradual. It can also be useful in the opposite direction, when the person needs to sit down without letting themselves drop onto the armchair.
Vertical lifting, by contrast, raises the entire structure while keeping the seat surface substantially parallel to the floor. The person can remain seated, reclined or lying down while the height of the armchair changes. This difference makes it possible to use height as a genuine operational function, not merely as an aid for standing up.
Bringing the face to a more accessible height can make shaving and hair care more comfortable. Raising the reclined surface higher can help a masseur work while standing. Adjusting the height can also facilitate moving closer to a table, matching the height of the bed or wheelchair, and certain dressing and personal-care activities.
The literature on the manual handling of people shows that manual transfers can impose high loads on the lumbar spine and that the use of dedicated equipment reduces the biomechanical load in numerous assistance tasks. These studies do not measure Sollevita and do not demonstrate a specific clinical outcome of the product; however, they support the general principle that manual lifting should not be the first resort when suitable mechanical facilitators exist. [4–6]
| Concrete activity | Predominant function | What changes in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Standing up or sitting down | Lift-assist | The seat guides the movement gradually and can be stopped at any point. |
| Shaving and hair | Vertical lifting + Push Head | The face and the nape are brought to a more comfortable height for the caregiver. |
| Massage or compatible manual treatment | 180° bed position + vertical lifting | The reclined surface can be brought closer to working height. |
| Eating or working at the table | Adjustable height + extractable armrest | The person can move closer to the table while keeping their own seat. |
| Positioning alongside a bed or wheelchair | Vertical lifting + removable side | The heights can be matched and the lateral barrier removed. |
3. Removable armrests, lateral access and the 180° bed position
Sollevita’s armrest changes its function throughout the day. Fully fitted, it supports the hands and forearms during sitting, resting and standing up. With the upper part extracted, it reduces the footprint for moving closer to a table. With the side fully removed, it frees lateral access towards a bed, wheelchair or caregiver.
The 180° bed position is achieved by reclining the bayonet-mounted backrest and coordinating the footrest and the structure. The reclined surface can be used for prolonged rest, micro-naps, massage or for positioning alongside the bed. In commercial language this configuration is often called the “stretcher function”; however, it must not be confused with a hospital transport stretcher.
Removing the lateral barrier and matching the heights can facilitate a coplanar transfer using a board, a high-glide slide sheet or another aid. The actual procedure depends on residual strength, weight, trunk control, functional side, space and the caregiver’s competence. ISO/TR 12296 specifically stresses the need to assess risks, environment, person and equipment in the manual handling of people in the care setting. [6]
The wheeled trolley included in the Sollevita project allows in-home movement with the person on board along suitable routes. It does not turn the armchair into a wheelchair: before the person gets on or off, the structure must be returned to the stable configuration specified in the manual and resting on its feet.
4. Zero Gravity: advanced tilting and variation of position
Sollevita’s Zero Gravity does not consist merely of reclining the backrest. A dedicated axis tilts the entire armchair body, while the backrest and footrest can continue to be adjusted separately. The relationship between seat and backrest therefore remains more stable than with a simple opening of the back.
The configuration can bring the pelvis and legs above heart level and makes it possible to find numerous angles along the body’s axis. For an independent person it can be a premium comfort function for television, reading, micro-naps or rest; for an assisted person it can reduce the need for continuous manual repositioning.
Studies carried out on powered wheelchairs and people with spinal cord injury show that combinations of tilt-in-space and recline can alter interface pressure, shear forces and skin perfusion; the effect, however, depends on angle, duration, population and seating system. These results explain why postural variation is a relevant technical principle, but they do not authorise describing Sollevita as “anti-decubitus” or automatically transferring clinical outcomes observed on different devices. [7–9]
A transparent formulation
Zero Gravity tilting changes the position of the whole body and can make resting more comfortable with the pelvis and legs raised. Any indications related to circulation, oedema, skin pressure or cardiac conditions must be assessed with the healthcare professional who knows the person.
5. Push Head, triple-layer seat and customisation
Push Head: head support changes with position
Push Head is the motorised headrest included in Sollevita. It electrically adjusts the upper part of the backrest and makes it possible to adapt head support as activity and inclination change. The position that works for watching television is not necessarily the same as for reading, resting in Zero Gravity or lying flat at 180°.
Gradual adjustment can avoid the continuous use of loose cushions that slip or create random thicknesses. During shaving and hair care it can offer more stable support; however, it is not a cervical collar, it does not immobilise the head and it is not a device for swallowing or airway protection.
Seat with three levels of springing
The seat derives from the construction developed by La Castellana to combine comfort and stability during prolonged use. The manufacturer’s technical documentation describes three levels:
- an integrated steel frame with sinuous (zigzag) springs, which forms the elastic and structural base;
- a cushion with pocket springs, enclosed between layers of felt and expanded polyurethane foam;
- an upper layer of non-deforming expanded polyurethane foam, indicated in the range documentation with a thickness of about 3 cm.
The pocket springs respond locally to the load, while the combination of the three levels aims to distribute support over a wide surface without turning the seat into an excessively yielding base. The intended result is stable comfort over time, not an anti-decubitus claim.
Measurements built around the person
Sollevita is fully customisable. The project provides seat widths of 52 or 63 cm and three depths, so that the back can reach the backrest without compressing the area behind the knee. The footrest extension included in the standard equipment offers more continuous support for tall people.
The load capacity and the number of independent actuators depend on the technical configuration. In the documented versions of the TERRY model there are R52, R63 and R340 variants; the applicable load capacity is always the one stated on the rating plate and in the documents of the individual armchair. [14–16]
6. The caregiver: physical, organisational and emotional load
Caregiving is not only about the strength required for a single transfer. It includes time, supervision, sleep, family relationships, responsibility and the repetition of movements. The Caregiver Burden Inventory by Novak and Guest is a 24-item tool structured into five dimensions — time-dependent, developmental, physical, social and emotional — and it shows why two caregivers with a similar total burden can experience very different problems. [3]
On the biomechanical level, Waters applied the NIOSH equation to a limited set of handling tasks with a cooperative patient, deriving a reference value of about 15.8 kg under favourable conditions. It is not a universal legal limit and does not describe all transfers; above all it serves to show how quickly the handling of a person exceeds what can be treated as ordinary manual lifting. [4]
A recent review of biomechanical studies concludes that, for lifting, floor-based or ceiling-mounted systems and, for lateral transfer, air-assisted or friction-reducing devices generally offer the greatest load reduction. Sollevita does not replace these aids when they are indicated, but it can contribute to a more ergonomic routine by offering adjustable height, lateral access and a side-by-side surface. [5]
The correct benefit to communicate is therefore concrete and cautious: Sollevita can reduce some bending, some lifting and some transfers carried out solely to change position or room. It cannot guarantee the absence of low back pain or injuries; training, space, complementary aids and risk assessment remain essential.
7. Functional needs and health conditions
Sollevita is not chosen “for a disease” automatically. The names of conditions help to describe the context, but the configuration is decided on functional needs: strength, standing up, head control, transfers, hours seated, body type, caregiver and home space.
| Context | Everyday need to observe | Functions to assess |
|---|---|---|
| Independent person seeking superior comfort | Many hours seated, a desire to change angle, rest, read, sit at the table or receive a massage. | Advanced Zero Gravity, Push Head, 180° bed position, adjustable height, made-to-measure seat. |
| Parkinson’s and parkinsonisms | Slowness in standing up, rigidity, hesitation, the need for recognisable supports and predictable routines. | Stable armrests, gradual standing up, correct depth, tilting and morning/evening differences. |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Variable fatigue, different days, the need for breaks and position changes with less energy expenditure. | Independent motors, remote control, Zero Gravity, 180° bed position and customised seat. |
| ALS and neuromuscular diseases | Loss of strength, reduced head control, prolonged rest and progressively more complex transfers. | Push Head, reclined position, lateral access, adjustable height and caregiver work. |
| Stroke sequelae and hemiparesis | Asymmetry, a more functional side, lateral transfer and the need to match heights. | Removable side, vertical lifting, armrests and a transfer plan defined on the correct side. |
| Spinal cord injury and wheelchair use | Coplanar transfer, many hours seated and the need for changes of position. | Height, free side, tilting, seat and compatibility with a transfer board or other aids. |
| Large body build | A narrow standard seat, inadequate depth, the need for consistent load capacity and stability. | 63 cm seat, correct depth, declared load capacity and an appropriately sized structure. |
| Weakness without a single diagnosis | The person avoids standing up, the table or moving around and changes a lot during the day. | Lift-assist, rest, table, trolley and assessment of the evolution of the need. |
8. Modularity, hygiene, transport and support over time
The quality of a technical armchair is also measured after delivery. Sollevita is built in modules: the backrest, armrests and wings can be removed for transport, lateral access, cleaning or maintenance. This logic makes it easier to get through doors and up stairs, reduces the weight of the individual elements and makes it possible to work on one part without treating the armchair as a single block.
The armchair has fully removable two-part covers: the upper cover and the lower cover can be removed according to the instructions. The available fabrics are stain-resistant and washable according to their respective data sheet, while the edges are finished with anti-fraying stitching to better withstand cover removal and maintenance.
The lithium battery makes it possible to use the functions without a continuous connection to the mains and makes movement with the trolley freer. However, it requires periodic recharging and must be managed according to the manual. During technical transport or handling of the armchair, the power supply must be made safe to prevent unintended activation.
Modularity also supports after-sales service: the hand control, control unit, power supply, actuators, trolley and covers can be identified and managed as components. Poltrone La Castellana supports the product with spare parts and service, prioritising repairability and continuity of use rather than replacing the entire armchair at the first problem.
9. Product identity and regulatory conformity
Sollevita is the commercial name used for the fully optioned project. In the European regulatory documentation the model is identified as TERRY; the legal manufacturer is Arredamenti La Castellana di Scolaro Roberto & C. Snc. This distinction makes it possible to transparently link the name used on the website to the rating plate and to the product’s EU Declaration of Conformity.
European Union
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Commercial name | Sollevita |
| Model in the EU Declaration | TERRY |
| Manufacturer | Arredamenti La Castellana di Scolaro Roberto & C. Snc |
| Registered office | Via Pradis 65, 33010 Colloredo di Monte Albano (UD), Italy |
| Manufacturer’s SRN | IT-MF-000037802 |
| Declared intended use | Armchair aid for people with temporary or permanent disabilities that limit the ability to sit down and stand up, or who need control of posture while seated. |
| Class and rule | Active medical device, Class I; Rule 13, Annex VIII of Regulation (EU) 2017/745. |
| EU Declaration | 006/25, Revision 1 |
| Basic UDI-DI | 805099913RELAXJS |
| Technical documentation referenced | FT002, Edition 0, Revision 1 |
The EU Declaration is issued pursuant to Article 19 and Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2017/745. The classification stated is the one declared by the manufacturer for the TERRY model and must be read together with the REF code and the rating plate of the delivered configuration. [10,14]
Switzerland
La Castellana Suisse is the market presence and the sales and service organisation in Switzerland. The contractual partner, the seller and the issuer of invoices is Tvartcomics GmbH, CHE-466.529.003, registered in the Swiss Commercial Register/Zefix with EHRA-ID 1655690. The manufacturer of the product remains Arredamenti La Castellana, Italy.
The regulatory references communicated for Switzerland are CHRN-AR-20010563 for the authorised representative and CHRN-IM-20010564 for the importer. The CHRN identifies the economic operator registered with Swissmedic; it is not a clinical authorisation of the device. Swissmedic indeed clarifies that medical devices do not follow an official authorisation procedure analogous to that for medicinal products, but rather a system of conformity assessment, registration of operators and market surveillance. [12]
From 1 July 2026, the registration of devices in the UDI module of swissdamed is mandatory according to the applicable regime and transitional period. The registration of the economic operator and that of the device are two distinct obligations. [13]
10. The technical check before ordering
A fully customisable armchair requires an equally precise consultation. The Sollevita service assesses, together with the customer, age, height, weight, hours spent seated, the width and depth required, the ability to use the controls, the need for rest, transfers, the table, the bed, the route through the home and the presence of the caregiver.
The check is not reserved for situations of dependence. Sollevita can also be chosen by an independent person who wants superior comfort, advanced tilting, Push Head, the 180° bed position, use at the table or a height-adjustable surface for massage and personal care. In complex situations, the same platform offers functions that can accompany the evolution of the need.
The outcome of the consultation is a documented configuration: measurements, load capacity, number of actuators, dimensions, delivery arrangements, use of the trolley and planned activities are clarified before the final proposal. In this way the value of the product does not depend on a generic promise, but on the match between person, armchair, home and service.
Sollevita suitability check
Gather height, weight, hours seated, room measurements, door widths, the height of the bed and the table, aids already in use and the main everyday difficulties.
The Sollevita team uses this information to build a personalised proposal and to explain in concrete terms how the various functions will be used. Start the suitability check to receive a made-to-measure configuration.
Method and references
The sources are organised into three groups: external scientific literature, regulations and official documents, and the manufacturer’s technical documentation. The cited studies on handling, tilt-in-space and perfusion concern specific populations and devices; they are used to explain general principles and not as direct clinical evidence for Sollevita.
Scientific literature and assistive technology
- [1] World Health Organization. Assistive technology. Fact sheet, 2 January 2024. Source
- [2] Phillips B, Zhao H. Predictors of assistive technology abandonment. Assistive Technology. 1993;5(1):36–45. DOI: 10.1080/10400435.1993.10132205. Source
- [3] Novak M, Guest C. Application of a Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory. The Gerontologist. 1989;29(6):798–803. DOI: 10.1093/geront/29.6.798. Source
- [4] Waters TR. When Is It Safe to Manually Lift a Patient? American Journal of Nursing. 2007;107(8):53–58. PMID: 17667392. Source
- [5] Fray M, Davis KG. Effectiveness of Safe Patient Handling Equipment and Techniques: A Review of Biomechanical Studies. Human Factors. 2024;66(10):2283–2322. DOI: 10.1177/00187208231211842. Source
- [6] ISO/TR 12296:2012. Ergonomics — Manual handling of people in the healthcare sector. Source
- [7] Jan YK, Jones MA, Rabadi MH, Foreman RD, Thiessen A. Effect of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline angles on skin perfusion over the ischial tuberosity in people with spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2010;91(11):1758–1764. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.07.227. Source
- [8] Jan YK, Liao F, Jones MA, Rice LA, Tisdell T. Effect of durations of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline on skin perfusion over the ischial tuberosity in people with spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2013;94(4):667–672. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.019. Source
- [9] Koda H, Okada Y, Fukumoto T, Morioka S. Effect of Tilt-in-Space and Reclining Angles of Wheelchairs on Normal Force and Shear Force in the Gluteal Region. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(9):5299. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095299. Source
Regulations and institutional sources
- [10] Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council on medical devices. Source
- [11] Italian Republic. Legislative Decree No. 81 of 9 April 2008, Title VI — Manual handling of loads. Source
- [12] Swissmedic. Registering economic operators (CHRN) and information on the Swiss authorised representative. Source
- [13] Swissmedic. Device registration in swissdamed: mandatory from 1 July 2026 and transitional period. Source
Manufacturer’s documentation
- [14] Arredamenti La Castellana di Scolaro Roberto & C. Snc. EU Declaration of Conformity 006/25, Rev. 1, TERRY model. Article 19 and Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2017/745.
- [15] Arredamenti La Castellana. Use and maintenance manual for armchairs with electric movement and lift-assist: description of movements, warnings, load capacities, maintenance and labelling.
- [16] Poltrone La Castellana. Product technical documentation: three-level seat, modularity, removable two-part covers, removable armrests, Push Head, battery, wheeled trolley and configurations of the TERRY/Sollevita model.