Best Recliners for Back Pain: 8 Perfect Lumbar Support Chairs! (2024)

FAQs

What recliners do doctors recommend? ›

The only recliner your doctor will recommended

It's hard to believe that a chair can be good for your health, but a Stressless recliner actually is. Stressless is the only recliner in the world that is fully endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

Many people think they need to sit up completely straight but research suggests sitting in a reclined position is actually better for the spine as it reduces pressure. Back in 2006, academics in Canada and Scotland found that reclining by at least 135 degrees was effective in relieving back pain.

La-Z-Boy's recliners could help reduce the risk of back pain symptoms as this type of leisure chair is adjusted independently, whether the backrest or legrest. Moreover, for some models, they can even adjust the lumbar and headrest (Power XR+ models).

Are Recliner Lift Chairs Covered by Medicare? The motorized lift mechanism of the lift chair or seat-lift chair is a Medicare-covered item. If you qualify, Medicare may cover up to 80 percent of the approved amount for the seat lift mechanism.

That means you'll want to shop toward the end of winter (January and February) or the end of summer (August and September). Retailers will be discounting their old stock during these months to make room for the new styles. Presidents Day and Labor Day weekends are especially good times for sales.

Lift recliners are one of the best recliners for seniors and individuals with limited mobility. They are essentially recliners that lift you up, making it easier to lower into the seat or stand from a seated position.

Overstuffed furniture and recliners allow the low back to sag into a slouch, causing stress on the surrounding soft tissues. These furniture styles also often have pillows at the head that push the head and neck forward, creating the same problem as found at the low back.

Research has found that reclining your chair puts the least stress on your spine when it is reclined to about 135 degrees and may reduce your risk of back pain. The ability of riser recliner chairs to move to this position with ease makes them a good choice for people who sit for long periods.

Start by standing in front of your sofa and push your bottom towards the edge of the backrest. Once you're in a sitting position, make sure your back is upright rather than hunched over. Lean back on the backrest with relaxed shoulders and don't keep your neck in an uncomfortable position.

Why are Lazy Boy recliners so expensive? ›

Because they use high-quality materials and construction, their pieces tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum. If you are working with a tight budget, La-Z-Boy furniture may not be the best option for you. The Furniture Mall, however, offers financing for all our furniture.

Insomniacs can rock themselves to sleep and mothers can enjoy the comfort of Lazy Boy furniture while the rocking motion relaxes their nursing baby or young child. The rocker recliner is best for bigger rooms that can accommodate the needed space for the reclining seatback, which is generally about 3 feet.

Sleeping in a reclining position is preferable for sleeping with lower back pain and/or sciatica. Specifically, pain that feels worse when standing up straight, and better when bending forward, is a sign that sleeping in a supported reclining position may be beneficial.

1. COMHOMA Leather Heated Massage Recliner, $320, original price: $390. With a classic design that's backed by more than 4,000 rave reviews, the COMHOMA Leather Heated Massage Recliner is well-priced at less than $400 and boasts reclining, rocking, massage, heated and swiveling features.

Pick and choose which aspects are the most important to you, then come up with a number that seems fair for your ideal recliner. A good price for durable materials and great comfort usually lies between $800 and $2,000.

La-Z-Boy competitors include Wayfair, Ethan Allen, Havertys and Joybird. La-Z-Boy ranks 1st in Employee Net Promoter Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Reclining helps reduce pressure on your spine and helps provide support on your back by creating an angle between your trunk and thighs. The crucial part of this position is the pillow between your knees. It helps reduce lower back pain and helps keep proper spinal alignment.

Your lumbar support needs to be positioned so it aligns with this area of the back. In an office chair, it will be situated at the bottom of the chair's backrest and will sit just above your belt line. If you're adding a lumbar support cushion to your chair, position it in this area.

Geriatric recliners, also known as Geri chair recliners, are large and well-padded recliners that were specifically designed for seniors and those patients who are suffering from reduced mobility following an illness or surgery.

Does Medicare cover Lazy Boy Lift Chairs? Since Medicare covers only the lift mechanism of the chair, beneficiaries can choose to pay out of pocket for specific seats, whether it be a Lazy Boy brand or another brand.

What are medical recliners? ›

Medical recliners are exceptionally comfortable reclining chairs primarily intended for postoperative patients, the elderly, and people with disabilities. They offer maximum comfort and support, allowing for multiple seating and lying positions.

Recliners constructed from chip wood are weaker and often won't last as long as those crafted from hardwood or plywood. Recliners are often upholstered in fabric, leather, microfiber, or microsuede upholstery. Leather offers the most durable option, while fabric, microsuede, and microfiber are softer and cozier.

More specifically, you will find the best deals between the months of July and September. The discounts begin leading up to August in an effort to clear out stock and make room for incoming styles.

Riser recliner chairs allow you to adjust your seating position throughout the day. This makes them the best chairs for people with limited mobility as they allow you to find your perfect sitting (or snoozing!) position at the touch of a button. Riser recliner chairs also can help support when standing.

Power recliners are likely to last longer because there is less wear and tear on an electric mechanism, and the power motors in power recliners are often covered by the manufacturer. The mechanisms in manual recliners will wear down quicker with constant use.

Sleeping in a reclined position may help ease heartburn and reflux by keeping the body in a more upright position. Sleep apnea, which is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. It increases with age and so some elderly people find it easier to sleep in a more upright position in a recliner.

Going on walks: Initial research suggests that going on a walk or brisk walking (Nordic walking) can help relieve back pain if done regularly – for instance, every two days for 30 to 60 minutes.

Low back pain that gets worse with sitting may indicate a herniated lumbar disc (one of the discs in the lower part of the back). This is because certain positions of the body can change the amount of pressure that an out-of-place disc can press on a nerve.

For this reason, it's very important to maintain a good posture and to take every opportunity you can to sit back in the chair, relax and offload body weight to the chair backrest. Your knees and feet should be spread wide apart and you should have good foot contact with the floor- no tucking your legs under the chair.

So, Ideal Footrest Length for a Recliner? Ambassador recommends the ideal footrest length allows for the ankle full clearance of the footrest. The ideal position is to have your heels extend past the footrest. This distributes the weight evenly to a large portion of your legs, allowing you to sit in comfort.

Why do my legs ache when I sit in a recliner? ›

"When you're sitting in the recliner with a right angle between your torso and your upper leg, and your knee is bent, the tension in your sciatic nerve is low. When you raise the leg rest, it straightens your knees, putting tension on your sciatic nerves.

Preventing Neck and Back Pain When Sitting. Begin by sitting comfortably as close as possible to your desk so that your upper arms are parallel to your spine. Rest your hands on your work surface (e.g. desktop, computer keyboard). If your elbows are not at a 90-degree angle, move your chair either up or down.

Despite this, health professionals are increasingly advising that sitting on the floor helps to maintain the natural curvature of the spine and so helps people sit more upright and improve posture.

By sitting for too long, especially in a poor postural or slumped position you can add a tremendous amount of pressure to your back, overstretch the spinal ligaments and increase the pressure on your intervertebral discs. This in turn can lead to on-going aches and pains.

While most customers think of them as pricier than most discount stores, they offer a higher value than most for the price, which extends to their full catalog. Overall, customers have good things to say about comfort and delivery, with some exceptions around perceived quality and durability.

The average price of a La-Z-Boy Recliner can range anywhere from $299 – $4,000 depending on the fabric, options, and upgrades.

La-Z-Boy Inc.

(pronounced "lazy boy") is an American furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan, United States, that makes home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, lift chairs and sleeper sofas. The company employs more than 11,000 people. La-Z-Boy Inc.

If you suffer from limited mobility, then an electric recliner could be the best option for you. If you simply would like a chair you can lift your feet up in though, a manual recliner could be better suited to your needs.

The average shopper looks to replace their recliner every 7-10 years. Don't worry, though! It is possible to enjoy your recliner beyond this estimated lifespan. With proper care and treatment, some La-Z-Boy clients have gotten over 20 years of use out of their recliner chairs.

Does sleeping with legs elevated help back pain? ›

Sleeping with your legs lifted relieves back pain

Sleeping on your back with your legs laid straight puts pressure on your lower back, which may result in more back pain over time. By elevating your legs as you sleep, you will take some of the pressure off, relieving your lower spine.

If you notice that you slouch or stoop when you sit, it is likely that your chair is bad for lumbar support. If you find back pain is worse when you are seated, look to a seating solution with better lumbar support.

Best Sleeping Position for Back Pain

The best sleeping position for is on your side with a pillow or blanket between the knees. Side sleeping can also relieve symptoms for those with neck or back pain.

If your recliner doesn't support your lower back, the chair could do your body more harm than good. To help your posture, add support by tucking a rolled towel or a small cushion against your lower back, Dr. Kamps said.

Overstuffed furniture and recliners allow the low back to sag into a slouch, causing stress on the surrounding soft tissues. These furniture styles also often have pillows at the head that push the head and neck forward, creating the same problem as found at the low back.

Your head should rest against the headrest with the neck aligned above the spine and not tilting forward or back, which puts strain on the upper back and neck. Seat depth – you should be able to sit with your buttocks and hips against the back of the chair and your knees just past the edge of the seat.

Myth #2 – Sitting Upright is Optimal

A reclined posture is less fatiguing and easier to maintain than sitting erect. Sitting slightly reclined also reduces pressure on the discs in your lower back.

When you sleep in a recliner, your knees and hips remain bent throughout the night. Over time, this can lead to tight hips, calves, and hamstrings, and may negatively affect your posture. Tight muscles may also increase your risk of falling.