You are probably aware that proper lumbar support ensures a healthy and pain-free back. However, with everything in its purpose, details are necessary. Just how low or high should you set the lumbar support? Are specific designs more efficient than others in terms of back protection? Are there alternate ways of sitting that can mimic the benefits of lumbar support?
Where is the lumbar on your back?
The anatomy of the human spine can be separated into three key sections from top to bottom: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. The lumbar is situated at the bottom of the region that is subjected to a considerable amount of pressure daily as it essentially supports the entire weight of the spinal column. To locate your lumbar, sit straight and run the back of your hands downwards from the top of the spine. You should feel an inward curve towards the bottom. That is your lumbar.
How low or high should the lumbar support be?
Your office chair’s lumbar support is designed to effectively cradle your lumbar region so that it is maintained in the natural curve. With that being said, a good starting point for the lumbar support’s position is ensuring that it is in the middle of the lumbar’s inward curve. Then, depending on the depth and size of the support system, you can make further minor adjustments.
What type of lumbar support should I look out for?
There are many different variations of lumbar support in the market. While some are significantly better than others, it all boils down to the structure of your body and how you sit. However, the general guidelines on selecting proper lumbar support are:
- If you have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI), you might want to select taller lumbar support.
- Females will generally benefit from a more significant lumbar support due to the natural increased curves in their lower back.
With that in mind, here is some lumbar support available in the current office chair market.
1. Adjustable lumbar support
Most commonly referred to as height-adjustable lumbar support, some office chairs go even further to support depth adjustable lumbar support.
2. Dynamic lumbar support
For this type of support system, the entire backrest automatically adjusts to the user’s body structure and sitting posture to offer seamless spinal support.
3. External lumbar pillow
Most commonly found on gaming chairs, external lumbar pillows offer a varying degree of lumbar support depending on their size, depth, and shape.
Alternate sitting positions that mimic the benefits of lumbar support
Lumbar support can only do that much to protect your lower back. Prolonged sitting, no matter what, is still an issue. Hence, it is always recommended to alternate between sitting positions that encourage a neutral spine while also taking microbreaks. Here are a couple of alternate sitting positions that you can adopt.
- Squatting: When we squat, our hips automatically spreads outwards and shift forward to encourage a neutral lumbar position.
- Kneeling: There are kneeling chairs out there that are explicitly designed to put you in a kneeling position. These chairs have a downward sloping seat that helps to shift your body weight away from your back to your thighs, reducing lower back fatigue, thus ensuring an excellent lumbar curve.
Conclusion
It is crucial to take care of our back. With many people spending long hours sitting while working, it is no wonder that many of them are suffering from chronic back pains. If you are on the lookout for quality office chairs with excellent lumbar support, TakeAseat is the place to start at.
Our furniture shops at Ubi and Woodlands are one of the many places, to begin with, that offer ergo office chairs of varying designs at affordable prices. We also provide adjustable study tables as well as other ergonomically friendly products. Head down to any of our furniture shops or https://www.takeaseat.sg/ to take charge of your back’s health today!
