Lift Chair or Assist Chair? Before you decide, make sure you ‘du’ a trial

Standing up from a chair is something you probably do many times each day without thinking about it. Over time, however, this movement can start to feel harder. Changes in strength, balance, joint pain, neurological conditions, or fatigue can make it more difficult to stand up safely and confidently. Often, difficulty with standing up also means difficulty with sitting down. Movement can become less controlled, and instead of lowering yourself comfortably into the chair, you may find yourself ‘plonking’ down because your legs no longer have the strength to slow the movement.

When this starts to happen, the right assistive technology can make a real difference. For many years, one of the most common solutions has been the electric lift chair. These chairs use a motorised mechanism that gently lifts and tilts the seat, bringing the hips slightly higher than the knees and positioning the body to make standing easier. Many models also recline, which is why they are sometimes referred to as lift-recline chairs.

Lift chairs remain an extremely valuable option and continue to play an important role in supporting independence at home. More recently, another option has emerged in the form of the du chair, which is a mechanical assist chair designed to support movement in both directions. It helps you stand up more easily and supports a controlled return to sitting, using a balanced mechanical system rather than an electric motor.

At Legacy Allied Health, we recently partnered with SYSTM, the creators of the du chair, to make the chair available for trial at our Eastwood clinic. Our goal is simple. We want people to have the opportunity to experience different options and find the chair that best supports their independence, comfort, and confidence at home.

Standing up is only half the story

When people think about chairs that assist movement, the focus is usually on standing up. This is understandable. Standing requires strength through the hips and thighs, coordination, and confidence in balance.

However, the movement of sitting down is equally important.

Lowering into a chair requires controlled muscle activity through the legs. When strength reduces, many people begin to sit down more quickly or heavily because their muscles cannot slow the movement all of the way down into the chair.

Over time this can lead to:

• increased risk of falls during transfers

• discomfort or pain when sitting

• reduced confidence when moving around the home

Both lift chairs and mechanical assist chairs aim to support movement in both directions, helping someone stand up and easing the return to sitting.

A brief history of lift chairs

Occupational therapists regularly use assistive technology to support the everyday functions of our clients. Chairs that assist standing have traditionally been electric lift chairs, and these remain an important tool in many situations.

Lift chairs can be particularly helpful when someone has:

• significant lower limb weakness

• fatigue that limits repeated standing

• progressive neurological conditions

• difficulty initiating the movement to stand

In these situations, the motorised lift function can provide the support needed to remain independent at home.

Mechanical assist chairs represent a newer approach. Rather than using a motor, they use a mechanical system that helps balance the movement of sitting and standing.

The du chair is one example of this approach. It uses a mechanical balancing mechanism that supports the body’s natural movement while allowing the user to remain actively involved in the process.

For some people this type of assistance can make standing easier while still encouraging them to use their own strength.

Why the right fit matters

Choosing equipment that supports everyday movement is not simply about comfort or design. In occupational therapy practice, we focus on the fit between the person, their daily activities, and the equipment being introduced.

A chair that works well for one person may be completely unsuitable for another.

Factors that influence this decision can include:

• leg strength and endurance

• balance and coordination

• the person’s daily routines

• space and layout within the home

• the individual’s goals and preferences

This idea is reflected in established occupational therapy frameworks such as the Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) model (Dashner et al. 2025), which emphasises the importance of aligning the person, the activity, the technology, and the environment.

When these elements work well together, the right assistive technology can significantly support independence, participation and confidence.

Why trialling a chair is so important

Despite the importance of this decision, many people still choose chairs based only on brief showroom testing or catalogue descriptions.

In practice, trialling a chair provides far more meaningful information.

A guided trial allows occupational therapists and clients to explore questions such as:

• Does standing up feel easier and more controlled?

• Is sitting down supported safely?

• Does the level of assistance feel appropriate?

• Can the person move confidently using the chair throughout the day?

• Will the chair work within the layout of the home?

Even small differences in movement mechanics can significantly affect how safe and comfortable a chair feels.

For this reason, trials remain a key part of responsible assistive technology prescription.

Why we partnered with du

Many equipment providers already offer trials of electric lift chairs, and these remain an important and well-established option. As occupational therapists, we work closely with a range of excellent equipment suppliers, and we are grateful for the strong relationships we have with our local providers.

However, access to trials of newer mechanical assist chairs has been limited in South Australia. By partnering with du, we can now provide an additional option for clinicians, clients, and families to explore.

Our aim is to ensure that people can trial different approaches before making a decision, rather than choosing equipment based solely on description or appearance. Sometimes a lift chair will clearly be the right choice. In other situations, a mechanical assist chair may provide the right balance of support and independence.

Ultimately, we believe that having the opportunity to trial different options often provides the clearest answer.

Supporting independence through the right choice

At Legacy Allied Health, our focus is always on supporting people to remain engaged in the activities that matter most to them. The right assistive technology can play an important role in maintaining confidence, safety, independence and participation within the home.

We believe that making that choice thoughtfully, with professional guidance and the opportunity to trial a range of assistive technology, is one of the best ways to ensure the outcome truly fits the person.

Trial the du chair at our Eastwood clinic

The du chair is now available to trial at our Eastwood clinic under the guidance of an occupational therapist.

Clinicians are welcome to refer clients for a trial, or come along to the trial to learn more about the du chair. Individuals or families can also arrange an appointment with us directly.

Please use the buttons below to book a trial, learn more about the du chair, or contact us for more information.

References

Dashner, J., Morgan, K., Tucker, S., Walker, C., & Tello, S. M. E. (2025). The Human Activity Assistive Technology Model. In Routledge Companion to Occupational Therapy (pp. 508-517). Routledge.