Swivel seat cushion for car: how it works and what to measure

Who does a swivel seat cushion help?

Getting into a car usually means sitting, then twisting the hips and lifting the legs in. For people with stiff hips, knees or backs, the twist is often the hardest part. The Job Accommodation Network describes the cushion as working like a turntable, so you move with a gentle slide instead of a harsh twist.

It does not lift anyone. The user still lowers themselves onto the seat and stands back up. Many people also use one on a dining chair or stool, where turning out from a table can be awkward.

• Can sit down and stand up with little help
• Finds twisting or lifting the legs into the car hard
• Wants a simple aid that moves between cars and chairs
• Not a lifting aid; someone who needs lifting help needs a different solution
• Not for use while driving

How to use a swivel seat cushion to get in and out

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists advises getting into the car bottom first, which keeps both feet on the ground until you are seated. It adds that a swivel cushion can then help you turn into position, and suggests moving the seat back as far as possible for space.

Use the car's frame for support rather than balancing on a walking frame. Practice on a dry day with a helper nearby, and keep a walking aid within reach outside the car, not leaning on the open door.

• Getting in: open the door fully, stand with your back to the seat and sit down bottom first.
• Keep your head low and steady a hand on the car frame as you sit.
• Turn on the cushion, bringing both legs in together in one slow movement.
• Getting out: turn first, place both feet flat on the ground, then stand.
• Center the cushion again before the next trip.

What to measure in the car before buying

Head room is the check most people miss. Sit in the seat you will use, with the seat where you will keep it, and measure the gap between the top of your head and the roof edge of the door opening. The cushion will raise you by its thickness, so leave a little more than that.

Then look at the seat itself. Deep bucket seats with high side bolsters can tilt a flat cushion, which makes it less stable to turn on, and smooth leather gives a non-slip base less to grip.

Finally, think about who will move the cushion. If the user rides in several cars, a light cushion that is easy to carry matters most. If it stays in one car, the fit to that seat matters more, and the front passenger seat pushed back usually gives the most room.

• Head clearance at the door frame, seated, minus the cushion thickness
• Seat width between the bolsters compared with the cushion diameter
• Seat shape: flat, lightly contoured or deep bucket
• Seat surface: fabric grips better than smooth leather
• User weight compared with the rated capacity

Swivel seat cushions compared: Stander 3035 and Drive RTLAGF-300

We list two swivel seat cushions with manufacturer pages: Stander's Auto Swivel Seat Cushion (model 3035) and Drive Medical's Padded Swivel Seat Cushion (item RTLAGF-300). The figures below come from the makers' own pages; confirm the Amazon listing names the same model before ordering.

Neither maker publishes a thickness. For scale, a related Stander model, the EZ Swivel Seat, is listed by Performance Health at 18 x 18 x 1 inch (46 x 46 x 2.5 cm), but that is a different product. Measure the cushion on arrival and keep the packaging until it has been tried in the car.

How to use a swivel cushion safely and care for it

Place the cushion squarely in the middle of the seat before sitting, and check that it turns freely and does not slide toward the door. A worn non-slip base can let the whole cushion slip as the user sits.

A loose cushion is also an unsecured object in the car. Store it in the trunk or a seat-back pocket when it is not in use.

Wipe the cover as the maker suggests and let it dry before the next trip. If the cushion starts to stick or grind as it turns, stop using it until you have checked for grit or wear, since a cushion that jams halfway can unbalance the user.

• Never leave it on the driver's seat while driving
• Take it out when others use the seat
• Check the base grip and cover for wear
• Keep it dry, since a wet cover can slide and stay damp

When to ask an occupational therapist

RCOT notes that its tips do not replace one-to-one advice from an occupational therapist, a doctor or another health professional. Ask for advice if getting in or out has become much harder, or after hip or knee surgery, when turning may need to follow specific precautions.

A therapist can also suggest other aids, such as a portable door handle, or a different seat to travel in. Bring the car, or photos and measurements of it, so the advice fits the real door and seat.

• After hip, knee or back surgery
• After a fall getting into or out of a car
• If standing up from the seat needs a lot of help
• If the user cannot turn without pain