Sitting for long periods of time can place massive amounts of stress on your back, neck, shoulders, arms and legs. What’s worse, most people tend to slouch when sitting, which overstretches the spinal ligaments and puts strain on spinal discs and back muscles. This can lead to serious lower back problems and back pain.
The best chair for lower back pain is an ergonomic one that maximizes back support and helps maintain good posture.
It is extremely important to adjust your chair to the proportions of your body to optimize your chair for back pain prevention. Here are some simple ways to figure out the desired height of your work station, which depends on your height and the type of work you do.
Sit as close as possible to your desk. Keep your upper arms parallel to your spine. Adjust the height of your chair so that your elbows are at a 90-degree angle when you rest your hands on your desk. Adjust your armrests so that they slightly lift your arms at the shoulders. This takes some of the strain off your neck and shoulders.
Another way to be sure you’re in the best chair for back pain – press against the back of your chair with a cushion that causes your lower back to arch slightly when seated. This is essential to minimize back strain. If you’re like most people, lumbar support is the main factor that will determine the extent of your comfort or back pain. Slumping or slouching places extra stress on your lower back, especially on your lumbar discs.
The best chair for lower back pain will ensure that the flats of your feet make complete contact with the floor, preventing you from moving your hips forward and slouching. If your seat is too low and your knees are above your hips, you will shorten your hip flexors and also end up with severe lower back pain.
Your gaze should be aimed at the center of your computer screen when you’re sitting comfortably with your head facing forward. If your screen is higher or lower than your gaze, raise or lower your chair until it is at the height of your level gaze.
To avoid keeping your back in the same position for long periods, make sure you stand, stretch and walk for a few minutes every hour. In general, moving and stretching throughout the day will help keep your joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons loose and healthy, allowing you to relax and focus on your work productively.
Some people believe that best chair for back pain is an active, ergonomic chair such as a Swedish kneeling chair or a Swiss exercise ball. These promote good posture and back strength because they require active use of one’s muscles for balance and to sit upright.
Jesse is the co-founder and visionary CEO of The Healthy Back Institute®, the world-leading source of natural back pain solutions. His mission as a former back pain sufferer is to help others live pain free without surgery and pharmaceuticals.
