Making sure the lift chair fits the person meant to use it is extremely important. If your feet do not meet the floor when sitting in the chair, you will not be able to use the lift function safely. Make sure that your feet meet the floor, the seat is wide enough to support you comfortably, and the top of the headrest is a couple inches above where your head meets the cushion (for proper head support). Weight capacity is also an important factor, as chairs for heavier occupants need extra reinforcement to guarantee the occupant and the chair are safe from harm.

If you are recovering from a recent surgery or serious injury, you might want a lift chair that you can sleep in. A couple options are available if the chair user wants to sleep in it at night- a lay-flat chair reclines to a horizontal sleeping position, and is sometimes available with an innerspring coil cushion for additional support. A bed chair comes to a full sleeping position like a lay-flat, but can be customized by removing the back and chaise cushion and adding an optional mattress to the chair.

When confined to a chair for long periods of time, it can be difficult to get comfortable. This is especially a problem for those suffering from conditions in which they experience chronic pain. Ask your doctor or chiropractor if elevating your legs or easing spinal tension with a zero-gravity recliner are effective pain management methods for you. Chairs with zero-gravity recline, for example, have been shown to be effective in some cases of chronic lower back pain.