Types of back support and ergonomic office chairs
While the spine can maintain a natural curvature without
lower back support provided by the seatback, the natural
tendency for most people when sitting for a long period
is to slouch forward. This slouching posture
pushes the lower back out, so that the natural inward
curve goes in the opposite direction—outward
toward the chair—straining the structures in
the lower back.
Maintaining back support in an office chair
When sitting in an office chair, a good lumbar back
support should be flush against the small of the back.
Many portable lumbar back supports are shaped specifically
so that one end should be positioned up and the other
down. When placed correctly, a lumbar back support
should provide the following benefits:
-
Ears, shoulders, and pelvis (hips) are kept in
alignment
-
Natural inward curvature of the lower spine is
maintained
It is important that the back be flush, because this
is what provides the support for the lower back. Overall,
the lumbar back support should keep the spine in a
very natural position. It should not overly
accentuate the inward curve, nor should it feel unsupported.
Back support and ergonomic chair options
There are several types of lumbar back supports available
in different types of office chairs:
- Ergonomic chair. There
are a number of ergonomic chairs that are ergonomically sculpted with a
lumbar support curvature built into the chair. To
test if the ergonomic chair fits well, the user should sit
up straight, with the head, spine, and buttocks in
alignment. Then sit all the way back against
the seatback. The curve of the ergonomc chair should
naturally follow the curve of the lower back.
Because
this type of lumbar support is not adjustable, the
ergonomic chair should be tested and examined prior
to usage to ensure an appropriate fit.
-
Adjustable back support chair. Many office
chairs have a seatback that can be lowered or raised
to better fit the user. The seatback should
be positioned so that the curve of the lower spine
is supported by the curve in the back of the chair.
If more than one person will use the chair, then
this level of adjustment may be a good option.
-
Portable lumbar back support.
A curved cushion or lumbar roll, fitted to the seat back of an office chair,
can be manually placed to fit the proper areas of the lumbar region. These cushions
can be used in conjunction with most types of chairs to best fit the individual's
need. Some products may be inflatable to increase or decrease the amount of
support. Again, many portable lumbar supports are designed to have a particular
end facing up and the other down. This type of support may be transferred to
the office chair, to use in chairs at home, in the car, etc.
-
A towel or small pillow. In many
circumstances, a commercial lumbar back support
is not necessary and a rolled up towel or small
pillow may serve this function well. By rolling
or folding a towel to the desired thickness, this
support is placed wherever the user deems fit for
the most comfort and support while sitting in an office chair.
In addition to good back support while sitting, it's
best to try to avoid sitting in the same position for
more than thirty minutes at a time. If possible, stand
up, stretch, and walk around a bit before returning
to the sitting position.
By: John J. Triano, DC, PhD
December 17, 2003
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