Does Your Chair Cause Tailbone Pain? Key Factors to Consider

Modern-day recliners are borderline termed as the epitome of comfort and convenience and, more often than not, a perfect substitute for a typical Chesterfield or a chair.

While being a holy grail for an aching body, finding caveats, especially the ones that orient around discomfort when used for their intended purposes is pretty rare.

And that’s exactly the reason why my answer is usually a mixed bag when asked queries by my peers or clients such as “Can a recliner or chair cause tailbone pain?”

Henceforth, to shed light on this topic, here is a comprehensive guide explaining everything revolving around tailbone pain and recliners.

What Exactly is Coccydynia?

When an injury occurs at the base of the tailbone area right above your buttocks, it is known as coccydynia or coccyx pain.

Usually, in the long run, this results in a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including soreness, tenderness, and inflammation, commonly referred to as coccydynia.

However, tailbone injury alone isn’t the root cause of coccydynia and lower back pain; the most common cause are prolonged sitting on hard chairs for long hours, childbirth, or even obesity, which can also contribute to this painful condition.

Fortunately enough, While the coccyx pain can be debilitating and painful, there are various treatment options available to manage and alleviate the symptoms, depending on the underlying cause.

Can A Recliner Or Chair Cause Tailbone Pain & Coccyx Pain – Fact Or Fiction

A recliner, in some scenarios, might pose a risk to your tailbone, eventually developing a serious discomfort phenomenon known as coccydynia.

Here are a couple of culprits that might be responsible for it while using a recliner.

1. Mind The Padding

Oftentimes, we are so invested in the design and overall aesthetics that while purchasing a recliner, the thought of checking out its upholstery and cushioning levels is often overlooked.

Even a seasoned recliner enthusiast can make such a rookie mistake since the marketing gimmicks involved while committing to a purchase skyrocket the potential of a recliner to a greater degree than it is supposed to be.

Even worse, the symptoms of coccydynia don’t really appear until it’s too late, making it difficult to determine precisely what is causing the problem in the first place.

Henceforth, it is highly advised that you perform a couple of tests by sitting on it and applying pressure personally, all while comparing it with the standard hard surface with the recliner you are buying and using beforehand to prevent discomfort.

If by any means, testing it in person isn’t a feasible approach, doing your research beforehand can also be deemed beneficial as oftentimes, recliner reviews can provide excellent and in-depth information regarding its upholstery, so you wouldn’t have to make the mistake.

2. Poor Ergonomics, Body weight Threshold

Any recliner that doesn’t envelop your body or cradles it according to your body’s anatomical design is downright considered useless, as it barely offers proper ergonomics and lacks lumbar support.

Providing lumbar support is one of the most pivotal selling features of a recliner, even if it belongs to an entry-level lineup, as it helps you maintain good posture and is healthy for a coccyx cushion, preventing coccyx pain.

Make sure you use a recliner to keep your upper body in proper orientation regardless of the angle you are sitting on it to prevent your tailbone from sinking into an improper sitting position, which will eventually develop problems like coccyx pain or general pain in the tailbone area.

On the other hand, if your recliner is below your weight capacity, consider investing in a heavy-duty recliner specifically designed to support heavier individuals.

This ensures a comfortable and safe experience, all while helping you maintain good posture, which is ideal for coccyx cushions.

3. Incorrect Sitting Posture

Slouching or stretching too much can also do more harm than you would instead imagine; in fact, it forces your body to adapt to abnormal or unhealthy stature.

Poor posture also causes inflammation in the lower spinal region due to pressure on the tailbone, which causes coccyx pain.

Make sure, while sitting, your feet are perfectly aligned with the ground, and that your thighs are positioned straight, which is ideal in a seated position.

Poor Posture also causes inflammation in the lower spinal region due to pressure on the tailbone, causing coccyx pain, so while sitting, your feet are perfectly aligned with the ground, and your thighs are positioned straight, which is ideal in a seated position.

4. Wrong Seat Dimensions

The industry of recliners has evolved beyond belief and offers chairs or recliners that allow you to adjust the dimension of the seat with the push of a button.

This seat customization and tilt feature also makes it relatively easy to get in and out of the chair without straining your back, which minimizes the effect of coccyx pain or even shuns the chances of it developing at all.

Make sure your feet never dangle around, even if you feel comfortable for the time being; try to lower the seat until your legs are firmly touching the ground while sitting upright on soft surfaces.

Using an ottoman or a footrest highly assists in keeping a proper posture and drastically minimizes the stress or strain diverted toward the lower spinal region, providing adequate support and blow flow to your lower back.

Bottom Line

After reviewing tons of recliners and chairs, whether they are budget ones or belong to the flagship category with all the bells and whistles, I wholeheartedly advocate for recliners as being the best assistive homeware to provide comfort and proper support in more than one way.

As long as they are used correctly and the tips mentioned above are followed habitually, they won’t cause any form of problem related to blood flow, let alone develop serious disorders like coccydynia, since they are designed to provide adequate support.

That being said, it is wise to do some research beforehand and consult with your physical therapist, which will provide further insight.

You can also use the correct approach curated in the guide above feel free to share it with your friends and family in case they also happen to ask questions like “Can a recliner or chair cause tailbone pain?”