Achieving proper sitting posture is crucial for your health and comfort, helping protect you from problems like back pain and poor circulation. If you often find yourself slouching or struggling to get comfortable, a riser recliner chair could be the solution. These specially designed armchairs recline to help you relax and rise to help you stand, all at the touch of a button.

This guide will explain why good posture matters, offer tips for sitting correctly, and explore how riser recliner chairs, like those in the Adjustamatic range, can help improve your posture and overall well-being.

Table of contents

1. Why proper sitting posture matters	4. Five ways riser recliner chairs improve posture
2. How to sit with good posture	5. Choosing the right riser recliner chair
3.Why posture is especially important for older adults	6. Transform your daily comfort with proper posture support

1. Why proper sitting posture matters

Good posture means keeping your body aligned to put minimal strain on your muscles and joints. Physiotherapists describe posture as how you hold your body against gravity, with good posture involving training the right muscles to hold you properly, thereby reducing strain on sensitive connective tissues. When your spine maintains its natural gentle “S” curve, your bones support your weight, and your muscles don’t have to overwork.

Conversely, poor sitting posture, such as slouching into a “C”-shaped curve, can cause some muscles to become tight and others to weaken over time, leading to stiffness and pain in the spine’s small joints. While sitting up straight might feel unnatural at first if you’re used to slumping, the effort brings significant health benefits:

• Reduces strain on the spine: Proper alignment keeps pressure off your spinal discs and ligaments, helping prevent back pain and long-term degeneration. It also prevents excessive wear on joints, which can help prevent arthritis.
• Less muscle tension and aches: Good posture means your muscles work efficiently rather than straining. This can reduce common issues like backache, neck pain, and tension headaches. Many people feel more energised as muscles aren’t in a constant state of strain.
• Better breathing and digestion: Sitting upright allows your diaphragm and organs to function optimally. Slouching compresses your chest and abdomen, making deep breaths harder and potentially slowing digestion.
• Improved circulation: Sitting with legs uncrossed and feet flat on the floor allows blood to circulate more freely. Poor posture can impede circulation, leading to cold, numb, or swollen feet.
• Better balance and stability: Sitting upright engages your core and can improve balance. For older people, good posture can translate to better stability when standing and moving, reducing fall risks.

Your choice of chair significantly impacts your posture. A well-fitted, supportive chair can reduce your risk of back pain by keeping your spine aligned and minimising muscle strain. A good chair provides lumbar support and is firm enough to prevent sinking into a slouch.

2. How to sit with good posture

Proper sitting posture means keeping your spine in a neutral position – not hunched forward or over-arched. The goal is a gentle “S” shape to your spine, with your ears, shoulders, and hips aligned. This position allows you to sit with minimal effort and strain. If you’ve slouched for years, sitting upright may feel odd initially, but your body will adjust as core muscles strengthen.

Here are four simple steps to sit in a chair with good posture:

i. Support your lower back

Position your bottom all the way to the back of the chair so the chair’s backrest can support you. The chair should follow the natural inward curve of your lower spine – this is known as lumbar support. Proper lumbar support cradles your lower back and encourages a neutral spine position. If your chair doesn’t have built-in lumbar padding, use a small cushion or rolled towel at the base of your back. There shouldn’t be a gap between your lower back and the chair.

ii. Keep your knees slightly lower than your hips

Adjust the chair height (or use a cushion) so that when you sit, your hips are just a bit higher than your knees. This encourages an upright posture and distributes your weight through your buttocks and thighs. Your feet should rest flat on the floor (or on a footrest). Avoid having your knees higher than your hips, as that can cause you to slump.

iii. Align your arms and legs with your body

Sit so you can keep your arms at your sides and your forearms parallel to the ground when using armrests. Your shoulders should be relaxed, not hunched. Armrests should be at a height where your elbows rest comfortably. Your knees and feet should point in the same direction as your torso.

iv. Leave a small gap behind your knees

While sitting with your back against the chair, ensure there’s about a two-finger gap between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees. This prevents the seat from pressing into the back of your thighs, which can causecirculation issues, as well as numbness or swelling over time.

Following these steps helps achieve a “neutral spine.” It might take practice, but good posture will feel more natural over time, reducing fatigue and pain when sitting.

3. Why posture is especially important for older adults

Posture matters for everyone but is particularly important for older adults, who tend to spend more time sitting and may face challenges like reduced muscle strength or painful joints. The NHS notes that adults aged 65 and over spend, on average, 10 hours or more daily sitting down, making good posture essential for health and mobility.

For seniors, good chair-sitting posture helps counteract several age-related issues:

• Joint strain and pain: Years of slouching can exacerbate conditions like osteoarthritis. Sitting upright with support aligns bones and joints, preventing abnormal wear on cartilage. This can reduce chronic aches, stiffness, and the progression of joint problems.
• Circulation and swelling: Older adults often experience circulation issues or swollen legs. Sitting with feet supported and knees slightly lower than hips helps blood circulate better, reducing swelling. A posture-friendly chair that elevates the legs can further improve comfort.
• Balance and fall prevention: Poor posture can weaken core muscles and affect balance, a significant risk for falls in older adults. Practising good posture engages the core and aligns the body, improving stability when standing or walking. Mindful posture while sitting also makes the transition to standing smoother, especially with an assistive chair.
• Overall comfort and endurance: Good posture minimises muscle strain, allowing you to sit comfortably for longer and perform tasks or enjoy activities with less discomfort. This can help older individuals remain independent and active.

Investing in proper posture through the right chair is investing in better health and quality of life for older adults.

4. Five ways riser recliner chairs improve posture

A riser recliner chair is more than a comfortable armchair; it functions as a mobility aid and posture-support device. These chairs allow easy position adjustments at the push of a button and gently lift you to a standing position. Here are five key ways a riser recliner chair can improve your posture:

i. Support your spine

Quality riser recliner chairs feature high, ergonomically shaped backrests designed to support the natural curve of the human spine. Padded lumbar support encourages the healthy inward curve of your lower back, preventing the “C”-shaped slouch that pressures vertebrae and discs. Headrests and neck support keep the upper spine aligned, cradling your head to avoid neck strain.

Firm, supportive cushioning is crucial; very soft chairs often cause sinking and poor posture. Riser recliners generally use firmer foam and contoured padding to hold you upright comfortably, reducing the muscular effort needed to maintain good posture.

ii. Recline for comfort

Sitting perfectly straight all day isn’t ideal; the spine benefits from periodic relaxation. Research suggests that a semi-reclined sitting posture (around 135 degrees) places the least stress on the spine, reducing strain on muscles and ligaments.

A riser recliner allows you to easily tilt back to this pressure-relieving angle. With the touch of a button, you can adjust the backrest and often the footrest simultaneously. This takes pressure off your lower back and distributes your weight more evenly.

Many find that spending part of the day in a reclined position alleviates back tension, especially for conditions like spinal stenosis.

iii. Adapt to different positions

Staying in one position for too long, even with good posture, can lead to stiffness. Riser recliner chairs make it easy to change your sitting position regularly using electric power. You can shift from upright for meals, to partially reclined for reading, to fully reclined for resting.

Each change of position moves your joints and stretches different muscles, improving comfort and reducing strain on any single part of your body.

Health experts encourage breaking up long periods of sitting; adjusting your chair’s position is one way to introduce movement. This adaptability means the chair conforms to your body’s needs, helping keep joints supple and making it easier to maintain good posture.

iv. Soothe pain and stiffness

Pain or discomfort can naturally lead to slouching as you try to find relief. Adjustamatic riser recliners can be equipped with Cyclo-Therapy® massage technology, which gently massages and stimulates muscles while you sit. This feature helps reduce pain and stiffness in areas like the lower back, hips, or shoulders. By easing muscle tension and improving circulation, the chair makes it more comfortable to remain sitting in a healthy upright posture.

Even without massage, riser recliners often offer better padding and pressure relief, using memory foam or supportive cushioning to distribute weight evenly and prevent pressure points. Some chairs also provide heat therapy options.

v. Help you stand up easily

The rise function is a defining feature of these chairs. When you’re ready to get up, the chair smoothly lifts and tilts forward, bringing you to your feet with minimal strain. This is particularly beneficial if you have weak legs, arthritis, or balance issues.

In a normal chair, standing often involves hunching forward and pushing off awkwardly. With a riser recliner, you can keep your back straight and let the chair do the lifting. Adjustamatic’s Auto Lift system, for example, gently raises you at a steady pace.

By making standing effortless, riser recliners encourage more frequent movement, helping combat stiffness and improve circulation.

5. Choosing the right riser recliner chair

To fully benefit from improved posture, it’s important to choose a riser recliner chair that suits your individual needs and body proportions. Consider these tips:

• Correct size and dimensions: The chair should be tailored to your height, leg length, and overall build. Key measurements include seat height (feet flat on the floor, knees slightly lower than hips), seat depth (a small gap behind your knees), and seat width (allowing relaxed arms and aligned legs). An improperly sized chair can undermine posture benefits.
• Lumbar and neck support: Look for chairs that specifically advertise lumbar support and a supportive headrest. The backrest should follow the curve of your lower back, and the headrest should support your neck, keeping your spine aligned.
• Quality cushioning and upholstery: Firmer, supportive cushioning is better for posture than overly soft options. High-density foams or memory foam are often used. Breathable fabrics can enhance comfort.
• Single vs dual motor: Single motor chairs move the backrest and footrest together. Dual motor chairs allow independent adjustment of the backrest and footrest, offering more flexibility for fine-tuning your position. Choose based on your lifestyle and budget; both types provide the lift function.
• Additional features: Think about extras like Adjustamatic’s Cyclo-Therapy® massage or heat therapy if you have circulation issues or muscle pain. Also, consider the style to ensure it complements your décor.

6. Transform your daily comfort with proper posture support

If you’ve learned how crucial good posture is and how a standard chair might be letting you down, it’s time to consider a seating solution designed for your well-being. Why continue to endure discomfort when a chair could actively help you sit better, feel better, and move more easily?

Discover how Adjustamatic riser recliners champion better posture:

Built in our own British workshops, each Adjustamatic riser recliner chair is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthier sitting position, reducing strain and enhancing comfort.

Consider what sets an Adjustamatic chair apart for your posture:

• Tailored ergonomic fit: Good posture starts with a chair that fits you. Our made-to-measure service ensures optimal seat height, depth, and width, providing the foundation for correct spinal alignment and effortless lumbar support.
• Engineered for spinal health: Our chairs feature built-in contoured backrests and dedicated lumbar support to encourage your spine’s natural curve, preventing slouching and the associated aches.
• Posture-friendly movement: The smooth recline function allows your spine to rest in a supported, pressure-relieving position, while the gentle rise mechanism helps you to stand tall without compromising your posture or straining your joints.
• Comfort that encourages good habits: With features like our optional NHC Cyclo-Therapy® massage system, we address the discomfort that can lead to poor posture. When you’re free from aches, sitting correctly becomes second nature.

Transform your sitting experience with expert guidance

Choosing the right chair for your posture is a vital decision. That’s why our friendly, knowledgeable advisors offer free, no-obligation home consultations. They will:

• Discuss your specific postural concerns and comfort needs.
• Demonstrate how our riser recliners can directly improve your sitting habits.
• Help you find the perfect fit and features, all in the comfort of your own home.
• Explain any potential VAT exemption if you have a qualifying condition.

Take the first step towards a healthier, more comfortable way to sit.

To learn more about how an Adjustamatic riser recliner chair can make a real difference to your posture and daily comfort, please get in touch.

Call us today free on 0800 689 9823 (lines open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday) or send us a message to request your free brochure and home demonstration.