Orthopedic chairs - Relaxation chair

Relaxation chairs and relaxation furniture are designed to help people relax, unwind and de-stress. They normally look very different to conventional easy chairs, task chairs and dining chairs.

In many cases chairs fitting this description do not adhere to the main concepts of an orthopedic chair. Instead, they tend to be chairs into which someone can flop or collapse and the main feature of these chairs is that they allow someone to completely chill-out. In other words support is not a feature of this style of relaxation chair.

Chair appearance

There is no fixed design or structure to relaxation chairs. Most tend to have a very obtuse angle between the seat area and the backrest area and this means that when you sit in one you find yourself somewhere between a sitting posture and lying down or stretching out one. An example is the wrap around sofa.

Other relaxation chairs have a recline features that allows a very reclined seating position to be attained. Some versions even have a central pivot that makes it possible for the head and toe ends of the chair to be set to a horizontal or near horizontal elevation. There are even some that have a rocking action which many people find relaxing and therapeutic.

Most of these chairs are well padded and, although they are not intended for any particular purpose (e.g. using a PC or reading), their design generally adopts the natural shape of the back, body and legs. They have gentle curves that normally result in the bottom and base of the back being at the lowest point in the chair, i.e. often below the feet.

Do they really relax you

How good these chairs really are is a matter of personal preference and whether they remain comfortable and relaxing over prolonged periods of time is another question. Even so, many people choose to have one of these chairs as an occasional chair or even as a feature item of furniture. In the case of the latter, some relaxation chairs have visually imposing frames made of wood or steel and their curves and contours make them highly attractive.

Other chair types that fit the relaxation definition include massage chairs and chairs that provide heat (or both). Recliner chairs and multifunction therapy chairs can also be described as relation aids in the form of chairs.