Office chairs don’t really require a back to function properly. The spine is able to maintain its natural curve even without the lower back support provided by the back of an average task chair. However, the natural tendency for most people when sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time is to hunch forward on what they are concentrating on.
This stooped posture pushes the lower back outward, causing the natural inward curve to point in the wrong direction. With the spine pushing into the chair, the structure of the lower back tightens, creating unnecessary tension. It was obvious that we all needed to be reminded to sit properly and office chair back lower back supports were born.
Some manufacturers still make amazingly ergonomic backless chair models, like the Swopper Stool, which help train a person to sit properly and position their body correctly rather than expecting the chair to do all the work. No matter how ergonomic the chair is, as with any health product, it still needs to be used correctly for it to work properly. An ergonomic chair does not help at all when used incorrectly, it is the position of the seat that really matters and how you use the mechanisms that matters for the health of your body.
When positioned correctly, good lumbar back support should keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment, which in turn maintains the natural inward curve of your lower spine. In general, the lumbar support should keep the spine in a very natural position, without accentuating the inward curve too much and without leaving it totally unsupported.
Most portable lumbar support pillows that are built for use with office chairs are shaped with one end different from the other and also need to be positioned correctly where needed to maintain correct spinal posture. If your ergonomic office chair has a built-in support piece, it’s important to test to see if the chair is a good fit for your body type. Not all chairs and racks are built to fit one size and everyone’s back is a little different when it comes to placement and downward curve of the neck.
Some ergonomic office chair models come with adjustable lumbar support which can be key for some people when it comes to getting the right fit. The back of the seat should be positioned so that the curve of the lower spine is supported by the curve of the chair back. Some offices require the same office chair to be used by a variety of employees and this level of lumbar support adjustment can help everyone sit comfortably.
When sitting for long hours in front of the computer, it doesn’t help to ignore ergonomics and office chair posture if one tends to just sit in the same chair and keep working. Comfortability can greatly contribute to overall performance and productivity. By sitting well, the health of the body will improve considerably and one will notice less back pain and tension and will thank office chairs for the birth of lumbar support.
