Recliners

Recliners: comfortable and kind to your back

It has meanwhile spread to even the remotest parts of the country that sitting is not really particularly healthy. In fact, sitting always in the same position for long periods of time has many negative implications for our backs. But relaxed sitting can even be good for the back. After a tiring day, special recliners can offer beneficial relief for the spinal column and intervertebral discs, as long as you heed a few points.

Recliners must fit

Sitting is unhealthy particularly when people don't move enough and sit for too long on the wrong kinds of chairs. It is therefore advisable to choose furniture with outstanding back-friendly seat concepts. This includes for example recliners, when they fulfil certain prerequisites. In contrast to conventional upholstered furniture, which usually has to suit the needs of several users, recliners should offer the greatest possible scope for individual adjustment.

Important when testing a chair

People are all different: some are smaller, others more corpulent, some have long legs, others a long torso. You should therefore always test a recliner by sitting in it before making a purchase.

Seat and backrest

Seat depth and width and the height of the seat and armrests should be appropriate for the individual physique. For example, the depth of the seat should allow for two fingers to fit between the back of the knee and the seat, while the backrest must be designed to give the spine all-over support, reaching at least to shoulder height. These aspects should always be heeded when testing a chair.

Backrest

It is also important for a recliner to have an easily adjustable backrest with pelvic or lumbar support as well as a footrest - the footrest is an indispensable element of the recliner. Another important feature is to be able to lower the backrest and seat into the supine position in one synchronous function. Furthermore, support should be provided for the head when supine, e.g. with a bolster or by adjusting the head of the backrest.

Armrests

Attention should also be paid to appropriate arm rests. The contact surface should be wide enough and high enough. Preferably, when the arms are lying on the armrest, the shoulders should not sag or be hunched, otherwise the user will scarcely be able to relax.

Wellness functions

Some manufacturers offer recliners with massage functions or with seat or backrest heating. This can help encourage additional relaxation.

Checklist

Recliners are available in different sizes or made to measure, so that everyone can choose the right version in order to be relaxed and comfortable when sitting. Here it is not just the seat height that matters: the height of the backrest and width of the seat also have to match the body proportions.
The spine should be supported at least up to shoulder height, or preferably even further to support the head also in the reclined position. Alternatively, the chair can also have a separate, adjustable headrest.
The chair should have an adjustable lumbar or pelvic crest support - adjustable to allow for the chair to be adapted in every position if necessary. Alternatively, a lordosis cushion should be offered or some other effective solution to support the lower spine.
The chair should also have an adjustable neck support or adjustable backrest head or be supplied with an additional bolster.
Sitting comfort can be further improved if it is possible to vary not just the chair dimensions but also the type of padding, for example soft, medium or firm.
To ensure that the chair will get lots of use, check whether it is easy for you to change your sitting position without any great effort. Can you reach all adjustment levers and switches without any problems and use them intuitively?

Tip

When sitting, the thighs should rest comfortable on the seat with an angle of about 90 degrees between thighs and calves. If the chair has an integrated footrest, this must extend to approximately the ankles in reclined position, without the heels resting on the surface. The height of the armrest is ideal when the shoulders are straight with the arms at an angle of 90 degrees on the armrests.

Minimum requirements

Appropriate seat height
Appropriate seat depth
Adequate seat width
Adequate height for the backrest
Support for the lumbar spine
Support for the cervical spine when reclined
It should be easy to change position
Optimum sitting comfort
Angle adjustment of the backrest until fully reclined
Physiological positioning of the legs

Also appropriate

Independent of the power supply
Various solutions for positioning the feet
Armrests with adaptable or adjustable height
Headrest with adjustable height and tilt
Seat/back heating
Climate-friendly covering fabrics
Massage function
Arm support and shelf
Footrest extension

Products in this sector with the AGR seal of approval

Manufacturer

himolla Polstermöbel GmbH*
Landshuter Str. 38
84416 Taufkirchen/Vils
GERMANY
Phone +49 8084/25-0
Fax +49 8084/25-558
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.himolla.com

Wellco International BV**
Fitform Sitzlösungen
Randweg 17
5683 CL Best
NETHERLANDS
Phone +31 88/33 88 10 0
Fax +31 88/33 88 19 9
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.fitform-chair.com