Standing Up From a Chair or Seated Position - Ask Doctor Jo

First, the most important thing to do is to scoot to the edge of the chair. Don't fall off the chair! Now spread out your feet to about shoulder width apart to give yourself a good base of support. Bring your strong leg slightly back toward the chair to help give you a push up when you are ready.

The next big thing is to lean forward shifting your weight forward. Many people are scared to do this because they feel like they are going to fall out of the chair, but you have to shift your weight or you won't be able to stand up. Lean forward until you feel your bottom coming off the chair. If you want to push up with your hands, you can place them on your thighs or on the chair itself. Do all of this in one smooth motion. There you have it!

DISCLAIMER: This video and any related comments are not medical advice. Doctor Jo is a licensed Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy; however, she is not YOUR Physical Therapist and can't possibly diagnose you through the Internet. So don't use this information to avoid going to your own healthcare professional or to replace the advice they have given you. This information is only intended to show you the correct technique for physical therapy exercises and should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat any medical condition. If you are not properly diagnosed, this information won't help, and it could make things worse. So seriously, check with your healthcare professional before doing these techniques. If you experience any pain or difficulty while doing these exercises, stop immediately and see your healthcare professional.

[AskDoctorJo]

Don't forget to hit the 🔴 *SUBSCRIBE* 🔴 button above! *Find all of my videos at **youtube.com/askdoctorjo*

[sams]

Unbelievable; all these time I couldn't get up and now you made it so simple!!! THANK YOU

[PiedType]

This incorporates and substantiates the "nose over toes" position rule I learned that has been very helpful. Thank you.

[KeyahD]

Thank you. Since I have had problems with my left knee for years, it is very difficult for me to get out of a chair and especially the toliet! lol I will use this advice. :)

[fenelladruce]

this was a very useful reference for my animation homework. Thanks!

[powerWithinUs]

That’s so helpful ! I had the clue to draw feet back to align with hip, but I didn’t think——one will do it! Everything changes today !

[EvanBlack-xi]

Thank you! I described this to my arthritic 89 year old mother over the phone and then watched on her granny cam as she made it work. She was triumphant!

[leandreleroux]

Thank you so much for making this! :) I used this to help with doing gesture drawings and getting up better. You are awesome.

[enchiladasqueretanas]

Thank you for your videos! Thank god for YouTube!❤

[mrstevek]

thanks that really helped. Not only was I able to get up from the chair but I was able to carry on walking. I havent been able to do that after I had my stroke.

[testinginstruments]

Wonderful trick to get up. I am 67 and tried this. It is very useful.

[AskDoctorJo]

Standing up from a chair may seem like a simple task to most, but it can be especially difficult for the elderly or for people with injuries. Maybe Santa will need this video after having kids sit on his lap all day!

[leelacoleman]

Thank you! I'm recovering from rotator cuff surgery, can't use the surgical arm. I sat in a a very very low, squishy waiting room chair while waiting for my car to be serviced. I could not get up and seriously thought I would need to call EMS to get me out. I searched for a video and found this, it worked like a charm! I was up in no time on my own steam. Boy am I glad that I do daily squats just because, this incident was incentive to keep up this habit.

[denisecaringer]

Excellent tips for aging parents! Thank you.

[joeboomer]

"Oh Mercy! It's like I got bricks in these pants." LOL! You are so cute. ;-) But seriously, you are doing a great service to all of us out here in videoland. Thanks for sharing you expertise and your humor. :-)

[thenebraskan]

Thanks so much for the great video Dr. Joe. Do you play those musical instruments in the background?

[nancydijulio]

thanks for sharing, , , , great tips :)

[KeystoneEDC]

All these years & I've been getting out of a chair all wrong :(

J/K, this is actually good advice . That most don't give a 2nd thought to until they have back issues. I find that when I get off the couch or off a chair that it strains my lower back, almost to the point of mild injury. I usually use my hands/arms to assist by pushing off the surface. It's not always practical though. I'm going to try this method of scooting to the edge and launching with the dominant leg . Such simple advice, who would of thunk it !
Thank u :)

[pratibhakapoor]

Hi Dr.Jo.I have high grade rotator cuff tear and it is nearly more than 9 months. Now I can stretch out my right arm to all directions but I have constant pain. I sleep on sideways on the other hand.
These days I am unable to stand up from
low sittings and while getting up I can hear sound in my knee bone.I will certainly try the standing excuse suggested by you in this video. Any
suggestions.

[ronald]

Can you make a video on how to properly move to minimize adjacent segment disease after spine fusion?