The Best Office Chair for Lower Back Pain for Sedentary Workers

Back pain is not something you should take lightly as it can ruin your day. Sitting on your office chair from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. is the fastest way to develop pain in your back; as well as alleviate an existing back problem. The best thing you can do is to search for the best office chair for lower back pain.

Lower back pain is a common health complaint

In modern America where lots of people earn make a living working in an office, it is estimated that about 80 to 85% of the population will experience back problems at some point in their life. It might be caused by poor posture or lack of back support from long hours sitting in poorly-designed office chairs. The good news is, it is possible to prevent back problems at work by finding the proper office chair.

Even in school, your teacher was probably keen on instructing you about proper sitting posture: (1) Sit up with your back and shoulder straight; (2) All of the three normal back curves should be present while sitting; (3) Distribute body weight equally on both hips; (4) Bend your knees at the right angle; and (5) Keep your feet flat on the floor.

Now however, sitting in your office chair for long periods, you tend to forget these guidelines. You slouch and overstretch your spinal ligaments; at the same time, you overtax the discs and structures around your spine. After some time, your incorrect posture weakens and damages the spinal structures and starts or worsens back pain.

Picking an Office Chair

1. A right posture chair will go a long way in minimizing any pain resulting from sitting. Opt for a chair that has an adjustable height. To prevent back pain, you have to keep both feet flat on the floor with your thighs placed horizontal against the ground while you are sitting. Knees positioned higher or lower than your hips result to more back pain. If your office chair is stationary, you have to make special adjustments and hope that it will work.
2. Your office chair must have lumbar support. A lumbar support chair has curves going inward to contour your lower back and support your back muscles. Chairs of this type prevent you from slouching. With the entire backrest adjustable, lumbar support can be placed in the required location at your back.
3. Comfort is an important issue. Avoid too much padding or too little cushioning for both make the furniture uncomfortable. You can always add a cushion to soften your seat. Ascertain the firmness of your seat cushion; adjust the arm rests so they do not stay too close or too far from your body. Make sure, you are sitting comfortably.
4. Choose a swivel chair so you can easily turn to reach for objects on your desk, choose an office chair that swivels. Even wheels on office chairs are an extra bonus to facilitate movement.

Advantages of using an ergonomic office chair

An ergonomic office chair is your best office chair for back pain and your only hope to get rid of that unpleasant sensation of worsening back pain while seated in an office chair. After innumerable hours hunched over paperwork or squinting your eyes at your computer screen, the worse to come was the ache spreading on your back. An ergonomic office chair can correct wrong posture and avert nearly all of your back pain.

The ordinary standard work chair is produced with a “one-size-fits-all” design that most individuals complain of back problems from sitting in this poorly-designed office chairs. These types of chairs do not have enough back support for most individuals; or the back may be too high or too low, too far forward or too far back. Chairs with no adjustable backrest caused exacerbating lower back pain.

Ergonomic desk chairs are the best office chairs for back pain as they are built for people who spend many long hours sitting in their office every day. They are customized so they are adjusted to fit the individual’s height, spinal curvature, and seating arrangement.

Ergonomic office chairs can provide the following benefits:

• Lower back and lumbar support are greatly improved;
• The height is adjustable and leg & foot comfort greatly improved;
• It has an ergonomic chair back that is better suited for the curvature of the spine and shoulders;
• Arm support is improved;
• It offers more comfortable neck positioning and support;
• It provides better positioning of the head so it minimizes overall pain and eyestrain;
• It helps improve posture and decreases muscle tension; and
• It increases your ability to work for longer periods of time with little or no back pain

Features to look for in an ergonomic desk chair

The ergonomic desk chair is definitely a chair for back pain. Choosing to purchase a chair online is a great option as well; you will, however, have to be more careful about finding a chair that best suits your needs, height, and desk arrangement.

Here are the main features you will want to consider before purchasing an ergonomic chair:

1. Adjustable height – It allows for height adjustment for your calf length so you can rest flatly and squarely on the ground. The seat allows comfortable leg room beneath your desk.
2. Well-fitted seat depth – It is important that the seat allows to rest your back comfortably against the back of the chair. Find a seat with an adjustable so you can sit in an upright position with your spine against the chair’s back. You are also allowed roughly three inches of space between the back of your knees and the edge of the seat. This will allow for ideal posture and comfort
3. Adjustable back with good lumbar support – The back should be adjustable, to allow positioning of the chair’s lower back support to match the height and curvature of your lumbar. Find one that naturally supports your lumbar to prevent back pain in the future.
4. Good arm support – Individual with back problems needs a chair with good armrests for additional support and comfort. Some prefer a chair without armrests for more freedom.
5. Comfortable material and padding – Individuals searched for the best material depends essentially on matter of fit and preference. Ideally, the chair must have enough cushioning for additional support without being bulky or appearing overly padded. Consider a chair that will be comfortable for all season; comfort is the keyword.
6. Alternative styles and features – Consider the overall design of the chair. You might opt for the conventional desk chairs that have popular design; others prefer ergonomic kneeling chairs or stools. In buying chairs for back pain, consider other features as color, design, and rotation before making a purchase.

Types of ergonomic chairs

1. The Ergonomic Kneeling Chair has ingenious designs with knee stool giving the most comfort with postural automatic alignment. Add-on features: (1) height adjustments; (2) seat slope adjustments; (3) memory foam; and (4) lumbar spine support.
2. The Ergonomic Task Chair is the common chair you normally see around the office. Some of these features are: (1) lumbar adjustments that support the curvature of your lower spine; (2) height adjustments that align your eye-level with the middle of the computer screen; (3) arm height adjustments to align your forearms to your keyboard
3. The Ergonomic Saddle Stool has a seat shaped like the saddle of a horse but it has a rolling base. The wheels of the chair make rolling around easy to roll to perform other task just sitting on your desk. These stools are for those whose jobs require them to travel around their workspaces. Best chair for: (1) hair stylists; (2) lab technicians; and (3) dentists.
4. Ergonomic Swing Chairs are designed in such a way that the seat and the backrest are movable. By leaning forward, the backrest also comes forward with you as the seat tilts backward, and vice versa. Ergonomic swing chairs are types of chair to use in the office, let alone, minimized back pains.

A word about the price

Price is determined by your budget and most would want to purchase the best. The cost varies from the best that is over $1000 to the least that cost around $50. You have a wide array of choices to choose from.

What type to buy

It depends on your own choice of course. In purchasing office chairs for back pain, you will have to know if (1) it can fit your body type; (2) your spinal fingerprints must match up with the ergonomic curve of the chair; and (3) look at the weight restriction requirements and how the base has been constructed to get the best chair possible.

An ergonomic office chair might be the best office chair for lower back pain to date. So if you constantly suffer from back pain then consider investing in a quality ergonomic chair. It will not only make you more productive but will also improve your quality of life!