Back pain is an ailment suffered by many across the world. There are a variety of causes and symptoms that can be debilitating, causing stress and pain on a day-to-day basis. What types of back pain are the most common?
Muscle strains can cause back pain as a result of bad posture or over exertion, however this can improve over time with rest. More serious back complaints such as compressed nerves, fractures, or osteoporosis may require adjustments in everyday life such as specialist chairs to alleviate pain.
If you spend extensive time sitting for work, what chairs are best for comfort and reducing pain? Let's have a look at some of the best chairs currently available.
OUR TOP PICK
28 × 24.5 × 13 inches (ca. 33 cm) 922 651.72 centimeters)- 37.9 lbs
This chair is a great choice if you suffer from lower back and neck pain. The design has an S-curve at the back that fits the spine comfortably, allowing for a long period of sitting with minimal strain on the neck.
Aesthetically, it is an attractive chair with a sleek modern design. The seating position is adjustable along with the height for extra support. The mesh material is cooling, utilizing airflow for ultimate comfort. The material is highly durable, making it a good long term choice.
The padded seat is shaped like a W, with a unique front shape that reduces leg pressure. The dense cushion is high quality and designed to last and not lose shape.
In addition, the chair also has a rounded headrest designed to relax neck muscles and provide support when working.
The chair is easy to put together, requiring minimal effort. The price is on the higher side but not excessively. The reviews are mostly good, with comfort being the predominant quality. Some mention it isn’t the best choice if you’re tall and the armrests are not adjustable.
Pros
- Adjustable positioning
- Cooling material
- Comfortable seating
Cons
- Non-adjustable armrests
- Popular, often out of stock
EDITORS CHOICE
A cheaper option than the previous product, this well-designed chair is popular for back sufferers. It’s designed with similar mesh material for keeping cool during a long day at the office.
The chair has unique lumbar support with an adjustable height option, which makes it a good choice for short or tall users. The chair is easily adjusted using a lever that enables you to lean back or forward.
The seat is thick and wide and ideal for all sizes. A good quality, affordable option. Reviews are mixed with assembly being the one negative.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Adjustable
Cons
- Tricky to put together
BEST VALUE
29.92 × 25.59 × 16.93 inches (ca. 43 cm) (32.92 centimeters) — 66lbs
The ultimate in ergonomic design, this chair offers support for all manner of back problems and is ideal for relieving muscle pain and body fatigue from long working sessions.
The chair offers a fully adjustable seat and armrests, as well as a plethora of other parts that provide a fully customizable chair.
The seat has a popular waterfall design, which reduces pressure on the legs. The headrest is fully rotatable, meaning you can set it up to perfectly fit your body for comfort and support.
The chair’s frame is stable and strong and the wheelbase is designed for swift movement between tasks and is able to fully support people up to 275lb (0.12 t).
The assembly instructions are well explained and even come with a video tutorial for visual learners. Reviews are good, but is an expensive choice.
Pros
- All parts adjustable
- Waterfall design
- Strong
Cons
- Expensive
RUNNER UP
Height: 39.76”” – 44.1”; Seat Height: 15.35” — 19.69”; Seat: 19.69” W × 18.9” L. Capacity:330lbs.
This real leather contemporary designed chair has style as well as comfort. The chair comes in gray or cream. It offers a curved ergonomic design, fully supportive and comfortable.
The chair benefits from a pneumatic height lever to adjust height, as well as the option to change to a rocking action by using a tilt handle. The chair rotates 360 degrees and has a sturdy base that’s built to last.
Assembly of the chair is easy due to its uncomplicated design and is estimated to take around 20 minutes. Reviews are positive, with some concerns over size. Be sure to measure desks to ensure the chair will fit under the desk.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Rocking feature
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Large
RUNNER UP
Forty-seven" H × 27.25" W × 19" D Weight: 58 lbs. Seat Back Dimensions: 21" H × 27" W. Seat Dimensions: 27" W & 19" D.
This beast of a chair is an attractive option and big enough to support all body sizes and weight. Super comfortable, the chair is equipped with a large seat, body pillows that wrap around the body and adjustable controls to customize to your body type.
The Serta also has super padded armrests and waterfall seating to increase circulation and reduce leg pain.
The chair is sturdy, sophisticated and the bonded leather and wooden base makes it a long term chair built to last. Reviews are mixed but many recognize that the chair is comfy and durable, with some discussions about weight and extra support.
Pros
- Cozy
- Attractive
- Adjustable
Cons
- Heavy
- Limited support for serious back problems
RUNNER UP
Seat — 20.47”×19.88” Back — 20.07”×28.14”;Base diameter — 25.98”; Height adjustable: 42.91”-45.66”; Maximum weight capacity 300 lbs.
This mid-price range chair is sturdy, waterproof, and easy to maintain. The high backed design is the ideal shape to support the spine. The chair can rock and swing if needed for a nice,comfortable experience when having a break from forward leaning.
The sleek design means it looks good in any room and compliments various styles. Reviews are predominantly good, with support being the best attribute. Buyers also commented on the ease of assembly but tricky to do alone.
Pros
- Easy maintenance
- Rock and swing motion
- Attractive
Cons
- 2 people assembly required
RUNNER UP
This high quality super modern chair provides the ultimate in contemporary ergonomic design. Fully adjustable height, lumbar arms means you can customize this chair to fully suit your body. The seat and back move as you move, making you and the chair transition as one.
The 3D technology helps align the spine, helping to avoid back pain and injury. The armrests remain parallel to desks, reducing arms and neck pain. The flexible edge ends slightly, reducing leg pressure.
This chair will last a lifetime and is designed to support excessive use, providing comfort and durability in equal measures. No need to worry about assembling the chair, it comes fully assembled for immediate use.
The design looks like it’s straight out of a futuristic movie and would suit a modern contemporary office or home office set up.
Pros
- 3D technology
- Modern design
- Built to last
Cons
- Top end price
RUNNER UP
19.49 × 19.33 × 10.12 inches (ca. 26 cm)- 9 684. Centimeters — 23.3 lbs.
The Styas chair's sleek design isn’t too imposing and fits nicely even into small recesses. The lumbar support relieves back pain when working and has a double mesh layer that’s breathable yet comfy. Fully adjustable tilt tension is measured at 120 degrees, with full swivel at 360 degrees.
Silenced rolling wheels make the chair flexible and can hold up to 250lbs. It also benefits from a flip up armrest that enables you to sit upright without leaning if required. It also makes the chair more portable; a handy little feature.
The Styas chair has fantastic reviews, with most buyers happy with the quality of the chair and size. Only concern was limited weight bearing for heavier set individuals.
Pros
- Flexible
- Flip up armrests
- Portable
Cons
- Limited weight-bearing
RUNNER UP
26.85 × 18.74 × 8.19 inches (ca. 21 cm) — 10 467.2234
If ordinary chairs are just nor working at relieving pain, this unique kneeling chair is specially designed to relieve nagging back and neck pain.
This chair offers the best angle that allows your weight to be distributed evenly, reducing pressure on just one part. The integrated cushioning helps the back remain straight as well as shins, knees and bum perfectly aligned.
The kneeling chair is fully adjustable meaning it can be beneficial for different heights, sizes, adults, or children.
Reviews are positive, with some concern over the material smell.
Pros
Good for neck pain
Keeps back straight
Fully adjustable
Cons
Distinctive smell
Best Chair For Back Pain Sufferers Buying Guide
When searching for the right chair to support the whole body, it’s important to understand the terminology. Ergonomic chairs have been specifically designed to offer the support needed when doing jobs or hobbies that require a lot of sitting. They help improve posture and limit pain from existing back or neck conditions.
When purchasing an ergonomic chair, it’s important that they have adjustable features, especially for being used by several people. Different people will have unique needs. Always take note of the dimensions of the chair that are included in the information leaflet. What specific parts need to be adjustable?
Seat
Adjustable seating is vital, and the correct height should allow you to place feet flat down on the floor. If you work in an office it’s likely that a desk will be at a fixed height, so the ability to change the seat is important, so you can work comfortably. 16-20 inches off the floor usually works for most people.
The depth of the seat should leave around 2-5 inches from the seat edge and back of the knees. If the seat is not set back enough, it’ll cause pain and pressure to the knees.
Most ergonomic chairs will have a seat tilt feature. The benefit of seat tilt is that it allows the pelvis to sit in the correct position. People who sit a lot for work or gaming often adopt the wrong posture that creates back problems.
An anterior pelvic tilt means that the bottom sticks out and the stomach pushes forward. The correct seat tilt will help position the pelvis, so it’s neutral and offers 80 degree angles at the knees, ankles, and hips.
The padding should be comfortable for the posterior and contain good quality fabric that will retain its shape and provide support for long periods of sitting.
Backrest/Swivel
Supporting the back is imperative to prevent back pain. A good ergonomic chair will offer support for the natural S shape of the spine. It helps stop the tendency to slump whilst working and reduces pressure on the pelvis and spine. It should be 13-20 inches wide and have a locking mechanism to fix in place.
Adjusting the backrest helps to match the curvature in the spine with the curve in the chair for the ultimate support.
Most chairs will also have a recline option which enables the chair to take most of the weight from the upper body, taking away the stress on muscles and spinal disks.
Chairs that swivel are handy as it enables you to reach over the desk without straining.
Armrest/Headrest/Headrest
Armrests are important as they help reduce tension and help the shoulders relax. It’s useful to have arms that rotate up as learning when typing may have the opposite effect and limit arm movement, putting strain on the front. Headrests help support the neck and upper body.
Materials/Wheels
What material you choose for your chair will largely depend on budget, but all ergonomic chairs will provide breathable material and be durable. Many chairs have a mesh material which is cooling and helps avoid sweating. If you are looking to invest in a more expensive chair, then leather is a good option and will last for many years.
In addition, rubber wheels that are soft and strong will help the user to navigate successfully whether used on hard floor or carpet.
Price
As is the case with any purchase, you get what you pay for. Cheaper ergonomic chairs are usually great and will give you what you need in terms of support, however typically they will need to be replaced every few years so buying cheap may prove to be a false economy.
Investing in a leather chair will be pricier up front, but will not need to be replaced for a very long time. Chairs on the upper end of the price scale also have more customizable options, so are a better option for intense back pain sufferers.
Best Chair For Back Pain Sufferers - FAQ's
Can I Just Use An Ordinary Chair In The Office?
Of course using an ordinary chair is always an option however, even if you don’t currently have any posture issues or muscle pain it is likely without the right set up these may develop. If you spend longer than a few hours in a chair, you should definitely consider investing in a good quality ergonomic chair to support the back.
Where Can I Buy An Ergonomic Chair?
There are plenty of online retailers that specialize in ergonomic chairs and are sold at competitive prices. However, if you’d rather try out chairs before you purchase, find some local retailers that allow you to sit in a selection of chairs and can provide in person professional advice and possibly a discount if buying a top of the range chair.
Do Ergonomic Chairs Require Any Maintenance?
Most chairs come with cleaning and maintenance instructions from the manufacturers, so be sure to follow these closely to avoid doing any damage.
You should clean any debris that gets stuck in the chair. All materials should be kept free from dust and food.
You should use the appropriate cleaning agents, For example if you choose a leather chair use specially formulated products specifically for leather, This will keep it looking tip-top and preserve the material. You should also clean the wheels of your chair, as dirt and crumbs can reduce their mobility, defeating the object of their usage.
It’s useful to check the screws and bolts of the chair on a regular basis. Tighten them up if necessary, or replace them if rust is setting in.
Furthermore, you should also keep chairs out of direct sunlight, so the material doesn't become sun damaged, causing premature wear and tear.
Investing in an ergonomic chair should be a priority if working at a desk for long periods of time. Looking after the spine and muscles will ensure you remain mobile and pain free for many years to come.
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