5 Types of office chair design for back pain

Best Office Chair design For People With Back pain

. May 26, 2023 .

What is an office chair? It's an indispensable part of any workspace as it literally supports the weight of our bodies. It is also the poor scapegoat that gets blamed when we are doubled up over in spinal tragedies and hefty chiropractic fees, just by starring in our sedentary lifestyles. But its role holds the potential to be a hero instead, especially with the casting of the most comfortable office chair. Overarching movie metaphors aside, let us not reject the office chair so quickly - since there are many different types that each have their ergonomic benefits. The process of rejuvenating one's bodies back to mobile, active health starts with a simple first step - listen to, and know what your body and posture currently needs. The motto is to eliminate the lumbar burdens, not work around it - and the best office chair for lower back pain will certainly afford you that!

Choose The Best Office Chair Design For Back Pain

The saying "one size doesn't fit all" holds true here because everyone's physiological needs and circumstances are unique to the individual, despite the common cause to fight back pain ergonomically. Prolonged seating in an office chair that isn't fitted properly, can cause complete disengagement of all the major muscle groups. Over time, this can possibly lead to a decrease in metabolic activity, bad cholesterol, muscle atrophy, and resistance to insulin, and therefore increased diabetic risk.

Making the correct decision for your seating is unique to every individual, and there can be chaos because of the variety of forms and functions, but the right office chair design that is custom fitted to you can make those long working hours definitely float, if not fly by! Let us give appreciation to these chairs for supporting our backs, and fulfill our necessities at the same time. Get ready to indulge, because Urban Ladder offers here a comprehensive guide to our selection of best office chair for back support, at prices accommodating for every budget.

Executive Office Chair

An executive chair is, as its very name describes, a chair for those higher up the corporate ladders. It is a chair meant to exude power and authority, and the luxury that comes with it. Usually made with solid framing of wood or metal, the plush leather upholstery - including the armrests - are padded to the high heavens. This means they're very durable and comfortable, two essential qualities in a healthy office chair. The forward-backward tilt adjustability of the backrest also facilitates proper circulation and breathing, making it a suitable office chair for back pain relief.

 High Back Office Chair

A high back office chair is distinguishable by its back that has an additional couple of inches for the headrest. In some plushier chairs, the headrest may be sewn on top of the back itself, but this chair is meant for cushioning people fully, and hence the position of this headrest provides full spinal support, from lower back to neck and shoulders. This is also one of the most comfortable office chair for taller people as it can easily accommodate their height.

 Ergonomic Office Chair

Ergonomics is nowadays the first word that comes to mind, thinking of what to look for when buying office chair. It must be a delight to know then, that such a chair has been existing all this while! The first ergonomic chair was designed in 1976 by Bill Stumpf, and since then has been worked over for years to evolve for different purposes, like for sedentary workers who have to spend long hours. This chair is on the expensive side, but its additional features that can so carefully accommodate a wide range of bodies make it obvious why. Not only does its heightened adjustability for seat and backrest allow you to keep your joints aligned neutrally without any pressure, but it also has swivel maneuverability. It's cushioned for lumbar support and often comes upholstered in mesh for breathability. All these distinct qualities also make this the most comfortable office chair for long hours.

 Back Adjustable Office Chair

A back adjustable chair is actually more of a feature in many office chair design than any particular distinction in its form or purpose. It is a type of pneumatic design where the chairs have a lever or button, either along the seat or the armrest, that allows you to adjust your backrest. This can be done by both setting the height of the backrest - yes, separate to the seat - as well as the tilt. The former allows for taller people to adjust more comfortably, it is however recommended to pad out the emptied space left at the bottom, to provide cushioning for lower back. Adjusting the tilt is a more common feature, but the angles range and locking mechanism differs from chair to chair. The best office chair for back support will allow a tilt that engages your blood and respiratory circulation.

Recliner Office Chair

Reclining chairs are often seen in the lounge areas rather than the cubicle - and rightfully so, since your work day doesn't deserve to be spent sitting stiff-backed and upright, drying eyes trained at the monitor. Even within the cubicle/office however, a recliner office chair is typically more upholstered with soft leathers and firm padding for maximum cushion comfort. Another distinctive feature is the retractable footrest that allows the center of gravity of the chair to be tilted almost to a horizontal line, allowing you to stretch out your limbs with full support every once in a while. Few can underestimate the importance of this, as we all have felt the need to just arch out and relax in between those long hours.

 What To Look For In A Chair To Prevent Back Pain

While deciding which office chair price is the most budget-suitable is reasonable, our ergonomic experts at Urban Ladder highly recommend to ensure your new chair has all or most of the qualities showcased below. We have an office chair for every budget range, and one's health must be paramount after all. It is also recommended to buy office chair for your body proportions, having the correct height, width, and depth can work wonders by simply improving your posture alignment!

As a refresher, a seat height range of 16-21 inches off the floor, with 17-20 inches of width is the optimal range that can fit in most bodies in terms of size. The length of the seat needs to be enough for you to recline against the back fully while still leaving some space behind your knees and the seat. The backrest should optimally range from 12-19 inches in width to accommodate your shoulders. Here are the other qualities one should look out for:

 Adjustability

The seat and back height, and tilt, should be adjustable to align your joints and posture at the correct 90 degree angles, into a neutral position with your feet able to rest flat on the ground. The locking mechanism for these levers should also be smooth and last for a long time, to avoid much fidgeting.

 Cushion

The seat and back, and even the armrest if you're feeling luxurious and/or have aching elbow problems - should be sufficiently padded to prevent the hard-boned structure of the chair from digging into your body. Padding is primarily for comfort, and that comfort can make the best ergonomic chair for back pain as well. 

 Material

Mesh, leather, PU leather, padded plastic - there are several options with different priorities, but an office chair that's made from comfortable fabric ensures some breathability for you to remain sweat-free. Mesh is the best option for this, while leather compromises in order to prioritize plush comfort. An aesthetically pleasing fabric and design can also add some cheer and style to the workspace!

Back Support

An office chair with lumbar support is paramount for healthy ergonomics, and the backrest must reflect that accordingly. The spine has a natural curve, and without a backrest that emulates and supports this curve, one can be prone to slouching and therefore creating strain in the lumbar (lower) vertebrae of the spine. Therefore the best chair for back pain must have a backrest that is adjustable in height and depth, to properly accommodate your posture.

Conclusion

Now that we have spoken of what the best office chair should feature - let us acknowledge the true villain of this Bureau Ballad, the very sedentary lifestyle itself! There are plenty of measures, from break exercises to unusual seating that engages your muscles in actual movement, that we can take on this journey to ameliorate our aches. Still, the most comfortable office chair design that fits you is the first step to combatting the health dangers of a sedentary routine. Here at Urban Ladder, we can ensure you get the very best office chair price, with no compromising on health and comfort!

FAQs

Can Office Chairs Help Back Pain?

Yes. When an office chair is fitted to your body propositions and is sufficiently padded, along with the opportunity for maneuverability, it can truly elevate your posture! This in turn, can definitely alleviate your back pain, plus a number of other physiological benefits such as circulation, joint alignment, even preventing cholesterol!

What Exactly Is An Ergonomic Chair With A High Back?

An ergonomic chair with a high back means one that has a headrest that adds to its back length. This is a chair design often seen in professional gaming chairs.

What Is The Difference Between Ergonomic And Executive Chair?

Executive chairs and ergonomic chairs differ the most visually - the former is often padded with plush, expensive leather, and is grander than the typical office chair, since its purpose is to project status and prestige. Ergonomic chairs on the other hand are mostly upholstered with mesh for breathability, and are about the same size range for most office chairs, without that added Headrest. They also have a visible amount of extra features and levers to maximize adjustability, to accommodate every body type, and their shape is specifically manufactured to prioritize correct posturing rather than cushy comfort. 

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