Best Recliners for Back Pain Treatment at Home

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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If you struggle with back pain from injury, surgery, or joint and muscle problems, you will need a soft and relaxing surface to help with pain relief. When you want to relax and heal at home reading or watching TV, buying the best recliners for back pain can go a long way in offering instant relief whenever you need it.

The best recliner chair is soft, and you can position it in different angles for maximum lumbar support, thus reducing pressure on your spinal cord bones, where most of the back pain comes from. Additionally, recliner chairs align your spine, neck, and hips to prevent you from slouching, which also causes back pain.

Depending on the exact cause of back pain, you will find great back pain relief using the best recliners. These are five of the best recliners for back pain you can buy today.

1. Kahuna Zero Gravity Full-Body Massage Recliner

Zero Gravity Full-Body Kahuna Massage Chair Recliner...
  • Arm Airbag has new design, 6 Auto programs, timer button up to 30...
  • SL-Track massage system, 3 stages of Zero Gravity, Smart body...
  • Best warranty service for online massage chair company – Easy...
  • Footer Area has dual foot rollers and detachable & washable...

When buying the best recliners for back pain, you need a chair that is not only comfortable but one that allows proper spine alignment. This Kahuna recliner chair comes with an ergonomic design and offers excellent massage from your neck to your feet.

The back of this recliner chair is designed with an ergonomic S-track to complement your spine's natural curve and an L-track that prolongs to your hamstrings. The seat allows three zero gravity sitting positions that allow the four-roller massage system to press against and decompress all your muscles for better pain relief.

The seat comes with a space-saving design and uses 3D scanning to customize your massage experience based on your body size. Additionally, when you feel like you need a deeper massage than the seat offers, you can adjust the rollers using the remote control.

If you have severe pain, the massage techniques offered by this recliner seat will be ideal for offering the needed relief; they include Shiatsu, tapping, kneading, rolling, and combo. It also uses 36 first-generation air cells for airbag massage.

You can choose between five pre-programmed massages and three speed and intensity levels. The seat also offers heat therapy for the back and calf to help with chronic pain. The recliner chair is made for full-body massages and comes with soft leather material for easy cleaning.

Additionally, it is made with soft cushioning so you can comfortably relax for a 60-minute massage and heat therapy session.

Pros:

  • Great for spinal alignment to reduce back pain
  • Comes in a space-saving design
  • Comes with a remote control so you can adjust speed and intensity
  • Features an extendable ottoman
  • Great zone and foot massage
  • FDA-approved as a medical device
  • Heat therapy to reduce back pain and improve blood circulation
  • High back for good lumbar support

Cons:

  • No way to adjust heat intensity
  • A bit costly

2. RelaxZen Leisure Recliner Chair

RelaxZen Deluxe Padded Massage Recliner, Black
  • Thick padded soft PU leather upholstery and beautiful real wood...
  • Features swivel, recline and recline tension
  • 8 vibration motors massage the back, thighs and calves
  • 9 preprogrammed massage modes and 5 intensity levels
  • Soothing heat treatment in lumbar area

If you are looking for a leisure chair with features that can alleviate back pain, this leather-upholstered recliner chair from RelaxZen is your ideal buy. It is an affordable chair best suited for back pain sufferers with a maximum weight of 300 pounds.

It easily reclines and also offers gentle massage. The chair features eight vibration massage motors to massage your back, thighs, and calves. Additionally, it comes with nine pre-programmed massage modes as well as five massage intensity levels. It also offers gentle heat therapy in your lumbar area to better blood circulation while decompressing tight muscles.

It is a swivel recliner with ample padding for the seat and back. It also comes with padded armrests, though they are not as soft as the seat. This best massage reclining chair is made with high-quality PU leather upholstery and comes with an extendable ottoman.

Pros:

  • Comes at an affordable price
  • Made with easy to clean PU leather upholstery
  • Comes with eight massage modes to ease back pain
  • Offers gentle lumbar heat therapy
  • The chair features a swivel for better flexibility
  • Available in two colors
  • It is an ergonomic chair that will keep your back upright
  • Ideal recliner chair for 300 pounds

Cons:

  • PU leather not very durable

3. Signature Design by Ashley Yandel Power Lift Recliner

Signature Design by Ashley Yandel Upholstered Power...
  • POWER LIFT RECLINER: Style and functionality merge in this dual...
  • PLUSH COMFORT: Designed for comfy support with a high back, thick...
  • BLACK UPHOLSTERY: Black upholstery looks like leather, but is...
  • GENEROUS SIZING: Reclining chair measures 35inches Wide by...
  • EASY ASSEMBLY: Instructions, hardware and tools included; Fits...

If you have chronic back pain, the last thing you need is struggling to get up from your recliner chair, as this could make your symptoms worse. You will need the best lifting recliners so you can rise without injuring your back muscles or knee joints.

This Signature Design is one of the best recliners for back pain, especially for pregnant women or older people. It comes with soft and plush construction plus faux leather upholstery to make it durable. The power lift recliner comes in two color options between black and brown.

The recliner comes with a high back so you can lie down or sit ergonomically to relax your sore muscles. It comes with a remote you can use to adjust your sitting positions, and you can easily elevate your legs for better blood circulation.

Pros:

  • Easy to assemble
  • Power lift feature great for older people and pregnant women
  • Durable construction with soft cushioning and metal reinforcement
  • Easy to recline with remote
  • Independently adjustable footrest
  • Fits through most doors

Cons:

  • Lacks a massage feature

4. EVER ADVANCED Zero Gravity Recliner Chair for the Outdoors

So, you love enjoying the outdoors with your friends, and the only thing stopping you from a good time is your aching back and neck. Your solution lies with this reinvented zero gravity recliner chair from Ever Advanced. You can use it in your balcony, garden, riverbank, patio, or campsite, among other pleasant outdoor locations.

A foldable option, it is the best recliner chair that is easy to carry and set up. The recliner also comes with an adjustable headrest so you can observe healthy neck and back alignment. You can adjust your reclining anywhere between 0 and 170 degrees, plus the chair also features a locking system to keep the position secure.

The headrest and the chair are fully padded to increase comfort to your lumbar region. Thanks to this steel, foldable, high-quality recliner, you can raise your footrest to the same level as your heart for better circulation and to also stretch your aching muscles. Additionally, you can slide down the headrest for better lumbar support.

It is a good recliner chair that features a durable suspension system and a fabric that allows stretching for users weighing up to 350 pounds.

Pros:

  • Portable reclining chair
  • Ideal for back pain relief
  • Comes with a headrest that can also provide better back support
  • Can relieve neck pain
  • One of the most affordable recliner chairs
  • Can adjust and lock in your most comfortable reclining position
  • Ideal for people with 350 pounds body weight
  • Padded seats and back
  • Comes with rust-resistant paint

Cons:

  • It is a basic recliner without massage features

5. Flash Furniture Massaging Recliner with Side Pocket and Ottoman

Flash Furniture Massaging Multi-Position Recliner with...
  • Work on relieving your stress and cramped muscles with this lever...
  • Work on relieving your stress and cramped muscles while...
  • Plush arms, swivel seat, soft and durable LeatherSoft upholstery...
  • Remote control, heat control, massages shoulders, lumbar, seat...
  • Contemporary styling will fit nicely in your living room,...

If you are a working back pain sufferer, this is one of the most effective massaging recliners you can get. It comes in a simple reclining chair and ottoman design but offers great therapeutic benefits. It offers pain-relieving therapy to your lumbar area, back, thighs, and legs.

The chair offers five massage modes, three intensity levels, and heat therapy. You can adjust these using the remote control included in the package. The plush seat also features a swivel, a side pocket for storing the remote, and plush arms so you can also relax your arms during your massage.

It comes with leather upholstery and wrapped bases, while the insides are filled with fire-retardant memory foam. When assembling, it is best to measure eight inches for wall clearance.

Pros:

  • Excellent vibration massage
  • Heats up well for heat therapy
  • Comes at a friendly price for a massage recliner chair
  • Made with fire-retardant foam
  • Helpful swivel feature
  • Easy to clean
  • Comes with an easy-to-use remote

Cons:

  • Not very durable

How to Buy the Best Recliners for Back Pain Relief

Before buying your best recliner for back pain, it is best to understand several features. For starters, a recliner is an armchair that can tilt back and also comes with an adjustable footrest. It can employ a lever for a manual recliner or a remote or knob for automatic recliners to adjust the reclining positions.

When buying a recliner for back pain, you will be looking for ample neck, back, thigh, and leg support. The following factors can guide you.

1. Type of recliner chairs for back pain

There are several main types of recliners that can help relieve back pain. They include;

a) Zero gravity back pain recliners

Zero gravity recliners are the most comfortable recliner chairs for people who suffer pain in the neck, back, and joint muscles. They are designed to recline to an almost flat position, so your legs are lifted to your heart level to relieve pressure from your spine, thus offering instant relief.

When buying a zero gravity recliner, choose one with a massage function so that as the seat supports your body weight, you will also be pressing against the rollers for a deep penetrating massage.

b) Massaging recliners

These are reclining chairs equipped with powerful rollers that imitate a chiropractor massage. They are your best bet for relieving chronic back and neck pain, arthritis, or other types of body aches. In addition to massage rollers, a massaging recliner can also offer heat therapy and airbags for complete muscle relaxation and decompressing.

When buying this type of recliner, look for one with all these features and a remote you can use to adjust massage intensity and heat therapy. Also, note that these recliners could be more expensive than other basic recliners and may also require more room space, especially when in use.

c) Power recliner

Also known as a power lift recliner, it is a reclining chair that tilts ahead so you can stand without straining your feet and back. A power recliner is ideal for people suffering chronic back pain, recovering from recent surgeries, pregnant women, or older people.

If you would like a power recliner, choose one with a massage and heat therapy option. Also, consider the cushioning as it needs to be soft. Power recliners will probably need more room space when in use and could cost a little more.

Other types of back pain therapy recliners include classic models that have a high back that reclines and also a reclining chair with a separate ottoman. They work the same as these three main types, and you can have them for office chairs or for home use.

2. Your back pain

There is one factor that can guide you to the type of recliners you buy; how intense your back pain is. You can buy a basic recliner with or without massage rollers if you have acute back pain.

Alternatively, if you have chronic back pain, it would be best to buy a recliner with the most therapeutic features like massage functions and heat therapy, as well as easy-to-use controls.

3. Materials

As with all products, and especially furniture, the material makes or breaks your recliners. You can find a recliner for back pain upholstered with different materials like leather, faux leather, and different fabrics.

You will also need to know the type of filling; some will come with down, memory foam, cold cure molded foam or other types of soft cushioning. Different materials mean different levels of softness when you sit or lie on the recliner.

Ideally, you are looking for the most durable and comfortable chair, so it is best to look for the highest quality materials like top-grain leather finishing and memory foam filling.

4. FDA Approval

The best recliners for back pain, like the Zero Gravity Full-Body Kahuna Massage Chair Recliner, are approved by the FDA to be medical devices. You can look for this approval if you want to relieve chronic back pain and when you want the guarantee that the recliner will offer the needed back support.

5. Warranty

Buying a recliner to ease back pain is a huge investment for our health, meaning it is a product you might need to use for an extended period. As such, ensure your right recliners come with long warranty periods and money-back guarantees so you can return them or have the defects fixed at no extra cost.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.