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How to Stand Up More Easily

Tips to help you rise from your bed, chair, car, and the toilet, too

Getting up from a plush sofa or a high bed or trying to step up into an SUV can be challenging sometimes.

But help is available, and while not every solution will be right for every person, there are plenty of moves and tools that will make standing (and sitting) far simpler.

more on household safety

Here’s advice from CR’s experts, including Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at our Auto Test Center; public health groups such as the American Heart Association; and Brad Dicianno, MD, medical director of the Center for Assistive Technology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Hover your cursor over the black dots or click on them (or tap on a mobile device) in the illustration below to reveal our tips.

Click on dots to learn more.

Illustration: Chris Philpot

For More Help

If standing up is often a struggle, talk with your doctor. You may be referred to a specialist such as an occupational therapist. They can advise you on the right tools and modifications for your situation and help you figure out which options insurance will cover.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the November 2025 issue of Consumer Reports On Health


Catherine Roberts

Catherine Roberts is a health and science journalist at Consumer Reports. She has been at CR since 2016, covering infectious diseases, bugs and bug sprays, consumer medical devices like hearing aids and blood pressure monitors, health privacy, and more. As a civilian, her passions include bike rides, horror films and fiction, and research rabbit holes. Follow her on X: @catharob.