When you are stuck on your desk most of the day, having an office chair that relieves back pain (more precisely, relieves or prevents back pain) is not a luxury, but a must. Sitting for long periods of time without proper support can cause severe damage to the back muscles, strengthen poor posture and ultimately lead to a lot of pain and potential injury. However, despite the promise of so many office chairs that are ergonomic and comfortable, how do you really judge whether a chair is suitable for supporting your back?
One main feature to consider is adjustability. Joel Giffin, PT, DPT, physical therapist and founder of Flex Physical Therapy, said that a height-adjustable chair is the key to helping reduce pressure on the lower back.
“You need to make sure that the seat can be adjusted up and down, because you want your feet to lie flat on the ground under ideal conditions…” Giffen said. “If your foot is just hanging in the air, it will almost directly exert pressure on the lower back, believe it or not, or even on the neck, so this is why the seat height is important,” Giffen added.
In addition, if you want to prevent back pain, it is important to find a chair with sufficient lumbar support. This will help check your posture and prevent you from slouching, which will eventually cause your back and neck pain in the long run.
“You don’t need a lot of [lumbar support], but you may need more than the average chair [has]. Some chairs say [they have] lumbar support, but [there] hardly has anything. So you want something real Yes. If you have obvious back problems, such as a herniated disc, you may need more back support.” In this case, Jifen said, if your chair does not have a cushion or pillow, you can use one of the cushions or pillows. Something like that is fixed on the chair as an alternative lumbar support.
Fortunately, many chairs already have most of these functions built in. However, if you need some guidance on the best office chairs to help relieve back pain, here are some of our favorites.
If affordability is your top priority, then this Amazon option is worth buying for $51. Although it has a very standard design, it is very suitable as a simple work chair in your home office or on a temporary desk. In addition, it also has a certain waist support and mesh backing, which helps to improve breathability and keep you cool. In addition, you can adjust the bar of the chair by 3.5 inches to accommodate different heights.
A helpful reviewer wrote: “After facing WFH for the foreseeable future, I decided that I would eventually need to upgrade from a wooden kitchen chair to a suitable office chair to minimize back pain. I am also looking for some Quite small and compact thing to fit my space while being affordable and comfortable. Given the price, I am not sure about this chair, but decided to take the opportunity and I am glad I did it! It is surprisingly learning and comfortable , And used it for more than 8 hours a day for the past three months.”
Speaking of adjustability, this chair from Goodtone is particularly suitable for the backrest. Although most office chairs only allow you to customize the height, this office chair also allows you to adjust the lumbar pillow, armrests and headrest on your lower back to help you provide complete support and range of motion for your body. Not to mention, if you prefer to lie down, you can tilt the backrest 130 degrees.
A customer wrote: “After starting to work at home, I quickly realized that my old chair could not provide enough back and neck support. Before finally buying this chair, I was in pain for a long time. Hope I do this soon. The headrest and lumbar support gave me a sigh of relief. The building also feels very strong and strong.”
For those who like flexibility, this GOODTONE FILO OFFICE CHAIR can meet your needs, and then meet some needs. It provides you with four support points (head, back, hips and hands) to make your whole body feel more comfortable. As a major advantage, if you are in a narrow position, you can flip the handrail to create more area around you. In addition, the seat cushion is very spacious and can actually bear a weight of 280 pounds. A satisfied customer said: “This is one of the best chairs I have ever sat on. The mesh is very comfortable because it is strong and supports my back well. I also like the mesh to eliminate hot spots on the back. Breathability. I have used chairs that are more expensive than this. They are not breathable. When my back rests on the chair, it sometimes gets a little hot.”
Part of the reason for the high price here is the high-tech design of the chair. The backrest fits you perfectly and applies pressure according to the unique shape of your body. In this way, your back always gets balanced pressure and support. The chair also has 11 lockable reclining options, in case you want to relax.
In terms of simplicity, you can’t go wrong with this inbox zero chair. It is equipped with all basic functions, including lumbar support, adjustable height and ergonomic design. In addition, if you like to rock back and forth while working, you can hide the armrest and tilt the backrest 90 to 125 degrees.
If you want to splurge, then this Goodtone GT  task chair is completely packed with many cool specifications, making sitting at the desk work a breeze. For example: the chair does not have any knobs or levers, or any other manual adjustments. Instead, it will automatically fit your body and help you adjust your spine correctly when you sit down.
In addition to the unique built-in lumbar support that helps to form the natural curve of the back, and the synchronized tilt that promotes better circulation and weight distribution, this chair is also GreenGuard certified, with low chemical emissions, helping to promote the interior of your living space Good air quality. “Love this chair, it’s good value for money. I work on the computer for several hours a day, and my neck and back will be injured. With this chair, I can sit on it all day without There will be pain and headaches. This is a huge change for me,” one critic wrote.
An enthusiastic customer wrote: “The best chair! You won’t regret this purchase!  I have reduced from sitting at my desk at home [approximately] 5 hours a week to More than 40 hours! Within a few weeks of this transition, my back started to hurt badly. I thought I might need to see a doctor. Then I suddenly understood: This is my office chair. I did a lot of research (in all Local furniture and office chains tested as many chairs as possible). I read reviews online. I realized that a good office chair would cost me some money, but it would restore my mobility and eliminate my back pain. I The research paid off! This chair is worth every penny! It suits me! In fact, when I sit on this chair, my back pain no longer, and I feel a kind of therapeutic comfort!”
This ErgoChair is available in two different colors, with adjustable height, headrest, armrests and footrest to help support your body from head to toe. The chair will also move and adjust according to your weight to prevent you from putting extra pressure on your back, shoulders, arms and neck.