Most risers are not permanently attached to the feet of the furniture and the feet may slip off. We found only one manufacturer, Mobility Transfer Systems, that recommends permanently affixing the riser to the furniture leg (they also include screws). Permanent attachment may make a riser more stable, but the attachment may not be very strong or rigid, since the screw is only supported by the 1/8 inch-thick top of the riser. |
Risers for seating may be safest to use on a couch rather than on a chair. If used on a chair, permanently attaching the riser to the chair may make it safer to use, but we haven't tested this feature. |
A deeper recess might reduce the possibility of the foot slipping off the riser, but both seating risers that we tested have only a shallow recess.
There is a trade-off between the potential trip hazard posed by the riser extending out from the furniture leg and the benefit gained from a higher seat. Manufacturers generally recommend centering the foot on the riser.
Follow ALL manufacturer's instructions. In one of our tests, the tester forgot to use both the non-skid rubber strips and the foam inserts, and the chair leg slid off the riser when she adjusted her position in the chair. In this case, there were also wheels on the chair legs. In a later email, the manufacturer recommended not using risers on chair legs with wheels.
Risers are NOT recommended for furniture legs with wheels or casters.
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If the risers come with pads or rubber strips, they must be used to prevent skidding (especially on a wood or vinyl floor); skidding would increase the likelihood of tipping over or the chance that the foot might skid off the riser.
We recommend using risers on couches and sofas rather than on chairs, as the higher center of gravity could cause the chair to get tippy. A sofa or couch, on the other hand, is so wide, that it is less likely to tip.
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