Best Recliners for Degenerative Disc Disease
The recliner chair has long symbolized the ultimate in comfort: they are the ubiquitous “dad chairs” of living rooms all across the globe. While the concept of a reclining chair started in the 19th century with something most of us consider fairly unpleasant (dental work!), the evolution of the reclining chair eventually brought us around to the type that we know and love today.
Recliners are associated with the art of relaxation: a place to stretch out as you read the Sunday paper or nod off while watching your favorite sports. They are now often built into sectional sofas (becoming the most coveted spot on the couch) and available in a wide variety of sleek and sophisticated designs (no longer just the bulky leather chairs we think of from years past).
Recliners come in basic, affordable models as well as more expensive price points with all the added bells and whistles. Cup holders, remote holders, side trays, built-in vibration massage; recliners now have it all!
In our search for the ultimate in relaxation, many of us may have overlooked the fact that a reclining chair can offer real and considerable therapeutic benefits, especially for patients who suffer from degenerative disc disease.
Read on to learn more about these benefits and our favorite recliner chairs for help with a bad back.
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Image Credit: Unsplash
While the name sounds particularly scary, degenerative disc disease is fairly common, especially as we age. While painful, it is also a condition that can be treated in a variety of ways that minimize pain and improve quality of life (we will get to how recliners can help with this below).
Perhaps the easiest way to describe degenerative disc disease is a “worn out spine.” It is one of the unfortunate realities of aging. Even the healthiest among us, who practice good habits with our diets and exercise daily, will inevitably face challenges as our bodies age. Unfortunately, our spines are not immune to this.
Spinal discs sit between our vertebrae and give us a much-needed “cushion” and they are vital to our overall health. Over time, those discs will wear down or degenerate, hence the name of the disease. Once this degeneration starts to occur, bones start to rub together, causing problems and pain in many cases.
Almost every adult will have some level of degeneration when it comes to the discs in their spinal cord, but in a smaller percentage of adults, it will develop into a disease. Pain will develop if and when the discs lose fluid, tear, or crack, certain factors that put you at a higher risk.
Women are more likely than men to develop degenerative disc disease as are smokers and people who are obese. Additionally, a physically demanding job or a history of injury may put you at a greater risk.
Back pain, numbness, and tingling can all be symptoms of degenerative disc disease, and the condition can worsen as you sit for long periods. Be sure to consult your physician about any pain you are experiencing to determine if it is indeed degenerative disc disease. If your physician determines this is the problem, she can work with you on some possible treatments including physical therapy, low-impact exercise and stretching, and medications (including steroid injections).
Additionally, a pain sufferer may consider lifestyle changes to ease the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, including changes to your diet (insert link to diet article here?), steps to improve poor posture, as well as changes around your home to ease your pain, which is where the recliner chair comes into the picture.
Recliners for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Buyer’s Guide
It’s one of the trickiest and perhaps cruelest elements of degenerative disc disease: your back (and possibly your neck) hurts, so you desperately want to rest. You lie down or sit down and simply cannot get comfortable. Then if you do somehow manage to fall asleep, you might wake up in even more pain than before your rest.
This can be incredibly frustrating for anyone experiencing degenerative disc disease, and to mitigate this pain you might have to change your resting position.
Thankfully, a recliner offers options and a way to change your body’s position that is not possible with a regular bed or lounge chair. (Now might be a good time to evaluate your mattresses and pillows as well! (https://backcoretherapy.com/best-pillow-for-back-sleepers/)
If you are ready to consider investing in a recliner, we have some tips to make the shopping process easier as the choices can be overwhelming.
Look for Quality and Durability
A bargain recliner may not be your best bet when seeking pain relief. You want one that is well constructed and built to last, offering the best in comfort, lumbar support, durability, and safety. Cheap or shoddy construction on a recliner could make your pain even worse if the chair breaks or malfunctions (not to mention the safety factors you will want to consider if you have small children in the home). Be sure to read customer reviews before purchasing the recliner and find out whether or not it comes with any kind of warranty or manufacturer’s guarantee.
Consider the Type of Recliner Best Suited to Your Needs and Space
When it comes to shopping for the best recliner you will also need to think about what will fit in your space, which could be a tiny city loft or a large country farmhouse. Try taping off the measurements of a particular chair in your living room to see if it will work without overcrowding the room.
You can also narrow down the field of choices by considering the type that you prefer:
Lift Recliner also knows as a power recliner includes a built-in mechanism to adjust seat height and positioning to help people with mobility issues.
Massaging Recliner include a mechanism that replicates a massage therapist working your back and shoulders and may also include a heat therapy option. All of this can be incredibly helpful for those suffering from back pain.
Rocker Recliner give you two options to relax, either with a gentle rocking motion or kicking back into the reclined position (these are often preferred by parents of infants, so they can be used to rock a little one to sleep).
Consider the Type of Recliner Best Suited to Your Body
The size of the room is not the only thing you will need to consider. The size of your body matters as well. Recliners come in many different sizes now, from petite versions to generously over sized ones.
Consider what type of comfortable chair will be best for your size and frame and be sure to sit in the chair first if at all possible before you purchase.
Consider Your Upholstery and Design Preferences
While a bright and cheery fabric may not do play a role for your degenerative disc disease, it does matter if you have a very specific decorative style. You will want to choose a recliner that blends seamlessly with the décor in your home, whether that means a mid-century modern look or a traditional style in classic leather. Many recliners can be customized to your design preferences.
These chairs need to stand up to wear and tear, so be sure the covering you choose is durable. Look for a fabric that is stain-resistant and will not pill or fade in sunlight.
Recliners for Degenerative Disc Disease: Our Top Choices
1. Homall Recliner Chair
- Dimensions: 30.31”D x 27.16”W x 20.67”H
- Materials: Faux leather
- Weight: 57.2 pounds
Available in black, brown, grey, and light beige, the Homall Recliner Chair is one of the best affordable options available to ease your degenerative disc pain.
The faux leather covering is both comfortable and easy to clean; and the steel frame makes the chair incredibly durable. The recommended weight limit for this chair is 265 pounds. You have three options for positions in this chair, including straight (as pictured), reclined, and fully reclined.
The thick foam padding ensures maximum comfort with the Homall chair, which is easy to assemble with the instructions included. While this chair does not offer extra “bells and whistles” (like massagers or cup holders), it gets the job done and is a reliable choice at a budget-friendly price point.
2. FDW Recliner Chair
- Dimensions: 29”D x 20.5”W x 34”H
- Materials: Faux leather
- Weight: 58 pounds
This sleek and modern recliner from FDW comes in a color to suit any décor (beige, blue, brown, grey, orange, or tan) and offers anyone suffering from back pain a comfortable place to rest.
Its weight-bearing capacity is 275 pounds, and the recliner chair can be assembled in just minutes, with no special tools required. From the chair’s 90-degree sitting position you can recline to four angles: 125 degrees, 140 degrees, 150 degrees, and 160 degrees. This kind of variety is ideal for addressing lower back pain and neck pain, like the kind caused by degenerative disc disease. The user can try out different positions to see what is most comfortable (and the least painful).
Speaking of comfort, the high-density filling sponge in this chair’s seat cushion is what makes it a resting spot your family members will race to reach first.
Non-scratch plastic feet ensure the chair is friendly to your flooring and easy to move around. The PU leather covering is also easy to clean with a damp cloth. We love this chair for its compact design, durable construction, reasonable price point, and variety of colors.
3. Esright Massage Recliner Chair
- Dimensions: 38.5”D x 33.5“W x by 43.2”H
- Materials: Faux leather, composite
- Weight: 92 pounds (ships in two boxes)
If you are ready to splurge on the Cadillac of recliners, consider the Esright Massage Recliner Chair as one of your top choices. Not only can you recline to ease your pain from degenerative disc disease, but you can also rock, swivel, enjoy a massage, or apply heat.
There are very few instances of back pain that this ergonomic chair cannot address; it is a workhorse of recliners, and with convenient cup holders you can stay here for long periods, getting the rest you desperately need. The Esright is so comfortable you could easily sleep through the night here.
If there is any “con” to this chair it might be its heft. The bulk of this model may be too much for some to assemble or to fit in a compact living space, such as a small apartment. If you have the space in your living room (and the funds in your bank), however, we highly recommend this chair.
A remote controller is included to make it easy to use the massage chair function (which has five control modes and two intensity levels) and the upholstery choices are black or brown. Lastly, we love the ease of the 360-degree swivel in this model.
4. Ashley Signature Design Recliner
- Dimensions: 40″D x 35″W x 42.63″H
- Materials: Faux leather
- Weight: 121 pounds
First things first: this is a BIG chair. If you plan to move it from room to room, you need to make sure your doorways are at least 30 inches wide and be prepared to move more than 100 pounds. If the size of this Signature Design by Ashley Yandel chair does not deter you, we guarantee you are going to love it.
The saddle brown upholstery looks so much like real leather your guests will be fooled (and the chair comes in a beautiful black finish as well). With its dual motor function, you can recline or be lifted with just the touch of a button, making this an ideal chair for seniors or others with mobility issues. The process of reclining to the lift position takes only 15 seconds, and the hand control is simple enough for anyone to operate.
Degenerative disc pain is eased by this chair’s incredibly comfortable and soothing shape and design, and the chair is easy to assemble with all hardware and tools included. We love this chair for its overall comfort and ease of use. It is one of the most expensive of our best chair picks, but we believe it is well worth it for easing the pains associated with degenerative disc disease.
