Lumbar Support Office Chairs Can Help Your Aching Back

The typical office chair is not designed to help your back and if your using one with a very small back at the end of the day the lumbar area of your back is aching and silently screaming for a lumbar support office chair. Your poor back has gone the whole day with inadequate lumbar back support and if you have a bad back to begin with it’s probably going to get worse.

I’ve had a home office for years and used an everyday office chair that desperately needed extra support for my aching back. After having back surgery I still had problems with lower back pain due to arthritis. I tried a half a dozen different “lumbar” pillows and after wasted money and no help for my back found one that did help. I used it for over four years until my office chair and the pillow wore out.

The search was on for a new chair...

There were a lot of office chairs available to choose from so I made time to be picky. It’s was an investment, not only money wise but back wise. Note that a cheap poorly designed chair is going to make your back problems worse. It’s also not going to last long and may need to be replace in a few years. A well designed and well made office chair will last much longer. I needed a chair designed for a combination of jobs such as using a computer, doing bookkeeping, etc. and a chair that allowed me to lean back when talking on the phone. Make a list of your work activities done at your desk, it will help with your selection.

What to Look For:

• Is it comfortable?
• Does the seat have a rounded front edge? Rounded is better for blood circulation in your legs.
• Does it have a headrest?
• Is the back well padded and have lumbar support.
• Are the arm rests well padded?
• Is the height adjustable?
• Can you place your feet firmly on the floor?
• Does the chair offer support for your hips and thighs? A good chair will have an extra inch of chair beyond your hips.
• Does the chair rotate easy?
• Are the springs well supported?
• How will the casters move on carpet?
• What is the material? Vinyl or leather are easier to clean but don’t breathe well. Material is usually more comfortable but if you snack at your desk it may get spills that will require heavier cleaning.
• Will the chair you chose be delivered as you’ve seen it or will you have to put it together?
• What is the return policy?

The Benefits

It's almost impossible to think clearly when your back is "killing you". A good office chair with lumbar support will improve your posture and will help strengthen your back and that will help to reduce pain. By reducing pain your able to concentrate on your work and you'll be more productive.

The photos below show three different styles but there are many more available. The one in the middle is very similar to the one I have...and still using.

Success!

Our chair search was successful. While eyeing the various office chairs I spotted one that looked comfortable and had good lumbar support. It swivelled, had cloth upholstery, an adjustable seat and looked classier the average chair. It was twice the cost of my original chair but having worked forever I felt I deserved a classier chair. I wasn't wild about the fabric design but the chair was so comfortable I decided I could live it with it so we ended up bringing it home. It has been wonderful. It makes me sit up straight and seems to balance the whole length of my back. It was worth the extra money spent. I'm still using the chair and after eight years it's gone through a lot. Miscellaneous spills clean up beautifully and the material shows no sign of thinning anywhere. It's really durable and still very comfortable. And my cat Thomas loves sprawling on the top and taking a nap or quietly laying there as I work on my computer. It was made by Coaster.