If you are a fan of the space program, then you are likely to have heard the term zero gravity. The term is often used to describe being weightless and there are several rides available that let a person experience this sensation. At this point, you might well be asking yourself, "but what does this have to do with lift chairs?" Well let me tell you.



When NASA began testing the first rocket ships for sending the first astronauts into space, they found that the traditional chairs that were commonly used in airplanes were not very ergonomic. They needed a way to decrease the pressure on the spine, allow better lung expansion, reduce muscle strain, and stress on the heart. After much development they developed the Zero-G chair.

The chair that NASA designed allows the astronaut to recline into a position that elevates their knees and legs slightly above their chest and puts the body at about a 45 degree angle. After extensive testing and development, these chairs are now available for the general public.

Using the same technology that was developed and implemented by NASA, a Zero-G lift chair allows the user to position their body in a manner that helps improve posture by allowing for proper spinal cord alignment, reduces the pressure on the back, and also expands the lung capacity of the user. These chairs also help to improve circulation, because the users legs are positioned slightly higher than the heart. This means that you will be getting blood that is rich in oxygen pumped throughout the body. This chair helps to align your body in a manner that is natural and well suited to reducing pain and stress.

Currently the only lift chair that offers this type of functionality is manufactured by Golden Technologies, which offers a wide assortment of home medical equipment and has been manufacturing lift chairs for more than two decades. The Zero-G sitting position is available in all of the chairs that make up their Maxi-Comfort Line.

In addition to allowing the user to sit in the Zero-G position, these chairs also function as a regular recliner. The footrest and the backrest can both be extended and operate independently. This means that you can lower the back, without raising the footrest. This is what makes it an infinite position lift chair and these functions are controlled electronically. Of course, since this is a lift chair, it also makes it easier and safer to stand, because the whole chair can be slowly raised. This allows the user to exit the chair in a position that is close to standing.

To operate the chair, a simple hand control is used. The control is attached directly to the chair, so it is not necessary to worry about remembering to put batteries in it or loosing it. It has six buttons that are easy to see and feel on it. The two buttons at the very bottom of the control are used to raise and lower the chair into the air. To make the chair even simpler to use, it is possible to raise or lower the backrest and footrest using only these two buttons.

The other four buttons are placed slightly higher than the buttons used to raise or lower the chair. This sets them off slightly, which makes it easier to feel them, without having to see them. The four offset buttons are used to control the backrest and footrest. As a result of the way the chair is designed, it is not necessary to use these buttons, unless you want to customize the sitting position.

Using a lift chair has been proven to reduce the chance of a fall. Since the MaxiComfort Series by Golden Technologies uses the Zero-G sitting position, they go one step further and offers a chair that helps reduce back pain, muscle stress, and increase lung capacity. So next time your grandkids come over, let them know you have experienced Zero-G's without ever leaving the living room.