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Kinds of Lumbar Support and Ergonomic Office Chairs

Apr 15, 2021
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With the pandemic driving more people to work at home or doing business online, it has forced us to sit in front of the computers and work like an automaton. Countless hours in the sitting position in front of the screen, which can be very harmful to the back. Even if we are not working, we spent our free time either driving, watching TV for hours on end, or gaming. It seems we are always in the sitting position.

 

Part of the problem is today's habits include sitting at an extended time whether at work, during the commute to and from work, at home watching TV or at the computer, and so on. And all this sitting position can cause poor postural habits to tend to develop - hunching over, slouching in the chair, leaning forward.

 

The excessive amount of time being spent sitting can harm our bodies, without realizing it. Many people suffer from intense back pain, and they all know that this pain can last a long time. In time, it can become severe, your suffering makes it impossible to complete several crucial tasks.

To remedy the back pain and lead a healthier lifestyle, you need to invest in good lumbar support chairs. You can purchase lumbar support cushions or buy a chair that comes with one.

For companies who are setting up their office space; ensure that the company is providing the employees with high-quality chairs. Slight discomfort in their back can hinder productivity.

 

For many employees working in an office setting, an office chair without adequate back support will put stress on the lower back if sat at for long periods. When the person is in the seated position, the lumbosacral discs carry the bodyweight three times more than standing up, and without back support, the sitting position will usually lead to poor posture. It will put more stress on the soft tissues and joints in the spine. With that in mind, sitting in an office chair either causes or compounds lower back pain.

 

While sitting down in an office chair, shifting one's weight forward puts more stress on the soft tissue, joints, and discs, and can create muscle tension and pain in the lower back and legs (e.g. sciatica).

 

Office Chair Lumbar Back Support is Important

 

 Lumbar back support helps maintain good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back. In human anatomy, it is the lower portion of the spine, just above the buttocks, naturally curves inward toward the belly.

 

Without any office chair lumbar back support, it's hard to maintain the correct posture. It causes the lumbar spine and large muscles in the lower back have to work harder to support the proper alignment. Eventually, as the body ages, the muscles holding the spine become weak, and the head and upper back will lean forward to compensate for the weakened lumbar muscles.  Naturally, people will slouch and/or lean forward in the office chair.

Having a good lumbar back support will let the muscles surrounding the spine relieved from the stress of having to keep the spine naturally curved. This support is imperative when seated for a long period.

 

Positioning an Office Chair for Back Support

 

Aside from lower back support, there are other simple ways to ensure that one's office chair provides the right support for the back and neck. For example, computer users’ chairs should:

 

  • Have elbow supports to avoid straining the neck. Elbows must comfortably rest on the elbow supports at right angles.

  • Knees are bent at a right angle, with a footrest to relax the feet while sitting in the office chair, whenever necessary.

  • Eyes look straight ahead at the computer while seated in the chair.

 

 

While the spine will maintain a natural curvature without the lower back support. If done for an extended period, the usual tendency for most people is to slouch forward. This posture pushes out the lower back, which results in the natural inward curve going in the opposite direction - outward toward the chair - negating the proper balance in the lower back.

 

 

Maintaining Back Support in an Office Chair

 

When finding a good office chair, the lumbar back support should flush against the small of the back. Most portable lumbar back supports are created specifically so that one end should be positioned up and the other down. If applied correctly, lumbar back support will have the following benefits:

 

  • Ears, shoulders, and pelvis (hips) are kept in alignment

  • Natural inward curvature of the lower spine is maintained

 

It is essential that the back is flushed because this provides support for the lower back. Consequently, the lumbar back support will keep the spine in the natural position. It should not overcompensate the inward curve, nor should it feel like it is unsupported.

 

Back Support and Ergonomic Chair Options

 

There are different kinds of lumbar back supports available in different office chairs:

 

 Ergonomic chair.

 There are several ergonomic chairs that are sculpted with a lumbar support curvature shaped into the chair. To see if the ergonomic chair is the perfect fit, the user will sit up straight, with the head, spine, and buttocks in alignment. Then lean all the way back against the seatback. The curve of the ergonomic chair will follow the curve of the lower back.

  This type of lumbar support is non-adjustable. Therefore, the chair should be tested and examined before using it to ensure an appropriate fit.

 

 Kinds of Lumbar Support and Ergonomic Office Chairs

 

  1. Adjustable back support chair.

 

 Most office chairs have a seatback that can be adjusted to the comfort of the user. The seatback must be positioned with the curve of the lower spine. So that it is supported by the curve in the back of the chair. If there are several persons using the chair, then various levels of adjustment is a good option.

 

  1.  Portable lumbar back support.

 

A custom curved cushion or lumbar roll, place in the seatback of an office chair, can be manually fitted to the proper areas of the lumbar region. These cushions can be used in along with most office chairs according to the needs of the individual. It can be inflated to increase or decrease the amount of support.

Some of these portable lumbar supports are made to have a particular end facing up and the other down. Since it is portable, it may be carried to the office chair, at home or in the car.

 Some people would rather use a towel or small pillow as portable lumbar support. Simply roll it up to the desired thickness, this support is placed wherever the most comfortable and support the user feels while sitting in an office chair.

 

Aside from good back support while sitting, it's recommended to avoid sitting in the same position for more than thirty minutes. Whenever possible, stand up, stretch, and walk around a bit before going back to sitting.

 

There are budget-friendly lumbar support ergonomic office chairs and it won’t cost you too much money. Take for example the Ergonomic Office Chair 9051. It is affordable and very comfortable.

Keeping your health is always a top priority not only to but to the company, investing in an excellent lumbar support office chair will increase productivity and save on health bills.

Lumbar support can give you spine alignment, pressure-free seating, and perfect posture. These three elements are important to a healthier back and spine. Purchase any of the lumbar supported chairs and you won’t regret it at all. They are all worth every dime you spend on them.