Do you experience back pain? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans suffer from lower back pain at any given time.
If you’re looking for relief, a recliner is a great option indeed. It allows you to sit with your spine in a neutral position, which takes pressure off your back. Additionally, many recliners come with built-in lumbar support, which can further help reduce back pain. We’ve researched over 30 models and stopped at the 6 best recliners for back pain. Our top choice is the DaVinci Piper All-Purpose Upholstered Recliner, which offers not just a firm backing but most importantly extra lower back support in the shape of an additional lumbar pillow. Complete with a plush pop up leg rest, this recliner provides the ultimate in comfort and style.
More features: firm back with a lumbar pillow; plush pop-up leg rest
The DaVinci Piper All-Purpose Upholstered Recliner is our Editor’s choice due to its impressive functions of a recliner and glider, coupled with its stunning and rather modernistic overall appearance. The cream soft polyester fabric is durable and is free of chemical retardants. This makes it an excellent choice of use in the nursery for parents. However, for those looking to alleviate symptoms of back pain, this recliner offers not just a firm backing but most importantly extra lower back support in the shape of an additional lumbar pillow. The metal base of this recliner allows the user a 360-degree swivel motion, but it’s smooth and gentle in transit and glides back and forth with relative ease. Better still, the reclining mechanism is wholly hidden allowing a more streamlined look, which is excellent news for those looking to purchase a recliner and place it in their home but don’t necessarily want it to look like a standard recliner. Complete with a plush pop up leg rest, the DaVinci Piper All-Purpose Upholstered Recliner provides the ultimate in comfort whether you’re looking for a practical solution to pain or just want to obtain some luxury from your chair choice.
Customers purchasing the DaVinci Piper All-Purpose Upholstered Recliner consider it a quality designed recliner which offers not only maximum comfort when in use but also looks stylish when placed in the room. The addition of the lumbar pillow also rates highly with many as it gets to work on soothing the back area which needs it the most.
More features: comes with remote control and a backup battery; dual motors control the footrest and back independently
The Ashley Furniture Yandel Power Lift Recliner is our choice for the more contemporary of recliners with its worn leather look showcasing a signature design. This is a power lift recliner which means it comes with a built-in dual motor enabling it to lift and recline with the touch of a button – thanks to the control supplied. The control monitor has a simplistic design with just the four necessary buttons included for you to position the footrest down or up and do the same with the back. This ensures that you get that maximum personalized comfort each time. This model offers a generous sizing both when in standard sitting position and when in reclining mode, so many people can enjoy this one! Added to its infrastructure is a plush comfort with the recliner possessing comfort throughout because of its use of thick cushioning, a sturdy corner blocked frame and a reinforced metal seat to finish. A recliner which wouldn’t look out of place in any room, the black upholstery of this product is designed to look like leather but is actually a better feeling material of thick poly fiber. This means it not only looks great but feels great on the skin.
Customers who select the Ashley Furniture Yandel Power Lift Recliner do so not just because of its overall look, with the fabric offering a much softer feel than real leather and vinyl, but more so because of its dual motor feature. This is considered to be both quiet and smooth when in use and offers multifunctional applications throughout.
More features: comes with an angled ottoman; 360-degree parameter swivel
The Mac Motion Oslo Collection Hamar Recliner is one of our most visually stunning recliners, and the only type on here which comes complete with its own angled ottoman. Because the ottoman is not attached to the recliner itself, it means that this model can double up as a regular chair, making it perfect if you don’t want a typical looking recliner in your room! With a 360-degree parameter swivel at its base, alongside an adjustable reclining back, this recliner is fully adaptable to your circumstances and does all of this with just one single handle. Getting into the required position has therefore never been easier. Not only one of the most luxurious of recliners visually, all Oslo recliners include a memory foam in their makeup with solid core foam seating making it more comfortable and extra supportive. Though this is the most expensive model on the list, the many additional features such as breathable air leather, the angled ottoman, and the convenient swivel feature make this an all year-round high-quality recliner which offers superb support and relaxation for those suffering from back pain.
Customers choosing the Mac Motion Oslo Collection Hamar Recliner love the leather materials used in the chair, finding it makes the recliner look like an ordinary chair rather than just a recliner. This model also offers superior back support and is throughout comfortable overall. The reclining and swiveling aspect are said to be smooth with the chair’s construction durable. Several customers even report their back pain has eased through the sturdy lumbar support this model offers all users.
More features: 3 functional positions; able to swivel, glide and recline.
The Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner may have the description baby in its title, but this recliner works at offering maximum relief to those who suffer from back pain. Though it is predominately marketed towards the baby market, in no way does this recliner visually suggest so! In fact, its modern design would make it a perfect addition to any household particularly with its upholstery – which is the easier to clean. With an option of keeping the recliner closed, partially opening it or fully opening it up to gain a maximum comforting position, the enclosed mechanism of this product is a ball bearing which ensures smooth gliding and swivel rotating functions throughout. What’s more is that this recliner doesn’t just offer great leg resting qualities (which is ideal for lower back pain relief) but also works on keeping your arms comfortable at the same time. This is due to its track arm design meaning you have a spacious area to place your arms, which some recliners don’t always pay too much attention to in their construction. With a convenient lever placement at the top side of the armrest this model allows you to get into your best positioning with relatively little hassle.
Customers of the Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner believe it to be a thoroughly durable recliner which lasts from those baby days to beyond. A comfortable product, the ability to recline as far back as it does is also a winner with many customers as well as the smooth swivel function. It’s also suggested it doesn’t take up too much space in the room.
More features: thick padded seat and back; steel frame; adjustable footrest.
The Homall Single Recliner Chair is our best budget buy, with a fantastic price tag of a little over $100. The most multi-functional of chairs, this model resembles theater seating at its best! Available to choose from a variety of color, our favorite one here is the black leather version. With three stages to the positioning of this chair, customers can choose from sitting straight, slightly reclined or fully reclined, whatever takes your fancy! This quick switch design can be accessed with a straightforward pull tag which is conveniently located at the top of the armrest. Made using high-quality PU leather, it contains a higher density of thick sponge as well. These materials serve to offer a more comforting chair which is gentle on the skin, easy to clean and extremely comfortable. The lush back of this recliner makes it suitable for many people whether with ailments or not, but the quick switch design aims to ease those experiencing ongoing back pain predominately. The adjustable footrest which makes up this recliner consists of a sturdy steel frame which is boosted by a thick foam padding here.
Customers choosing the Homall Single Recliner Chair find it a perfect product which offers the user so much choice – yet all for a smaller price tag. The quality is mentioned many times by satisfied customers who are surprised considering its one of the more budget recliners on the market! It’s considered by many to be easy to put into recline mode and then sit back up again. This model definitely surprises many with its durability.
More features: tufted back; cushioned seat.
The Christopher Knight Home Elizabeth Recliner is our choice of the more traditional and classical looking of recliners which would sit beautifully in any home. However, it wouldn’t look out of place in a study or library either! A somewhat more of a statement piece, this recliner is constructed with a visually exquisite bonded leather but still works on giving maximum comfort to the user through its cushioned seat. With a tufted back in its design, this recliner offers adequate shape and height to its backing to ensure that most heights can access the chair with ease and be fully supported throughout. The design of the armrests adds continued comfort. Offering a more relaxed recline, rather than a huge drop back, this model doesn’t provide a lever to access the recline position but instead allows you to manually place your weight back and sink into the recline in the most natural way possible. However, what the Christopher Knight Home Elizabeth Recliner aims to work on predominantly is keeping your back in the best position every time as you sit in it – with its use of adequality firm cushioning used in the backing.
Customers who’ve purchased the Christopher Knight Home Elizabeth Recliner highly rate its classical look, especially if you’re after a recliner which doesn’t quite resemble a recliner and want a more visual centerpiece displayed in your room! The idea that you can use this chair as a standard chair, while still getting the many benefits from its cushioned and comfortable backing, is also a great attraction for many customers.
Now that you’ve had a good look at some of our best-rated recliners for back pain, why not take a little time to look through some essential additional information? This is a Buying Guide which we have included here to offer you as much practical advice and information to help you get the best recliner for your specific needs. By using this, you can ensure that the model you’re looking for ticks all of your required boxes before you spend your hard-earned cash.
Health experts claim that recliners work best for those suffering from back pain because they encourage a better position than that of sitting up straight. When we sit up straight, we continually contract our muscles.
In a reclining position, the weight is taken off our backs, and there is no unnecessary stress placed on any area of the body. This means our muscles begin to relax. By making use of the added footrest in a recliner, we can also elevate our legs to not only prevent any muscle strain but meanwhile improve our blood circulation.
There are some essential features to think about before you purchase a recliner. From the leg rest to the number of recline positions offered and the types of material used in its makeup, there are many features you may want to look into first before getting the recliner that is right for your individual needs. The essential elements, discussed in the above reviews, are all listed below and explained in more detail to help you select the best model.
It’s highly recommended that you take a closer look at the exact measurements of each recliner when searching for that perfect one. This is just because there isn’t one standard size when it comes to these products, just as there isn’t with any other type of standard chair. Therefore, if you’re a taller person, you may struggle with a recliner which doesn’t offer you vital head and neck support. If you need more width than a standard chair offers, some of the narrower recliners could make it near impossible to get comfortable in. Likewise, if you are short, you may discover that reaching that leg rest naturally just doesn’t happen. Don’t make the mistake of buying a recliner without getting an exact measurement of it beforehand. The table above here lists all the required sizes for you in order to save your time.
Though some customers may not pay as much attention to the weight of their chosen recliner, there’s no doubt that these products do weigh a lot more than their standard counterpart chairs. This is simply due to their additional features such as steel construction within them, their swivel bases and of course that extended footrest which needs to include an extra level of support within it. Therefore, though you may not think the weight makes a difference, if you’re intending on moving your recliner around, you’ll need to bear this in mind. Some customers purchasing these products find they need to place it in an area whereby it won’t have to be moved again, as they aren’t the most practical of chairs to keep hauling around the home!
Once again, consider the type of material of your intended recliner carefully before you make your decision. There’s an enormous choice of fabrics available from polyester to PU leather, and each material has a certain feel to it, often differing significantly from the other.
Think about how you prefer your ordinary chairs. Do you find that leather keeps you cool in summer but gets too cold when winter comes around? Or, does fabric cause you to overheat during those summer months but keep you warmer during those colder of months? The Mac Motion Oslo Collection Hamar Recliner can solve this with its breathable air leather to keep you fresh in summer and warm in winter.
The type of material you select here may come down to personal preference, but it’s also worth noting that now many recliners are designed using a combination of material, such as the Ashley Furniture Yandel Power Lift Recliner which uses thick poly fiber.
Look out for what each material used states it can do for you. Additionally, check how easy the material is to care for and whether it can be cleaned quickly enough. This is especially important if you have children or pets in your home.
An excellent suggestion to ensure your recliner serves you well is to look at the warranty it comes complete with before making your final decision. This is because a recliner is a working chair, as such, and therefore could be open to a select number of problems over time. The tilting mechanism, the footrest lift, and the swivel design are all features that you do not want to experience problems with as they will detract from the overall purpose of the recliner. Therefore, look to those warranties that will offer some assurance that should this happen, you’ll be covered by some form of guarantee.
All the reviewed recliners offer a minimum of a one-year warranty, but some will extend this to up to five years. However, check whether that means having to purchase an additional warranty outright before you act.
If your recliner does come with a motor or specific electronic features, you may want to know that should they fail to work, you are covered for someone to investigate the problem, making sure you aren’t left for a long time without your beloved recliner!
How it looks visually is often one of the most significant considerations for many people when they purchase a recliner. Recliners were at one time seen as old-fashioned and an elderly person’s preference of chairs – some coming complete with designs and patterns to match this concept. However, with more and more people of all ages experiencing back pain or even those merely wanting to purchase a more comfortable type of chair in general, recliners do not longer seem as old-fashioned and bulky looking.
Just take a look at the Mac Motion Oslo Collection Hamar Recliner and the Christopher Knight Home Elizabeth Recliner for example. At first glance, you wouldn’t even think they were recliners if they were sat pride of place in someone else’s home!
Additionally, you may want to think beforehand as to where you’re going to place your recliner when you get it home. A recliner with a footrest needs to have room both in front of it and behind it to be able to access its reclining features to the fullest. This means no other chairs in the way or tables and cupboards or even people! When measuring up for this product, be sure to look at the size of the chair in regards to its fully opened up positioning. This way it’s not too much of a shock when you do go to recline on your chair only to find that your designated room doesn’t allow for this.
There are also coupled recliners for families on the market. That is a great way to surprise your beloved one. Usually, they are very comfy and go with cupholders and extra-large armrests. If you are interested take a look at the best models available.
By now, coupled with these detailed reviews and extensive buying guide, you should feel armed with the relevant and essential information that you need to help you make the best recliner purchases.
Our Editor’s choice, the DaVinci Piper All-Purpose Upholstered Recliner, is undoubtedly one of the best all-around recliners currently on the market. Not only does this model offer everything you need from a recliner, but it also looks great as it does so!
Second best on our list is the Ashley Furniture Yandel Power Lift Recliner, which is one of the more modern recliners we’ve seen but, most importantly, offers that great dual-motor element and is thoroughly roomy.
Finally, our third pick is the Mac Motion Oslo Collection Hamar Recliner, just because it doesn’t strive to look too outdated, with its accompanying ottoman, yet still offers what you need most from your recliner.
Overall, for the most natural back pain relief, a recliner is most certainly worth the initial outlay for long-term peace of mind.
