Will a Lift Chair Help After Hip or Knee Surgery?

In the first weeks after a hip or knee replacement, ordinary furniture turns into an obstacle course. Low, soft seats are hard to get out of, bending the new joint too far is discouraged, and every push up from a chair pulls on muscles that are healing. A lift chair can take a lot of that strain away.

Here is how it helps, which type to choose for recovery, how long you are likely to need it, and whether renting makes more sense than buying.

How does a lift chair help recovery?

After joint surgery, the goal is to protect the new joint, avoid falls, and let you rest with the leg supported. A lift chair supports all three. It eases you up to standing without deep bending or hard pushing, so you are not straining the healing hip or knee or risking a stumble as you rise.

Just as important, it lets you sit back and elevate the leg, which helps with the swelling that is normal after surgery. Many people also find they sleep better upright in the chair for the first while than flat in bed.

Which type is best for post-surgery recovery?

For recovery specifically, reach for more recline, not less. An infinite-position (or zero-gravity) chair is ideal, because it lets you raise the operated leg above heart level to bring swelling down, and it lies flat enough to nap comfortably.

A basic 2-position chair still helps you stand, but it will not elevate the leg the way recovery calls for. If you are choosing for the surgery weeks, the extra recline is the feature that earns its place. Our best lift chairs guide explains the positions in more detail.

How long will you need it?

It depends on the person and the surgery, but many people lean on a lift chair most in the first four to eight weeks, when strength and range of motion are still coming back. Some keep using it well beyond that simply because it is comfortable and safe, especially if standing was already getting harder before the operation.

Always follow the guidance of your surgeon and physiotherapist. They may have specific advice on seat height and how far you should recline the joint early on.

Should you buy or rent for recovery?

If the lift chair is mainly for a short recovery, renting is often the better value. You get the benefit through the hardest weeks without paying full price for a chair you may not need long-term. If mobility was already declining and the chair will be a lasting help, buying makes more sense.

We break down the trade-off and where to find short-term rentals in renting a lift chair in Canada. It is also worth checking whether the cost qualifies for any funding or a tax credit, since a post-surgery need with a doctor's note is one of the clearer cases.