When you have treatment-resistant back pain, getting a specialized recliner chair or pillow can make a world of difference. Many of the recliners on the market seem to be very similar, however.
Furthermore, many recliners have features like heating pads and massage motors, and it isn’t always clear what will help your back the most.
If you’re not sure which reclining chair would help with your back pain the most, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll discuss what you should think about while you’re shopping for a recliner, and we’ll also review five of the best recliners for back pain.
What To Look For In A Recliner For Back Pain
Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, and there are a plethora of different things that can cause back pain. For everything from sports injuries to bad posture, back pain is often difficult to control with one intervention alone.
A recliner could be a great addition to your roster of therapies for your back pain. If you find that a gentle massage or mild heating of your back muscles makes you feel better, there’s a good chance that a recliner could be part of your back pain solution.
When you need to get your back pain under control by using a reclining chair, there are a few factors that you should pay attention to, including:
- The recliner’s form factor
- Lumbar support
- Weight
- Ease of cleaning
- Aesthetics
In this section, we’ll go over each of these items in more detail so that you’ll be well-prepared when it’s time to choose a recliner to address your back pain.
Form factor
The form factor of a recliner determines the floorspace that the chair will take up as well as how easy it is to move around. The form factor also has a large impact on the ergonomics of the recliner, so it is perhaps the single most important feature to look for.
While it is a relatively minor concern for most people, the form factor of a recliner also impacts its aesthetics, which we’ll discuss in more detail a bit further on.
In general, the best recliners for back pain have a form factor that takes up a lot of floorspace and also a lot of vertical space. The more space a recliner takes up, the more likely it is to have large cushions that increase its comfort.
Likewise, large form factors leave plenty of room for the mechanical parts of the recliner, which is important for recliners with heating or massage functionalities.
Small form factor recliners are not necessarily bad, but you should realize that they probably won’t have as many pain-reducing features.
Lumbar support
Lumbar support refers to the amount of effort your muscles have to expend to keep you in an upright position once you are seated in the recliner. Recliners without much lumbar support are less comfortable for most people to sit in, and they encourage poor posture.
On the other hand, recliners with a large amount of lumbar support may not be comfortable for some people.
In the context of recliners for back pain, chairs with a lot of lumbar support frequently skimp on massage and heating features, but this is not always the case.
In contrast, recliners for back pain without enough lumbar support are among the worst products in the category because they can potentially exacerbate back pain.
There isn’t any way to objectively measure how much lumbar support will be the right amount for you or your back pain, so try to test a wide variety of different recliners before you make a purchase.
Weight
Weight is a minor consideration for recliners, but depending on your specific needs it may be more important. Most of the time, your recliner will be stationary in one location.
If you plan on moving your recliner around, you’ll need a lighter unit or a recliner with rolling wheels on the bottom. Lighter recliners are rarely as effective at reducing back pain as heavier recliners, and they also have fewer massage features and less comfort.
Ease of cleaning
The ease of cleaning a reclining chair isn’t a major factor, but it is something that you should understand before you make a purchase. Recliners made of leather or pleather are appealing for their aesthetics, but they often require special cleaning routines to maintain the material.
On the other hand, reclining chairs made of foam, nylon, or composite materials tend to be easier to clean, but they also get dirtier much more rapidly.
You probably won’t be cleaning the internal mechanisms of your recliner no matter what type of recliner you get, so you don’t need to worry about it.
Aesthetics
Your recliner will have a permanent place in your home, and that means it behooves you to find a recliner that you find aesthetically appealing.
Many people enjoy the aesthetic of leather recliners, but there are also a handful of different materials that you can choose between to find something that fits your home’s decoration.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many different colors to choose from when it comes to aesthetic options for recliners. Most recliners are either black or dark brown.
If you want a recliner that stands out a bit more, you may have to purchase a mainstream one and then pay to have it reupholstered.
5 Best Recliners for Back Pain
Here are the five best recliners for back pain, no matter what ails you.
1. Esright Massage Recliner Chair
The Esright recliner is our choice for the best overall recliner for back pain thanks to its full set of features and also its comfort.
Whether you want this recliner in leather, faux leather, or another synthetic material, you’ll have several color options to choose from, which isn’t the case with most recliner models.
With this recliner, you’ll get a vibration-based back massage, automatic reclining, swiveling, heating pads, storage bags, two cup holders, and a remote control for the chair’s electrical functions.
The chair has the perfect amount of lumbar support, so you won’t need to worry about your posture.
The only downside to the Esright recliner is that the remote control is small and easy to misplace. We also dislike the appearance of the side bags, but it’s a minor concern overall.
Pros:
- Multiple color and material options
- Comfortable headrest
- Includes swiveling, rocking, heating, and massage functions
- Two cup holders
Cons:
- Remote control is easy to misplace
- Storage bags look awkward
2. ANJ Massage Recliner Chair with Heat and Vibration
The ANJ Massage Recliner Chair is an excellent option for people who want to experience a vibration-based massage in their upper back, middle back, lower back, thighs, and ankles at the same time.
Unlike other recliners for back pain, the ANJ recliner lets you customize where you want to be massaged. If you only want your ankles vibrated, there’s an option for that.
Furthermore, this recliner’s massage element is exceptionally vigorous at its maximum power, which means that it’s great for people who need more intensity to resolve their pain.
The biggest downside of the ANJ recliner is that you’ll need to assemble it yourself when the package arrives at your home. Assembly isn’t exceptionally difficult, but it might be troublesome for people with impaired mobility or strength.
Potential buyers should also realize that the ANJ chair only has a one-year warranty.
Pros:
- Attractive design
- Powerful massage motors
- Multiple-zone massage capability
- Powerful heating elements
Cons:
- Assembly required
- Only has a one-year warranty
3. ComHoma Leather Recliner Chair
For people who enjoy rocking chairs as well as reclining chairs, the ConHoma recliner is one of the best selections. With this chair, you’ll get a recliner that has four vibration modes, easy and unpowered reclining, and comfortable rocking.
The massage system has multiple zones that you can choose between, though you’ll only get to pick between four different levels of vibration. In comparison to other recliners for back pain, this chair has more lumbar support than most.
Likewise, this chair implements a rocking functionality far better than most other chairs. On the other hand, you should be aware that the recliner is exceptionally non-mobile, even in comparison to other recliners.
The disc or spoked-wheel base on the recliner makes it very stable, and it also enables rocking with great comfort. However, it also means that your floor will be scraped up when you drag the chair from point to point, and the recliner is extremely heavy.
Pros:
- Great rocking chair functionality
- Heating element configured to maintain body temperature
- Easy unpowered reclining
- Great lumbar support
Cons:
- Difficult to move thanks to its disc base
- Only four vibration settings
4. Hbada Reclining Office Desk Chair
For people who want to find a better office chair that will work with them to reduce their back pain, the Hbada Reclining Office Chair might be a good choice. Unlike most of the other recliners for back pain, this Hbada chair is meant for passive use.
In other words, reclining in this chair will be restful, but it won’t be therapeutic. Instead, the combination of adjustable lumbar support, adjustable headrest, and adjustable footrest ensures that your body maintains a good posture that will passively reduce your back pain.
The mesh back of the recliner also helps keep your back cool, which may be good for people who feel that heat exacerbates their back pain.
This recliner is also notable because it’s highly portable. With wheels and a lightweight design, the recliner is easy to move from room to room, and it’s also easier to move from building to building in comparison to other recliners.
The drawback of this recliner is that the footrests are not very sturdy when they are fully reclined, but most people won’t mind.
Pros:
- Highly mobile
- Perfect for reducing daily back pain load caused by office work
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Highly configurable
Cons:
- No massage or heating functions
- Footrest is somewhat rickety when extended
5. Bonzy Home Air Leather Recliner
Sometimes, the best recliner for back pain is simply the plushest and comfortable recliner that you can find.
The Bonzy Home Air Leather Recliner doesn’t have any of the fancy mechanical or heating features that other recliners do, but it may well be one of the most comfortable recliners on the market.
This recliner’s primary appeals are comfort and a classy aesthetic. When you sit down on the chair, it will engulf you in its overstuffed cushions. Then, when you recline, you’ll be supported by its massive headrest and its sturdy back support pad.
For people that flourish when they have only a small amount of lumbar support, however, the Bonzy recliner may be a bit too aggressive. Likewise, people who need advanced features to reduce their level of back pain will probably not get what they need from this chair.
If you only have a small amount of back pain and you think that it can be addressed by spending some time each day relaxing in an extremely comfortable recliner, this recliner is right up your alley.
Pros:
- Very comfortable cushioning
- Looks classy
- Easy and power-free reclining
- Durable materials
Cons:
- May have too much lumbar support for some people
- Doesn’t have any heating, massage, rocking, or swiveling capabilities
Reclining For Relief
Now that you’ve seen a handful of different recliners for back pain, you’re ready to move forward.
As we mentioned before, if you want a basic recliner for back pain, the Esright chair is our favorite all-around pick. If your reclining needs are different and you need a more mobile recliner, the Hbada office chair is our suggestion.
If your back pain is mild and transient, you could flourish with the Bonzy Home recliner, but, if you want advanced features like massages and heating, the ANJ recliner is probably a better option.
Remember that back pain is difficult to treat under the best of circumstances, and picking the right recliner may not be enough to fully reduce the pain.
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about additional back pain reduction techniques or ergonomic pillows, both of which can add on to the benefit provided by your recliner.
