Orthopedic chairs - Different names for chair types

There are many different names given to chairs intended for some purpose or health advantage and, in order to try and cast some light onto what they all mean, this page will "try” to make some general definitions.

The word chair can be preceded by any of the following terms and in most cases there is no formal definition or medical association with the chair name. Even so, these terms are intended to have a meaning by their manufacturer and retailer that differentiates them from regular chairs.

Task, orthopedic, back, ergonomic, lift and tilt, riser recline (rise and recline), chair lift, massage, gaming, easy (lounge).

A task chair is a chair that is intended for a specific purpose that is connected with an activity or task. The most common task chair is an office chair intended for use with a desk or computer. The future of office based task chairs will probably evolve to the point where a complete working environment for an individual is designed and constructed around a task based ergonomic chair. When this happens (and it has already started) we will begin to see anintegrated workspace, chair and workstation environment that will be customised to the needs of both the operative and the processes that they are undertaking.

The term orthopedic chair can fit any number of chairs where the objective is to create a seated environment where good posture and back health are the primary considerations. This means that most of the chair types listed above could also be described as orthopedic chairs, or as chair having an orthopedic design or benefit.

Back chair is a term often used in a similar way to orthopedic chair and it is intended to place the emphasis on the fact that the chair was designed with good back support in mind. Most chairs marketed in this way tend to have high backrests with a fairly vertical incline.

Ergonomic chairs are really task chairs by another name. They are also orthopedic and they should also be good for the back. Ergonomics are about combining the human body (and its activities) with tasks or physical movements and finding the most efficient and healthy ways of getting the two to work in harmony. In other words an ergonomic chair tries to place the body and limbs of the seated person in a position that best suits the jobs that they are doing or the task that they are performing. (The same as a task chair.)

Chairs going by the name of lift and tilt, rise and recline, and similar names are hydraulic chairs designed to assist someone in standing up and sitting down. These chairs have a seat and backrest that can lift and incline to help someone in a seated position return to an upright standing posture. They are powered by electricity.

Lift chairs are just another way of describing the lift and tilt chair type described above.

A massage chair is a chair that incorporates motors and functions that can produce (simulate) a massage sensation for anyone who is seated in them. These chairs can be simple or very complex (i.e. offering massage to the legs, arms, feet etc) and they will have pre-programmed settings that allow different massage options to be selected. Different chairs have different functions and some include heat and specific forms of massage.

The gaming chair is a form of task chair intended for playing console and computer games, usually using a TV or computer monitor. These chairs may include vibratory features to simulate a gaming activity and many have loudspeakers built into them. They aim to recreate the feel of the environment that the game is displaying on the monitor.

The easy chair, lounge chair, or living room chair is the typical "slump into and relax" chair found in most living areas. This type of chair is designed with relaxation in mind and offers little in the way of conventional back support design.