Are Recliners Bad For Leg Circulation?
Many people wonder if it’s safe to use recliners for long hours and do they cause knee pain problems? Are recliners bad for leg circulation and other health concerns? Can sleeping in a recliner cause blood clots? It’s evident that you guys have many concerns about these recliners.
But,
Doesn’t this seem to be the case with everything? We frequently face numbness, pins and needles, and muscle cramps when we use something for an extended time.
Then it’s not fair to pin the entire problem on reclining chairs alone. This article will clarify the main reasons why your legs don’t get enough blood flow and answer any other questions you may have related to this topic.

Why do my legs ache when I sit in a recliner?
It’s the height that’s the main issue.
Hence, when you recline, make sure your feet have sufficient space and don’t hang off the end of the chair.
However, if the feet are allowed to hang up for an extended period of time without support, it can lead to circulation problems in the legs.
How To Use Recliner In A Proper Way?
1. Stand Slowly From The Chair
If you’ve been sitting for a long time, your leg may be numb, and if you get up too quickly from the chair, you could injure yourself or feel even more numbness. Using the power lift feature is tempting, but it’s not a good idea.
Manage to get up smoothly and slowly from the seat for your own benefit.
2. Make Use Of Armrests
On the reclining chair, they have provided you with not one but two padded armrests, which are not there merely for show but are there for your comfort.
Since using armrests reduces the pressure on your blood flow, you should take frequent breaks and move your hands to keep the blood flowing.
It is a great idea to keep your hands moving after some short breaks.
3. Put your legs up on something
The footrest is there for a reason; use it!
You should have paid attention to the recliner’s dimensions (width, height, depth, etc.) when you first bought it, so you wouldn’t have to return it because it didn’t fit.
Can Sleeping In A Recliner Cause Blood Clots?
When your feet hang off the end of the recliner, you greatly increase your risk of developing a blood clot while sitting or sleeping in the chair.
Some might not give much thought to it, but after a while of hanging, your feet will clot blood if you don’t give them the rest they need.
Can recliners cause knee pain?
Well, not really, but in some cases like if you sleep in a recliner for a long time, you might wake up with knee pain!
I know how wonderful it is to curl up in a recliner with a blanket and take a quick snooze.
However, if you require 8 to 9 hours of sleep, you will develop knee pain in the future, so a nap is preferable on a recliner but not a good night’s sleep.
As there isn’t enough room to change the sides while sleeping in the recliner, so you had to sleep in the same position all night. And just because of this, your knees might hurt in the morning.
Can sleeping in a recliner cause sciatica?
Have you ever had pain in your lower back or near your butt? Sciatica is just that.
Regarding your question, “can sleeping in a recliner cause Sciatica?,” the answer is NO!
Instead, those experiencing lower back pain due to Sciatica would benefit from reclining in a comfortable chair.
However, reclining chairs have their benefits. But too much back bending can lead to Sciatica; therefore, use them usually neither too far forward nor too far back.
See more: How to sit in a recliner with sciatica
Is Sleeping In A Recliner Good For Sciatica?
Because there are so many questions related to sleeping in recliners in people’s minds, there are two things that I want to make clear here.
- If you suffer from Sciatica or any other form of back or neck pain, a recliner is an ideal place to spend the day.
- if you’re worried about sleep, I wouldn’t recommend it for an overnight nap; a few hours of daytime snoozing is fine and poses no health risks, but spending the night in a recliner will give you a lot of aches and pains. (Be aware of the risks)
Can You Reverse Bad Circulation?
Yes, you can; in fact, a quick 20- or 30-minute walk around the block will accomplish the same thing as going to the gym.
Simply put, you need to move your leg and the rest of your body to improve blood flow, and you can do this right in the comfort of your home.