Back Support in Office Chairs

Most of the time back issues are caused by a bad chair at the office and sitting incorrectly. Without back support in your office chair, long periods of sitting can cause considerable pain in the lower back. Incorrect back support also results in sitting with a poor posture. This causes stress in the soft tissues and joints in the spine.

The long periods we sit at the office are not the only contributing factor to lower back pain, as sitting in general also has an effect on posture. Think about your drive to work, when you get home in the evenings, watching T.V. etc. The way you sit is crucial to the cause of back pain. Hunching over or slouching will shift one’s weight forward or backward, increasing the stress on the soft tissue. Placing stress on your soft tissue, joints and discs can cause further pain in your legs.

At the bottom of your spine, where it curves naturally inward towards your belly, is where you find the lordotic curve. Having a chair with lumber back support fills in the space between your lordotic curve and spine. Make sure your office chair has this type of support as it is crucial in preventing back pain.

The lumber back supports your spine as well as controls your posture. When you start sitting, your intention might be to control your posture in the correct position, but as the hours pass your body tires and relaxes, which results in your spine settling into a bad posture.

With the lumbar support, the muscles can relax but your posture is still held. To take the strain off your neck, ensure that your elbows are supported as well. Elbows should be able to rest comfortable at the right angle.

Legs should be bent, with a footrest if necessary to elevate the feet the right height. In relation to the computer your eyes should look straight at the screen. You can create these angles by adjusting your chair. Most chairs do offer different levels of height and options for the back-rest.

To check if your measurements are correct, start off by making sure that your elbows are at the correct height. Sit close to your desk and rest your hands on the work surface. Check if your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. If they aren't, adjust the height of the chair.

Once this is complete, check to make sure that your poor posture isn’t coming from your thighs. If you can easily slide your fingers under your thigh at the edge of the chair, then that is the perfect height. If it is a bit of a squeeze or impossible, then perhaps you should invest in a foot stool or something to place under your feet to bring them up to the right height.

Your back should be pressed against the back of your chair. If you find you sit like this and you have difficulty in bending your knees, your chair is too deep. Either adjust the backrest closer to the front or insert a pillow in between the chair and your back.

Make sure that you don’t sit for prolonged hours in your chair. Sitting static is not recommended so rather stand, stretch or walk around a bit every half an hour. Overall moving about on a regular basis will help your joints, ligaments, and muscles and loosen your tendons .

You can look into an alterative office chair, such as Swedish kneeling chair or exercise ball. However the majority of back problems can be avoided without having to invest in a new chair or workspace. By making the correct adjustments to your chair, remembering to stretch and ensuring the correct posture, back problems should not be an issue in the workplace.

Celeste writes for Office and Workplace Service, who specialise information about the Employment Industry.