Do you get severe sciatic nerve pain while sitting on a couch? Or do you need to know how to sit on a recliner or couch to relieve sciatic pain? Sciatica sufferers are aware of how hard and unpleasant it is to sit for a longer period and how worse it is to sleep in a recliner. Even the most basic daily activities, such as sitting, standing, driving, and eating, are extremely painful for those with sciatica.
Doctors strictly advise against sitting for a long duration for sciatic patients. For this reason, sciatica is hard to deal with, especially for someone who has an office job, drives a car, or dines on a table. The only way to relieve your body from sciatica is to practice the different sitting positions on a recliner sofa.
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How To Sit In Recliner Or On Couch With Sciatica?
Your daily life and symptoms are greatly affected by how you sit. Therefore, to prevent sciatica, you must follow some safety measures before spending a lot of time sitting on a couch or recliner. Following a suitable sitting position that provides maximum comfort and reduces pressure on your spine is essential. You just have to make minor adjustments to get effective results.
Here are a few simple sitting positions that can help with sciatica on a recliner or regular couch. Also read about best recliners for neck pain.
Best ways to sit in a recliner with sciatica
There are suggestions for sitting in a recliner without developing sciatica:
- You need to get comfortable on your recliner by sliding it all the way back and finding a spot where you can truly rest your back on the back of the chair. Don’t over-lean on your back because it can increase pressure instead of prevention.
- You need to ensure that your back should not be arched while you are in a recliner. Instead, it should touch the back completely to get the necessary support.
- You should keep your legs and knees bent instead of holding them straight.
You may also be looking for a best chair for buttock pain guide.
Best ways to sit on couch with sciatica
How your back and hips hit the seat while sitting is important to avoid pain.
- Your body should be equally pressured on both sides; for that, try to sit straight so that it doesn’t lean more to one side than the other. The more squares, the better.
- You should ensure that your back is flat against the couch’s backrest and move back without leaving extra space. without leaving extra space.
- If your feet aren’t on the floor, elevate them and place pillows under your knees to avoid pressure on your spine.
If you affected by pressure ulcers, you can also use cushion for pressure sores on buttocks
Is Sitting in a Recliner Good or Bad for Sciatica?
Sitting in a recliner can prove best for some, not others, based on the sitting position the user may follow. Those suffering from sciatica or back pain cannot even sleep without a recliner. While sitting on a recliner, your hips get flexed slightly; you can lean back to relieve pressure on your spine.
So basically, it supports your back and helps to alleviate the pressure on nerves and reduce the pain. It is still a better option than a regular chair or couch. If you are planning to buy a recliner for spinal stenosis, have a look at my guide about best recliners for spinal stenosis.
However, on the other side, a recliner can be bad for sciatica if you lean back too far. It creates a lumbar extension. It usually occurs if there is a space between your lower back and the backrest of the recliner. A lumbar extension may cause great damage to your lower back’s nerves. If sciatica occurs when you are seated in a chair, modest adjustments to your seating position can have a significant effect.
Watch therapist guide on how to sleep in a recliner with sciatica
You may also be interested to read about best recliners for scoliosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sleeping in a recliner good for sciatica?
There is no clear answer to this as it all depends on your leaning position. It is good if you follow the right sitting position and keep your back touched with back support. In contrast, if you put any pressure while sleeping, then it is surely damaging for you.
How do you sit on a couch with sciatica?
The process is simple, you just have to provide enough support to your spine. You can do this by moving completely back on the couch and keeping your legs bent. This way, you can sit without feeling pain.
Can sitting on the couch cause sciatica?
Yes, it is possible. If you sit on the couch for long hours, this can be the reason behind sciatica. However, there are also some other reasons that can cause this. Any activity that puts direct pressure on your spin can cause sciatica.
Wrapping Up Guide for Sciatica Patient about Sitting
Recliners and couches can help sciatic patients to deal with severe pains, but it depends on the position the patient ought to. The only way to avoid pressure on your spines is to take precautions in your sitting position.
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Hi. This is Terry Crews, a physician by profession and writer by passion. From the last 3 years, I deal with dozens of patients every month who have different type of issues due to incorrect sitting or sleeping positions. Whenever I recommended sitting or sleeping equipment to patient for pain relief, they found it difficult to choose the right product.
Keeping that in mind, I started Homeoure to share my knowledge and experience with readers to find the right equipment according to their needs.