Snubbed by the style conscious, and loved by the sports fanatic, recliners are a matter of taste, but experts disagree on whether they are good for the body.
One theory has it that recliners promote terrible posture and are thus bad for our backs. Chiropractors will tell you that sitting in general is bad for the spine, putting it in a position it was never intended for. Combine that with the many hours spent sitting at our desks, and it's no wonder we suffer aches and pains (and why standing desks have become so popular).
Others say, not so fast. Yes, it comes down to posture, but that simply means we need better recliners. Find one that supports the lower back and promotes good posture, for example.
According to WebMD, the ideal sitting position is actually one in which you are leaning back a bit, at a 135 degree body-thigh position, which puts less stress on the spine than the typical 90-degree seated position.
Find the right chair with the right support, and don't spend hours a day in it; you should be fine. Find a recliner that induces slouching and spend tons of time in it; then prepare for pain.