Being an epicenter of mobility, our vertebrae are always susceptible to disorders like Degenerative Disc Disease or DDD, especially if you regularly indulge in hard labor where the risk of wear and tear across the upper torso and spine is imminent.
Since Degenerative Disc disease corresponds to abnormalities in spinal discs due to injury or nerve ingrowth and bone spurs, a recliner in this scenario can act as your personal holy grail to minimize the discomfort and manage the symptoms before they exacerbate.
While you could easily opt out for a regular office chair or sofa, recliners, on the other hand, are wrought upon a whole host of features that have no parallel; still not convinced? Well, allow me to shed some light on this question “Is sitting in a recliner good for degenerative disc disease”
Is Sitting in a Recliner Good for Degenerative Disc Disease
lets discuss this :
Reasons Why Choosing a Recliner Over a Sofa Might Be a Good Idea?
A Recliner is undoubtedly a mighty choice. However, you have to make sure you get these attributes right.
1. Size Matters
The biggest mistake I have seen people make while shopping for a recliner is skipping out on the crucial details related to dimensions. In fact, most of my peers I know consider it trivial because they believe recliners are universally sized and dimensions won’t be deemed a problem in the long run.
I hate to break it to you, but as anti-climactic as it may sound, recliner dimensions, especially relating to backrest specifications, significantly make a difference. In fact, it could aggravate your Degenerative Disc disorder if not addressed appropriately.
Seat dimensions allow you to properly compensate for your pelvis and lower spinal region and reduce the pain and discomfort caused by disc-related abnormalities. So make sure you invest in a recliner that has more than enough space for you to wiggle around when taking a nap.
2. Ergonomic Design
Recliners were designed to have top-of-the-line ergonomics, which easily supersedes regular sofas and armchairs because most of these “homeware” are only for aesthetic purposes rather than providing comfort.
Recliners, on the other hand, offer a medicated form of lumbar support that highly assists your backrests and is beneficial in scenarios not just related to DDD but even spinal fusion and post vertebrae surgeries.
On the flip side, the padding it provides doesn’t clog the blood circulation or directly interfere with nerve growth or bone spurs since the upholstery is designed to cater to the muscles and tendons of your back rather than causing unnecessary stiffness.
3. Customization Levels
Recliners are an absolute godsend; make sure the tier you buy offers backrest customizations as well as armrest tweaking capabilities. Individuals suffering from Degenerative disc disease require backrest modification to prevent blood congestion and other circulation-related issues.
In fact, sitting in a recliner with a DDD is an amazing way to minimize spinal stress as long as you have reclined the backrest to a zero gravity angle.
In other words, make sure you recline the backrest all the way up to 135 degrees, which will ensure your heart remains in the ideal state without causing sedentary issues to your cardiac health.
4. Does It Have An Ottoman?
Recliners used in conjunction with an ottoman or a supportive stool for your feet are extremely beneficial in case your recliner lacks adjustment options.
Even if you have invested in a recliner that doesn’t allow the seat to be lowered to a specific threshold, make sure you use a stool so that the stress from your spine towards your pelvis and coccyx region is well compensated.
5. Extra Goodies
I have seen plenty of people claim recliners are a marketing gimmick and don’t really help in rectifying back-related issues, in fact, some individuals might claim “It’s a chair, not an airplane, what’s the difference it might have?”.
Well, to burst your bubble, even a traditional non-premium recliner might offer more than you could bargain for, all while being at a justified price tag.
These amenities include heat radiation and even back massaging modules with a major node distribution network spread all across the chair.
Heat radiation modules help keep the body warm on chilly or frosty nights while the massagers reduce discomfort and throbbing pain caused by Degenerative disc disease by providing a natural soothing effect with no side effects, unlike over-the-counter prescription pills, which might have some health-related downsides.
On the flip side, some flagship-grade recliners even offer mini tables that prevent the patients suffering from back-related issues from stretching themselves in awkward spots whenever they are dining for lunch because these mini tables are aligned with the armrest to provide convenience, obviously.
6. Top Tier lumbar Support
As mentioned above, degenerative disc disease, otherwise better known as spondylosis, is a disease of the spinal region in which a gradual breakdown of the intervertebral discs is noticed in the body.
When the lumbar region is no longer able to adequately support the weight of the upper body or absorb shocks effectively, it can lead to multiple problems in your lower and upper back; these include mobility issues, chronic pain, tenderness, and nerve compression.
In order to provide ample lumbar support, your body desperately requires a recliner chair that offers contouring while holding it upright to prevent these issues from appearing.
While a traditional chair can also provide some level of support, it may or may not adhere to the ideal requirements that are needed for proper alignment and relieving strain on the lumbar region.
It’s also pretty certain that traditional chairs typically have a flat backrest, which is nowhere near on par with recliners and causes unnecessary stress on your back, especially the lower back region, causing discomfort and exacerbating existing back problems.
Bottom Line
While using a recliner may provide you with a wholesome goodnight’s sleep, it is always crucial that you consult with your doctor beforehand before buying a recliner for your everyday use cases.
Keep in mind that while recliners are evidently way better than traditional sofas or even your regular armchair, you still need to find one that is tailored to your needs, and that is only possible if you get a proper prescription from your doctor to ensure your investment isn’t in vain.
That being said, feel free to bookmark this article so you can share it with your peers and friends the next time they ask, “Is sitting in a recliner good for degenerative disc disease?”.
I am a furniture expert with a passion for recliners. With years of experience in the industry, I offer invaluable insights and creative ideas for selecting the perfect recliner to suit any space and your needs.