You're not alone if your legs or feet swell during the day, especially by bedtime. It's one of the most common things we hear about from older Australians, carers, and people on their feet for hours. While there's no one-size-fits-all fix, the "zero-gravity" position is helping more people feel relief, mainly when used on an electric bed or lift chair.
What Exactly Is the Zero-Gravity Position?
It sounds like something out of NASA, but it's not as complicated as it sounds. In the zero-gravity position, your head and knees are slightly raised, and your legs sit above your heart. You end up in a weightless, reclined position that eases pressure across your body.
This setup was based on how astronauts sit during launch. It turns out that the exact position also happens to reduce pressure on your spine and veins, helping with a bunch of health niggles, including swelling. Learn more about how this position supports the body overall.
How It Helps Reduce Swelling
Gravity pulls fluid into your legs and feet when you sit or stand all day. That's why your ankles feel puffy, or your socks leave deep marks. Lying flat doesn't always help either, your circulation still has to fight against gravity.
In a zero-gravity position, your legs are raised above heart level. That gentle lift helps your blood flow back to the heart more efficiently, so it doesn't pool in your lower limbs. You're giving your body the perfect angle to get circulation moving again, without having to walk or prop your legs on pillows. It can also help relieve back pain at the same time.
Who Finds It Helpful?
A lot of Aussies living with ongoing swelling — whether it's from age, poor circulation, arthritis or recent surgery — say the zero-gravity position takes the edge off.
Even people dealing with things like lymphedema, pregnancy-related puffiness or fluid retention from medication have seen real benefits. If arthritis is part of the picture too, here’s how electric beds can help.
For carers, it can be a game-changer, too — it means the person you're supporting can get relief without constantly moving or being repositioned.
Do You Need a Special Bed or Chair?
You don't need to go to space, but the proper setup helps. Many electric beds and lift chairs now come with a built-in zero-gravity setting. Just press a button and your body moves into the correct position.
You can stay there for a while to rest your legs or even sleep in it all night. Some people find 20 to 30 minutes a few times daily is enough. Others like the feeling so much they don't want to move!
Not Just for Swelling
The benefits of zero gravity go beyond fluid retention. It also helps people with back pain, sore joints, snoring or circulation problems. If your sleep isn't great, or you're waking up stiff and swollen, this is a straightforward change that could help. It can also be helpful for sciatica and nerve pain.
You don't need to overhaul your whole room.
Have a look at our electric beds or explore zero-gravity lift chairs to see what might work for your space and body.