For Margaret, chair shopping became a life defining experience. 74 years young and fed up with struggling to get up from her tired flat armchair, Margaret’s search for a new chair to support her arthritic joints in comfort soon became a thorough investigation of all the features a recliner could possess in order to provide her with the most comfort and independence.
The foundation of proper support
A good quality armchair / recliner is based around two main components, the frame (skeleton) of the chair and the cushioning (padding / upholstery). A hardwood or steel frame is far better than a chair made of particle board as this type of frame can weaken rapidly, but the cushioning is just as important as the frame. The cushioning should provide support, and be firm enough not to be too hard, but not so rigid that it is uncomfortable.
For armchairs, the best cushioning material for pressure distribution is memory foam. And the most important factor is the density of the foam. The higher the density of the foam, the longer it will last. The depth of the seat is also a very important factor. The back of the chair should support your back in the same position as if you were sitting on a sofa, with your feet on the floor and your knees at a right angle. If the seat is too deep then you may find yourself sliding forward and this will put a lot of strain on your lower back. And if the seat is too shallow then you will be sitting on the very edge of the chair with your back straight and this will be very uncomfortable for you.
Lumbar support that actually works
The backrest of your chair must support your back. An adjustable backrest with a cushion that fits to support your lower back will keep you comfortable while sitting in your recliner. Many recliners include a massage in the arms, the seat or backrest. However, this is not a substitute for a backrest that supports your back. You must be able to set up the chair so that your lower back is properly supported.
The backrest of a recliner chair is an important consideration when searching for the perfect furniture to match your home. The backrest of a recliner should have a curved surface to fit around the natural shape of the user’s back, and an adjustable lumbar support, which can be adjusted to the required depth to support the user’s own natural shaped spine. Additional massage functions can also be included into the backrest of a recliner, however, these are not a substitute for a quality piece of furniture that has been ergonomically designed with the user’s own natural shape in mind. When looking for the perfect recliner chair it is also worth checking the amount of times the backrest of a recliner can recline, often referred to as the recliner positions.
Mobility and accessibility features
There are some fantastic modern recliner designs that have incorporated amazing mobility features to the standard recliner. The power lift function in an electric recliner chair for elderly users will enable them to sit down and stand up from the chair with ease. The chair will slowly tilt forward whilst in the reclined position to assist in standing up. This will help to take some of the strain off of the user’s knees and hips. The amount of support and assistance that a person needs when standing up from a chair can vary greatly from person to person. This is why an electric recliner chair for elderly users is perfect as it can be set to assist the user as much or as little as required.
The controls for your chair need to be easy to use, so a large number of clearly printed buttons are better than a number of very small, intricate touch panels. A recliner with a remote control is also something to look into as they can be placed in a corner of a room or even against a wall and as a general rule will be easier to use for more than one person as there will be no constant searching for a number of different controls. When it comes to special features such as heat and massage in your recliner, those with arthritis or people suffering from chronic pain can find relief from their muscle pain and increased blood flow, by using heat to loosen up muscles and relieve pain. The different settings on the massage functions will also need to have more than one intensity. Also consider whether the chair will require a power supply or if it will be powered by batteries. As with any item that requires a power supply it would be a good idea to look into whether the chair will still work during a power cut and whether you would be left stranded in a reclined position.
Check that chair has Battery backup for lift function. This will mean that even in power cuts the chair can be safely put in reclined position and then stood up from. Also look for USB ports. These are really useful for charging up your phone etc while watching TV without cables lying all over floor.
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Fabric choices
When purchasing a recliner the first thing to consider for the upholstery of the armchair and recliner is how easy the chair is to clean and how much comfort you get from sitting in the armchair. There are 2 main types of materials that can be used to upholster a recliner these are leather or fabric. The armchair made of leather is ideal as it is very easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and keep the armchair looking like new. Although the leather can feel cold at first it will soon warm up to your body temperature and should not cause any discomfort. As time passes the leather can start to crack and fade in places but if you have chosen a high quality armchair then this should not be a problem for a very long time.
Stain resistant fabric treatments are available for many of the fabrics used for armchairs, and these will help to keep your chair looking its best, however these are not a substitute for proper cleaning and care.
Size and space requirements
To find the best furniture for your home, you must first take the measurements of the space in which you will be placing your potential new chair. This will also give you an idea of how much space your new recliner will need behind it in order to recline. There are some recliners known as wall huggers, these recliners are made to fit into the smallest of spaces, however this may also mean that these recliners will not have all of the features of an ergonomically designed chair. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, and the best chair for you will be one that has been designed with your safety and comfort in mind. So when purchasing a recliner be sure to leave at least 30-40cm of space between the back of the chair and the wall.
Make sure that the chair is wide enough so that you can sit comfortably between the armrests without having to reach for them. Also, check the weight capacity of the chair, but choose a chair with a larger capacity than your own weight, because you want the chair to last a long time as well.
Making the right choice
When purchasing a chair to test out in your home make sure you sit on it for at least 15 minutes to get a true feel for whether or not the chair is suitable for you. A high quality chair will give you the impression of support and comfort as soon as you sit on it and you won’t need to get used to it. In the long run purchasing higher quality chairs can be very cost effective as they will provide the best comfort and pain relief for you to live your life to the full.
Now that Margaret has spent so much time in her new armchair, she realizes that the best thing she did in the last six months or so was the best thing she did for herself. She’s so glad she spent her money for this chair. It’s been the best investment for her health.
