I'm Stuck In My Chair!

5 Tips and Tools to help you stand up more easily and more independently

1. Make sure you are set up optimally. Having a good set up will help you get up from those tricky low and soft surfaces more easily. Scoot all the way to the edge of the seat, make sure your feet are tucked right under your knees, and lean really far forward! Use your hands to help you push up if you can.

2. Try a Couch Cane or similar couch bar. Portable arm rests that slide under couch cushions are available to make getting up from those low, soft surfaces a little easier. They provide a stable, elevated place to push through your arms to assist your legs with generating enough power to stand.

3. Practice! There is nothing better than practicing the activity you want to improve. Start from an elevated surface where you know you will be successful, such as a chair with a cushion or two placed on top. Practice standing up and sitting down slowly and with control. Gradually lower the surface to increase the challenge. Performing this exercise daily will help strengthen the muscles you need to stand

4. Try a car assist bar. Getting out of the low seats of a vehicle can be one of the most challenging environments. A car assist bar slides into the latch of the door when it’s open to give you a small but sturdy handle to push up on.

5. See a physical therapist for personalized tips, modifications, and exercises. If you are continuing to have difficulty and are worried about being able to access your environment safely or maintaining your independence, a physical therapist can develop a personalized program to increase your strength and stability.

At Hope First Physical Therapy and Wellness, we make house calls so we can help you perfect your standing from the furniture you have at home or in your personal vehicle! Click below to get personalized information from Dr. Hope about how we can improve your strength and independence in your own environment.