Office workers today tend to experience a lot of back problems due to sitting for extended periods on chairs without the right support.

Even though spines can maintain their normal curvature without much support, the tendency of people to slouch forward pushes the curve in the opposite direction, leading to strains and back pains. These problems can easily be avoided by purchasing an office chair with added lumbar support.

Lumbar support in a chair is critical to maintaining the spine’s natural curvature while promoting good posture. An added benefit of good lumbar support is an alignment of the ears, shoulders, and hips, ultimately curbing muscle damage in the shoulders and neck.

The best type of lumbar support chair is one that fits your unique spine perfectly and offers you total support and comfort as you work.

Types of Lumbar Support

The four common types of lumbar support on the market today include;

Fixed Support

This refers to when the lumbar support structure is permanently fastened to the chair’s backrest. This means that the lumbar support cannot be repositioned or removed from the seat. It is the most basic type of support and is found mainly on lower-end chairs.

Fixed lumbar support, though better than no support at all, is only able to accommodate a few people comfortably. If used by the wrong person, it can create a great deal of pain rather than prevent it.

Adjustable Support

Adjustable lumbar support allows a user to modify the position of the support structure in order to properly fit their spine’s unique curvature. Users can adjust the location and height to target the precise area of the back in need of support. The depth of the lumbar support can also be adjusted to control its firmness and degree of protrusion.

Adjustable lumbar supports are able to cater to a wide range of individuals as each person can tune it to fit their needs. They can also be adjusted to give more or less support, depending on the user’s preference. It only takes a short while to configure the right height and depth requirements for your spine.

Dynamic Support

Dynamic lumbar support systems automatically adjust their depth and firmness based on the user’s posture in order to provide continuous support. This type of support is only found on high-end chairs.

Some dynamic support systems have the entire backrest reacting to changes in posture, while others have multiple separate pieces of the backrest reacting individually to changes in spine curvature. The only drawback to this chair is they are often expensive.

External Lumbar Support

This type of support does not come attached to the chair but is added separately in the form of a cushion. This is an inexpensive alternative to in-built lumbar chairs.

Most lumbar pillows that come with chairs are of low quality and offer little support. It is therefore advisable to purchase other high-quality lumbar pillows instead in order to customize your chair without having to buy a new one.

Different Ways to Protect your Back

While lumbar support is a key element in protecting your back, there are other things you can do to release the strain while working. Start by adjusting your desk and computer to approximately elbow level to prevent hunching over. Keep your monitor’s screen at eye level and place your feet flat on the ground to maintain a straight 90-degree angle.

Take short breaks regularly to stretch your muscles. This will minimize cramping and release built-up pressure around your lower back.