Achieving a proper chair sitting posture is important – it can help protect you from sitting-related problems like back pain and poor circulation. It also allows you to sit comfortably, with minimal effort and without putting strain on your body. 

Discover how adjustable chairs support you correctly and help you maintain a proper chair sitting posture.

Why do we need a chair that promotes good sitting posture?

Many of us slouch while sitting, and our bodies can get used to this position. When our spine isn’t in the correct position, overtime some muscles will become tight and others will stretch. This can eventually cause the small joints in the spine and ribs to become stiff and painful. 

A chair that supports your spine correctly will reduce your risk of back pain. Being able to adjust a chair to fit your body will reduce the strain on your back. Adjustamatic riser recliner chairs are made-to-measure, so they will fit you perfectly from the beginning. They also include lumbar and head support, which also help you to maintain a healthy sitting posture. 

What is a proper chair sitting posture?

Sitting in the healthiest way possible means maintaining the correct posture. Good posture centres on keeping your spine in a neutral position.

To find a neutral spine position:

• While sitting, tilt your hips forward
• Then tilt them back again
• Find the midpoint between these two positions. You should feel all your weight resting on your sitting bones

Sitting in this position can feel uncomfortable if you are not used to it, but over time your muscles will become stronger and make it a relatively effortless way to sit. 

Your chair should support your posture as much as possible, which will help you to sit in the neutral spine position and also reduce strain on your arms, legs and neck. Here are a few tips to help you sit well: 

Support your back

Your riser recliner chair should support the inward curve of your lower back by following this curve. Known as lumbar support, this shape helps prevent back strain by encouraging you to sit in a neutral spine position.

Sit with your knees slightly lower than your hips

This will encourage you to sit in a more upright position, helping you to keep that neutral spine posture. Either test ready-made riser recliners in-person to see if they are the correct height for you, or have your chair made to measure. Your feet should be able to reach the ground too. Your knees should never be higher than your hips.

Keep your arms and legs aligned

You should be able to sit with your arms and legs held straight (not angled inwards or away from your body). This is the sitting equivalent of standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. If there isn’t enough space for your legs to do this, then look for a chair with a wider seat. The armrests should support your arms close to your body, and not angled into or away from your body. 

Leave space for your knees

There should be a small space between the back of your knees and the edge of the seat. This prevents the arteries that run behind your knee from becoming squashed, and helps to improve circulation to your lower legs. This space should exist while you are sitting back into the chair – with your back in contact with the back of the chair. 

Why is chair posture important for the elderly?

For elderly people, sitting with the correct posture is particularly important because:

• Older adults in the UK spend 9 hours or more sitting each day, so the effects of poor sitting posture can have a big impact. A posture chair for elderly people helps to remedy some of the problems associated with long periods of sitting down.
• It reduces strain on joints and muscles, which helps to keep joints mobile and pain-free.
• It allows you to sit comfortably and as effortlessly as possible, because sitting correctly puts less strain on your muscles.

What are the problems with poor chair posture?

Sitting for long periods of time in a poor sitting posture can contribute of a number of issues, including:

Aches and pains

Poor sitting posture can strain the joints and muscles in your spine over time. This can lead to weakness and imbalances in muscle strength, for example if you tend to sit leaning to one side. Hunching can lead to stiffness in your shoulders too. 

Muscle weakness

The muscles that help to hold you in a good sitting posture are called your core muscles. These muscles are very efficient in this role, and can work for a long time without getting tired. If you have poor posture, other muscles have to work hard instead. These muscles aren’t well adapted to do this job long-term, so they become tired and tense more quickly. Over time, this tension can cause pain, while your core muscles are underused and become weaker. 

Digestive issues

If you slouch forward while sitting, you are squashing your stomach and other digestive organs. This, understandably, can make it harder for you to digest your food. 

Breathing issues

Similarly, slouching can reduce the space in your chest available for your lungs to expand into as you breathe. Over time, poor posture can lead to changes in the rib cage and lead to reduced lung capacity.

Poor circulation

If your seat is too deep, this can compress the back of your knees and lead to poor circulation. In addition, just sitting still with your legs bent for long periods can cause poor circulation too. If you sit with your legs crossed you will prevent blood from moving freely to parts of your legs, often leading to painful pins and needles. 

How can buying a riser recliner help improve poor sitting posture?

Riser recliners include a number of features to help you to sit in a good position by:

Supporting your spine

The lumbar support of a riser recliner chair helps you to sit in the health neutral spine position. Chairs without this support allow you to slouch and sit with your spine in a ‘C’ shape, which puts extra pressure on your spine. The high backs and headrests of riser recliners also support your neck and head, holding you in the correct posture. 

Letting you recline your chair

Research has found that reclining your chair puts the least stress on your spine when it is reclined to about 135 degrees and may reduce your risk of back pain. The ability of riser recliner chairs to move to this position with ease makes them a good choice for people who sit for long periods.

Allowing you to change positions regularly 

The ability to move to different positions with ease in a riser recliner will help prevent you from sitting in a stationary position. Shifting positions often, e.g., from upright to reclined, to legs-raised, will help to reduce strain on any one group of muscles and joints. This helps to reduce stiffness and pain over time. 

Tackling your pain

The Cyclo-Therapy® massage technology in Adjustamatic riser recliner chairs help to reduce pain and stiffness. This can help you to sit more comfortably, and maintain a good sitting posture more easily.  

Enabling you to get up to move about

Riser recliner chairs are designed to make it effortless to get in and out of your chair. Adjustamatic’s Auto Lift system lifts you gently to a standing position, and lowers you smoothly when you sit back down. By removing the barriers to getting up from your chair, riser recliners encourage you to break up long periods of sitting with the recommended small bursts of activity, which helps to tackle back pain and stiffness. 

Purchase a riser recliner made to fit your needs 

Modern lifestyles encourage sitting – so make sure you are sitting healthily and in comfort. Adjustamatic riser recliner chairs such as the Blenheim riser recliner chair can offer you effective relief from back pain, get in touch with one of our expert advisors to find out how our made-to-measure chairs can help you. You can also check out our riser recliner chair buying guide to help you purchase the perfect recliner chair for you.