How To Get Out Of Any Low Chair Without Help

Being able to get up off the floor without using your hands is a well-known predictor of healthy aging in later life.

But what of getting out of low chairs? Dr. Alyssa Kuhn, arthritis expert, gives us the low-down:

Don’t get stuck

Tips that help in the moment:

• Lay-flat reclining chairs: scoot forwards until your legs can swing off to the side, use an armrest if available, and check the chair’s stability before pushing up.
• Adirondack chairs: scoot forwards using the armrests or the chair back, place your feet well underneath your knees, lean forwards, and stand.
• Low beach chairs: scoot to the edge, bring your feet underneath your knees, briefly lift and “stomp” your feet to create momentum, then push up using your legs and arms as needed.

In the longer-term, building leg strength reduces reliance on your arms and makes standing up feel automatic rather than effortful.

Two ways of training that in ways that are specific to this:

• Stomp squats: practise standing from a low chair by scooting to the edge, placing your feet underneath your knees, lifting them slightly, and standing without leaning backwards.
• Supported knee bend: with your hands on a stable surface, shift most of your weight onto your front leg, drive your knee forwards while keeping your heel down, then straighten again to build knee and ankle strength.

She also mentions that if knee pain is an issue, then a good approach is to reduce how far your knee moves forwards rather than forcing the depth.

For more on all of this plus visual demonstrations, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

You might also like:

4 Tips To Stand Without Using Hands

…and:

How To Stand Up From The Floor Without Kneeling (3 Simple Methods)

Take care!