Home Gear Reviews

Find the Best Products for Your Home

What’s the Best Office Chair for Lower Back Pain?

best_office_chair_for_lower_back_painLower back pain is becoming exceedingly common as a health complain among Americans today. Almost 85 percent of the adult population will have to deal with back problems at some point during their life. Most of the back pain cases can be traced back to inadequate back support and poor posture, caused by prolonged sitting in badly-designed office chairs. Due to desk jobs, many people are obligated to live sedentary lives, sitting on their chairs for 8 straight hours every day.

Although most people can’t avoid sitting at work, back problems can be prevented through the use of chairs with good lumbar support. If you want to stop your back pain due to bad seating, you should invest in an officer chair with proper ergonomics. Read below to learn more about ergonomic back support and what type of chair you need to stop back pain in its tracks.

The Benefits of Using an Ergonomic Office Chair

There are multiple benefits from using an ergonomic over a conventional office chair. The deteriorating back pain when sit in an office chair is a familiar experience to many of us. The extended time spent crouching over paperwork or looking at a computer monitor take its toll on our spinal posture. In such a posture, the shoulder and neck muscles are overstretched, resulting in muscle fatigue throughout the affected body parts. Even the legs and arms cannot remain unaffected by bad posture caused by non-ergonomic office chairs. There is the misconception that putting up with this pain is a compromise to be made for a desk job. But an ergonomic office chair can correct your bad sitting stance and act as a shield to almost all back pain at work.

A universal design is usually employed to make a standard work chair. Though some people may be okay with such a solution, the majority will eventually find themselves experiencing back issues from spending too much time in badly-designed office chairs. Conventional office sitting lacks proper back support for most people. These chairs may have backs that are either too low or too high, too far back or too far forward. Additionally, minimal adjustment to the backrest is usually allowed, making back pain even worse.

On the other hand, desk chairs with ergonomic design are better to handle prolonged sitting periods. Many provide extensive adjustment options, to fit a person’s height, spinal shape, and seating habits.

Combined with a better desk and computer position, the following advantages can be drawn from ergonomic office chairs:

  • Better lumbar and back support
  • Height adjustments, allowing for better leg and foot comfort
  • Ergonomic chair back, capable to accommodate the spine and shoulders natural curvature
  • Better arm support
  • Improved head position, resulting in less overall pain and eyestrain
  • Improved neck positioning and support
  • Improved daily posture and less muscle tension
  • Better productivity for prolonged periods of time with little to no back pain

If you have lower back pain, how do you choose an Office Chair?

Here are the five main points to consider before purchasing an ergonomic office chair:

  1. An Adjustable Seat Height – Back pain for many people originates from a badly-fitted seat. Ideally, a chair has to be height-adjustable, and must employ a lever or similar mechanism to make height corrections. You should get a chair that can be adjusted according to the length of your calves, so that your feet can rest squarely and flatly on the ground. What’s more, see that the chair will let a comfortable space between the desk and your legs.
  2. A Well-Fitted Seat Depth – Probably the most important aspect of a good ergonomic chair is its ability to allow the users to rest their backs properly against the chair’s back. Many people have to sit in chairs that are simply too deep, which makes them slouch or lean too far back. The best solution would be to get a seat with a back that can be adjusted. The chair’s back should be positioned in a way that allows you to sit upright, with your spine against the back of the chair, while also having a space of about three inches between your knees’ back and the seat’s edge. This way you will achieve the best possible posture and comfort. Also, don’t forget to test the seat’s width. Although the standard size is what most chairs follow, for some people a wider seat may be necessary.
  3. An Adjustable Back with Proper Lumbar Support – The back of your new office chair should allow adjustments, enabling you to position the chair’s lower back support in a way that matches your lumbar height and curvature. Standard office chairs are usually bad fits to individual backs, resulting in back strain and slouching. Purchasing a chair that has natural support for your lumbar will help avert most back pain issues in the future.
  4. Proper Arm Support – For most people with back issues, chairs with proper armrests offer increased levels of support and comfort. Still, this is a matter of preference, as there are those who prefer chairs with no armrests. Choose a chair type that fits you best and it is the most appropriate for your height and size.
  5. Comfortable Material and Padding – There is no “one-type-fits-all” material when it comes to seats. Here too, it is a matter of preference and fit. Typically, a chair with proper ergonomics should offer enough support and cushioning without being bulky and excessively padded at the same time. For some people, cushioned backs are a must, and other prefer a backing made of semi-porous material. Think about how the chair will feel all-year-round, when the weather is both hot and cold, since some materials allow for better air circulation than others. The most important thing to consider is that the chair should be comfortable to be used on a daily basis.

Best Office Chair Under 200 Dollars | Your Complete Buying Guide

best_office_chairsLet’s face it, a nine-to-five job can get really grating at times in spite of the fact that you’re just sitting around all day. In fact, sitting for long periods of time can lead to discomfort or worse chronic lower back pain. This is usually a direct result of bad posture or non-ergonomic chairs.

If the first, this can be easily resolved. However, if it’s the second then the discomfort would only persist especially if the chair is not replaced. And when you’re not comfortable, you’re not productive.

To avoid work pains and increase comfort, invest in a good ergonomic office chair. Here are three of the best office chairs for under $200.

Top Rated Ergonomic Office Chairs Under $200

#1. – Office Star Space Professional Air Grid Back Manager’s Chair

The Office Star Space Professional Air Grid Back Manager’s Chair is of simple make and design. Looks-wise, it’s nothing special. The chair frame is made of a strong nylon material. It is essentially durable but its thin frame makes the chair look light-weight and rather fragile. Some assembly is required upon purchase but assembly isn’t all that hard. It takes not time at all. The chair has an assembled height of 42in, assembled length of 27in and an assembled width of 26.5in and weighs over 40lbs.

The chair comes in the traditional black color with a simple mesh sliding cushion made of eco-leather. But what it lacks in form it makes up for in function. Firstly it is an ergonomic chair. The grid back provides excellent lumbar support because it is constructed in such a way that it complements the spine’s natural curve which confers maximum ease and comfort for the office worker.

Additionally, most of its parts are adjustable. The seat has an adjustable height which ranges from 18 ¾in to 23in. The base of the chair is also slightly angled to facilitate proper posture. For better circulation and weight distribution, the chair is fitted with an adjustable synchro tilt which permits you to tilt at a 2:1 ratio. The arms of the chair are also adjustable. The arms are angled and covered in PU pads for added comfort. Its dual-caster wheels make the chair glide effortlessly over carpets.

Other features worth noting is that it surpasses ANSI/BIFMA Performance Standards. It is also GREENGUARD® certified making it safe for indoor use. Chairs made by Office Star have a 5 year warranty for non-adjustable metal parts, 2 years warranty for component parts and a 1 year warranty for worn out upholstery not associated with use.

Click for the Latest Price

#2. – Lorell Executive High Back Chair

The Lorell Executive High Back Chair boasts of a more refined architecture as compared to the first office chair on our list. Its high back lends the chair a more regal appearance. It says executive as opposed to rank-and-file. The Lorell Executive High Back Chair shares the gridded back feature with the Office Star Space Professional Air Grid Back Manager’s Chair characteristic of ergonomic chairs.

Likewise, its high back molds to the natural configuration of the human spine, this offers maximum ease and comfort. The frame of the chair is made of steel but is coated in plastic. It’s nearly 50lbs in weight and stands at 31.9in. The cushion is similarly made of mesh. It also has adjustable parts. Seat height has pneumatic adjustment and can be raised 17” to 21” from the floor (slightly lower than the Office Star chair). The angled arms are padded with soft cushions and the heights of these arms may be adjusted. The base of the chair is made of nylon which exhibits a five-star design as opposed to the Office Star’s double-cast wheel build. The chair permits you to tilt has asynchronous three-lever control. It also swivels at a full 360 degrees and the adjustment controls are fairly easy to manipulate.

Other features of the chair include it meeting the CA117 fire retardant standard. All Lorell manufactured chairs are covered by warranty. There’s a 5 year warranty for chair components and a 2 year warranty for upholstery fabric. The Lorell Executive High Back Chair is a popular choice among Amazon shopper and ranked no. 1 at its time of release due in part to its exquisite form and functionality seen in expensive models but priced at under $200.

Click for the Latest Price

#3. Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Chair

The Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair lies in between the Office Star Space Professional Air Grid Back Manager’s Chair and the Lorell Executive High Back Chair in terms of design. Like the first, it has an average look to it and features the same grid back as with most ergonomic office chairs. Its modest appearance however can be overlooked since it blends in well enough with the typical office setting. And unless you’re in an executive position, the chair would suffice.

It’s most defining feature is its ergonomic and comfortable seating design. The seat cushion is contoured, fitted with high-quality upholstery fabric and designed to have a waterfall edge. This relieves any and all pressure from the user’s legs.

Of all three chairs, the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair is the most comfortable to ‘sit’ on.The frame of the chair is made of nylon and has a five-star base. The mid-back structure was created to accommodate all types of persons. It has the most versatile back out of all three chairs but is the least adjustable. The limited adjustments that can be made from the chair has garnered it much criticism.

Apart from the seat height adjustments, back height adjustment, arm height adjustments and tilt/swivel function, there’s not much else to the chair. Right out of the box, assembly is required but unlike the first, it can be a bit complicated process and take far too much time. Nevertheless it is ranked no. 5 in Office Products on Amazon.

All Alera manufactured chairs are covered by warranty. There is a five year warranty for the chair components from the time of purchase and a 2 year warranty for the seat leather and/or upholstery.

Click for the Latest Price