What is an Orthopaedic Chair?
An orthopaedic chair is one that’s specially designed to support the spine, lower back, and overall body posture. That means they help to reduce the pain and discomfort that many people experience during extended periods of sitting, particularly for people with back pain, poor posture, or those who need extra comfort and support when sitting down.
Key Features of an Orthopaedic Chair
Orthopaedic chairs have a range of special features that set them apart from regular
chairs. These include:
● Ergonomic design: Orthopaedic chairs are tailored to fit the natural curves of your spine, supporting you from your head to your feet. They provide firm yet comfortable support that suits your unique physical requirements, ensuring you maintain proper posture with strong spinal support – without compromising on comfort.
● Adjustable settings: Look for a chair that allows you to customise features like its height, lumbar support and armrests. This adjustability makes sure that you can fine tune the support to ensure it fits your needs, regardless of your body type.
● Contoured cushions: It’s best to choose a chair with firm yet comfortable cushioning that supports key pressure points, such as your back, seat, lower back, and legs. This helps to promote better posture, ensuring that your spine is aligned correctly. It also helps to prevent pressure sores or discomfort during extended periods of sitting.
● Breathable fabrics and materials: High-quality, breathable materials help to promote airflow and prevent the build up of heat when you’re sitting down. These fabrics keep you cool and comfortable, no matter how long you’re sitting down for. Whether you choose a recliner or a riser recliner, these features all work together to create a seating solution that prioritises your health and comfort.
Benefits of an Orthopaedic Chair
If your standard chair isn’t providing enough support, an orthopaedic chair could be the solution you’re looking for. Whether you choose an armchair or an orthopaedic reclining chair, the benefits include:
● Pain relief: Orthopaedic chairs can reduce pressure on your spine and weight-bearing joints. That can reduce pain and offer significant relief for people with conditions like arthritis, herniated discs, or chronic lower back pain.
● Posture improvement: Sitting in an orthopaedic chair rather than a regular chair helps to encourage proper sitting posture. This type of chair naturally helps you to sit in a more upright position (avoiding slouching), and reduces the symptoms associated with poor posture such as muscle fatigue and discomfort.
● Enhanced comfort: These types of chairs are built with ergonomic features, offering support where you need it most. They also have lumbar support, reducing the strain on your lower back, and cushioning that reduces pressure in key areas, making sitting for long periods more comfortable.
How an Orthopaedic Chair Can Improve Your Health
Relieving Back and Neck Pain
An orthopaedic chair offers strategic support in key areas like the lumbar spine. This helps to distribute your weight in the chair more evenly, reducing the concentrated pressure that can lead to pain and stiffness in your neck and back. When your chair provides adequate support, back muscles can relax rather than constantly working to maintain stability, promoting better circulation and reducing inflammation.
All of our chairs are occupational therapist approved by Julie Jennings Dip COT HCPC.
She works closely with our Comfort Specialists to ensure they understand the importance
of finding a chair that fits properly.
We also work with Dr Andrea Utley at the University of Leeds. Our research study found
that sitting in an HSL chair that fits you:
● Reduces heart rate
● Increases oxygen flow
● Lowers blood pressure
Boosting Circulation and Comfort
When you sit in a chair that’s designed to properly support your body, it can help to reduce cardiovascular issues. That’s because your muscles can relax instead of constantly working to maintain your posture. Tense, contracted muscles can compress blood vessels and restrict circulation, but when they’re relaxed, your blood flow is
improved. This overall better circulation can also reduce the risk of issues like deep vein thrombosis, which can be caused by sitting for prolonged periods.
Better circulation can also reduce leg and foot swelling while improving oxygen delivery to tissues, creating enhanced overall comfort during extended sitting periods.
Recline and Swivel Mechanism
Regularly using an orthopaedic chair can help to retrain your postural habits. When you sit in a chair that supports proper spinal alignment, it’ll help you to gradually develop better posture rather than slouching in your seat.
A well-fitted, orthopaedic chair can also promote muscle relaxation, as well as better mobility over time. That means you’ll be better able to move freely and comfortably throughout your day, reducing the stiffness and pain that can affect your daily activities.
Common Features to Look for in the Best Orthopaedic Chairs
Adjustable Features
Not all orthopaedic chairs are created equal. The key features to look out for are adjustable seat height, backrest angle, armrests, and headrests.
Proper Cushioning
Good quality cushioning should have the perfect balance of firmness and comfort. That means they reduce pressure points while ensuring you’re still well supported in all the areas of the body that matter most when you’re sitting.
Tilt and Recline Mechanisms
A chair that can tilt or recline at the touch of a button allows you to change your weight distribution. That reduces pressure on your spine, and a recliner also allows you to elevate your legs which helps to promote better circulation – particularly beneficial for people with poor circulation, as well as those with lower back pain. And a riser recliner chair gently tilts and lifts you, making it easier to rise to your feet – ideal for people who need a little extra support.
Armrests and Footrests
A chair with armrests at the proper height for your body can alleviate shoulder strain, while also helping you to relax more easily. Additionally, a footrest offers extra support to help you maintain proper posture. Elevating your feet can also help to improve blood flow, leading to all-round better health.
Why Choose HSL for Your Orthopaedic Chair
If you’re looking for a comfortable, supportive chair that can be tailored to your needs, HSL has what you need. Our chairs are designed with the expertise of occupational therapists, ensuring they provide the right level of comfort and support.
They’re also backed by science. We’re committed to research into how to best support the human body when sitting down. That’s why we partnered with Dr Andrea Utley, who leads the Human Performance at Leeds group. She researches all aspects of human movement and performance, and we take the findings of her ground breaking research to improve our furniture, making sure that they’re built for the way people actually move. Want to find out more about how we can support you?
Book an exclusive chair fitting or arrange a free home demonstration today.
