Are Recliners Bad For You?
Also Known As: armchair, rocker
Short answer
Recliners can be helpful for back pain, swollen legs and feet and general muscle pain. The debate comes with how long someone should be sedentary and sit for prolonged periods of time. Prolonged sitting can lead to potentially more serious health issues.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Recliners offer several health benefits, especially for individuals suffering from back pain. Eight out of ten Americans will suffer from back pain during their lifetime. 54% of these individuals sit upright at the work place. When a recliner is used it takes pressure off the spine and the muscles that contract the back. Sitting upright strains the spine and strains the muscles. Recliners often relieve achy arthritic joints. Recliners can help swollen and stiff joints by increasing circulation which helps with inflammation.
Pregnant women can benefit from a recliner. Common complaints include swollen ankles, tight fingers and achy joints. The angle of the recliner takes the weight off of the front carriage of her body and helps to line up her center of gravity. The recliner also helps with the aches, pains and the swelling.
Many individuals use recliners as a way to relieve stress. Recliners are comfortable and can help with meditation and relaxation. Stress can exacerbate a wide range of health challenges. Stress can trigger headaches, depression, anxiety, heart problems and breathing issues. Stress can make us feel bad emotionally and physically. Stress relief helps mood, clarity and cognitive function.
Standing for long periods and walking upright puts pressure on the veins in the leg resulting in varicose veins and spider veins. These large swollen varicose veins occur mainly in legs and feet. Recliners lift the feet and take the pressure off the veins. Recliners will also help with swelling of the legs and feet known as edema.
Recliners help circulation and assist in getting more blood to the heart. This increase in blood flow and oxygenation helps with arterial inflammation. Massage recliners are even more successful in helping stimulate blood flow. Recliners are also helpful with snoring and sleep apnea.
While recliners have health benefits, being sedentary for prolonged periods of time may have opposite health effects. Sedentary individuals can start to gain weight and put themselves at risk for metabolic syndrome. This epidemic syndrome is associated with increased cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids and type 2 diabetes. As the American Heart Association recommends,”sit less and move more.” If you are reclining for 30 minutes or longer it is time to move around to continue stimulating metabolism and the cardiovascular system.
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain
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metabolic syndrome
Benefits
- helps back pain
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helps achy and swollen joints
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helps with the aches and pains of pregnancy
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relieves stress
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increases blood flow to heart
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can help with inflammation
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can help sleep apnea and snoring
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helps with varicose veins
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helps leg edema
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Written by Kathan Natrajan
Published on: 03-21-2018
Last updated: 11-28-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Kathan Natrajan
Published on: 03-21-2018
Last updated: 11-28-2023
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