Need firm couch for bad knees/hips. Camelback?

11 years ago

I really need a couch that offers SUPPORT. My current couch is Flexsteel with the loose back cusions and deep seat and I all but sink into the thing. Way too deep and the soft back offers no support on hips/pelvis.

Camelback couches to me seem the most logical -narrow seat - and firmer back. Trouble is they don't seem too terribley fashionable looking unless I am looking at the wrong ones!

Any GREAT couch manufacturers for firm sofas? Anyone else have bad knees or hips and love their couch? thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
iCustomSofa
11 years ago
Scottmel, I think I know what you mean, I myself have had knee surgeries as results of torn cartilage and was in a accident with a fractured hip. All this seems to affect my lower back, especially when sitting for a long time. I find that my posture and keeping a good posture when sitting helps more than anything.
I suggest is first understand what your best seat depth should be; measure from the inside of your knee to your back while your sitting in a good posture. This should give you a basic starting point to work from. Best to have the seats and back pillow in foam encased inside a envelope or wrapped that has no more than 3/4" thickness of polyester fiber or memory foam around the foam. The seat foam should be a HR foam 2.0 or higher density and a ILD of 28 - 32. This is a standard Firm seat that will remain the same firmness for many years. The back cushions should have no less than 1.8 density and 18- 22 ILD. A tight back sofa is fine too if you can find the one with the right depth to your size. A pillow back will allow for a easier adjustment for the manufacturer.
I think your best option is to find a custom built sofa to fit your requirements. One that offers a number of choices for seating comfort ie: a firmer seat.

Of course I built my own sofa specifically for my hips and knees, well because I am the owner of a upholstery plant.
scottmel
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you so much for the awesome detailed response!!
Related Discussions
OK. Knee surgery; 10 days and counting
Q
Comments (28)
roselvr, I wonder if your DD has patellar subluxation? My kneecap "popped" to the outside and the knee would give out to the inside. Mine's a combination of repeated twisting injuries, general abuse :-) and a mild congenital defect (the "notch" the kneecap sits in is too shallow) and it, too, looked fine on imaging but it did not function properly under strain. I had arthroscopic surgery in 1990 on the right knee to deepen that notch a tad, adjust some ligaments and build what would eventually become a "collar" of scar tissue to keep my kneecap in place - I can feel that but can't see it. (Just the three eensy little scars from the arthroscopy, which after all this time are just little puckers in the skin. Instead of general anesthesia I had a spinal block and sedation and was happily stoned to the gills for two days afterward! LOL) I'm sure the technology has improved drastically since then, but that knee has never gone kerflooey on me again. Has your daughter had any physical therapy to stabilize the muscles that work the knee? It really can help a great deal, and it's totally non-invasive so it's an excellent place to start. Women are particularly prone to unstable knees simply because of our skeletal anatomy. I was able to avoid surgery on the left knee with physical therapy (the right knee was far worse off, which is why it got the knife and I chose to be much more conservative with the left) at the same time I was having extensive therapy on the right knee (long story). Even after 15 years I find myself doing some of the isometric exercises when waiting at stoplights, out of sheer habit!
...See More
Hip replacement surgery for me
Q
Comments (39)
I'm a tad over 70 now. I have two artificial hips. Left was December 2004; right, January 2006. Needing to use steroids for asthma ruined my hip joints early. Hips are *easy*, with easy recovery. KNEES seem to be much harder! (Hips move 'back and forth', while knees have to 'rotate'.) Thanks to 'a better world through chemistry' (drugs), this is NOT a painful surgery or recovery. I borrowed a raised toilet seat, walker and cane from our Senior Center's lending closet. I bought a long shoehorn which I still enjoy using. I walked the day after surgery and came home after a couple nights on an ordinary surgical ward. DH was my 'step and fetch it' and was able to nuke frozen dinners for the first few nights. I was walking around the grocery store with him a week after surgery. (How many frozen dinners can a person tolerate? LOL) A visiting nurse came to our (single level) home to do the blood testing while I was on blood-thinners. A physical therapist came to our home to teach me exercises and put me through my paces. (DO them! You will recover faster and have greater strength.) My first hip was somewhat more successful than the second -- but I'm happy with both. I can't imagine NOT doing this so that you can WALK WITHOUT PAIN again. Oh, I just remembered that I was on a plane to Maui shortly after the second surgery. I had wheelchairs at the airports and made sure to walk around a bit in flight to avoid clots, but...no worries! No need for heavy meds after either replacement.
...See More
Hip Replacement Caretaker Advice
Q
Comments (39)
I'm guessing your challenge may be preventing your DH from doing too much, too soon -- and making sure he takes the pain meds as prescribed. The PT should stress the importance of having them working before he does the exercises he must do, and not over-do. He'll need to quell his DIY impulses while the joint heals. (Elmer will probably recognize this as a genuine 'gender difference'.) Sock 'puller-uppers' may not adequately prevent hip movement. It's easier to 'throw yourself at his feet' for socks, briefs, pants. I did this while my DH's clavicle healed from a fracture. IMO it's a stretch to call all assistance 'caregiving', especially when the patient is strong, competent, and ambulatory, and when the need is temporary. My DH is designated 'caregiver' by my cancer center. I know the level of care may increase, but since diagnosis in late May, my treatment for multiple myeloma has caused little change. I'm still 'keeping house'; he assists more -- if I have pain or unusual fatigue. We care for one another as always.
...See More
Trying to get up off the floor with bad knees - question
Q
Comments (46)
Several weeks ago, my neighbor Lisa brought my neighbor Joanne's dog to my house and asked me if I knew where he lived. I thought it was odd, because I have lived here about eight years, and Rusty has never let me get my hands on him, yet he had gone straight to this lady's garage sale, walked up to her, and let her put a leash on him. I walked with her to Joanne's house. We were just about to knock, when we heard someone calling. Jo-Ann, who had just had both knees replaced, had tripped over an old fence lying on the ground at rhr edge of the lot next door to her house. Although this is in town, she lived on a 1/2 acre lot with a vacant lot next door,so there was no one within shouting distance. When she began to fall, she braced herself with one hand and hit the ground with all her weight on that hand, breaking her wrist. She was unable to get up. Her dog Rusty had gone to get the neighbor! Moral to my story is... keep your phone in your pocket!
...See More
petuniaxyz
11 years ago
I purchased the Paramount sofa from Ethan Allen a few months ago. My husband had a knee replacement a year ago and I have a bad back. The sofa is senior friendly. The height of the seat and firmness of the seat and back cushions makes it easy to get up without putting a strain on your joints. I was able to select the firmness I wanted. I am very pleased with my purchase.
freethinker99
11 years ago
Scottmel rmanbike gave a very good review of cushions and cushion reguirements. Most better end manufacturers of upholstered furniture do offer or will special order cushion options to suit your requirements.
francypants
11 years ago
The firmest sofa I ever had was a sleeper. I was like sitting on a board (in a good way). We've gone through our last two sofas with no luck in finding the firmness we need. The first was a lovely Drexel-Heritage that found its way into the formal living room after a week. Even though it had a tight-back, the bench seat wasn't working for us. Last one was a King Hickory and its fabric went to h*ll in a hurry and is not high enough for my 6'4" DH.

Need firm couch for bad knees/hips. Camelback?

Comments (5)

iCustomSofa

scottmel
Original Author

Related Discussions

petuniaxyz

freethinker99

francypants

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need firm couch for bad knees/hips. Camelback?

Comments (5)

iCustomSofa

scottmelOriginal Author

Related Discussions

petuniaxyz

freethinker99

francypants

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

scottmel
Original Author