While it is a typical habit, sitting in chairs all day is not beneficial for us. According to physical therapist Susan Eb, PT, MS, founder of Eby Physical Therapy, PLLC in New York City, “the sitting posture causes increased pressure on your discs” and increases stress to the discs, “and the more upright the position, the more pressure.” 1 Fortunately, there are workplace chairs that are particularly intended to alleviate back strain.
Consider whether an office chair for back discomfort offers lumbar support and customizable elements, such as an armrest or a headrest. We looked at hundreds of chairs for chronic back pain and rated them based on their customizable features, support, comfort, and affordability.
1. Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair is the best overall.
What We Like
- Headrest adjustment
- Armrests that fold
- Smooth gliding and tension controls
What We Don’t Like
- There is no padding.
- Taller users may find the headrest insufficiently high.
If you require a chair with adjustable height, a headrest, lumbar support, and a tilting backrest, the Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Chair is the one. We picked it as the finest overall because of its remarkable set of features that promise to make all those hours spent at your desk a far more pleasant experience.
What we really like about this chair is how much of it is adjustable: the height rises nearly 10 inches from the minimum, the armrests fold up to stay out of the way when needed, the backrest can tilt from 90 degrees to 120 degrees, and the headrest can be adjusted separately to raise higher or lower or even angled across a 45-degree tilt. The seat is composed of breathable and supportive mesh, which provides solid support and regulates temperature. Regardless of how you feel about your job, the Gabrylly chair makes it more bearable.
2. Amazon Basics Ergonomic Office Desk Chair with Armrests is the best budget option.
What We Like
- Cushioning made of soft, comfy imitation leather
- Affordable
- Height and tilt are each adjustable.
What We Don’t Like
There is no headrest.
There are no armrest adjustments.
The Amazon Basics Ergonomic Office Desk Chair is a cost-effective alternative that does the job well. In terms of specifications, this chair has a 44-inch adjustable height, cushioned armrests, and a mechanism to manage tilt tension. It has a smooth, faux-leather fabric covering a plush, comfortable seat and seat back. Furthermore, it is simple to construct, pleasant to sit on, and inexpensive, making it an excellent choice for occasional usage at home or in a guest office.
3. NOUHAUS Ergo3D Ergonomic Office Chair is the most adjustable.
What We Like
- There are two parts dedicated to back support.
- Headrest adjustment
- Armrests with many locations
What We Don’t Like
- There is no padding.
- Some customers complain about loudness when moving.
If back discomfort is your primary worry, look for a chair that prioritizes lumbar support, such as this one from NOUHAUS. It divides its backrest into two halves, providing dynamic lumbar support that contours to the natural form of your spine. Essentially, this chair conforms to you rather than the other way around.
In addition to the lumbar support, we like that the chair has an adjustable headrest for neck support and armrests that can be positioned in a variety of ways; because armrests can interfere with the position of your shoulders, increasing tension in your neck and back, it’s important to have armrests that can support you without getting in your way. The NOUHAUS armrests may be lifted and lowered, as well as oriented in four different directions, to suit your individual workspace needs.
4. FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair is the best choice for home offices.
What We Like
- Armrest that flips up
- Back tilt of 30 degrees
- Mesh and cushioning mix
What We Don’t Like
- There isn’t much height adjustment.
- There is no headrest.
If you have limited home office space, we recommend the FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair since it packs a lot of back pain support into a tiny package. It will fit into your home office yet will not leave your back aching at the end of the day, measuring 25.2 by 25.2 by 37.4 inches. We also like how the arms of the FelixKing pop up, making it easy to store your chair while not in use.
Other characteristics include a breathable mesh back, a seat composed of high-density sponge for strong cushioning, an adjustable lumbar support, and consumers who say the chair is both durable and comfy.
5. HOMEFUN Ergonomic Office Chair is the best for Lumbar Support.
What We Like
- A second lumbar cushion is included for further support.
- Extra stability is provided by the high back.
- Back mesh and firm cushioning
What We Don’t Like
- There is no headrest.
- Height and armrest adjustment are limited.
Unlike other ergonomic office chairs, the HOMEFUN chair features an extra lumbar support pillow with a strap that allows the pillow to be moved up and down the length of the chair back to wherever you need it the most. This implies that people of various sizes may obtain the specific, targeted lumbar support they require, regardless of where their lower back sits when sitting in a chair.
The chair also boasts a high-density foam seat for optimal comfort and an extra-high back that tilts up to 35 degrees to move with your upper back and shoulders as you recline and sit forward.
6. SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair is the best with a headrest.
What We Like
- A sturdy framework
- Headrest with free rotation
- S-shaped backrest that conforms to the contour of your spine
What We Don’t Like
- It’s difficult to put together.
- Armrest adjustment is limited.
If you’re the sort of desk worker who prefers a headrest on their chair, the limited flexibility may leave you more dissatisfied than delighted. The headrest of the SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair, on the other hand, is completely adjustable up and down—it travels independently of the chair and is not limited by the backrest—and it also tilts and flexes, reacting to your head movement as you lean forward and back.
The chair itself boasts a mesh backrest and a cushioned seat for comfort, a nearly 7-inch adjustable height, adjustable armrests, and lumbar support.
7. Office Star Deluxe ProGrid Armless Folding Chair is the best folding chair.
What We Like
- Foldable
- Lumbar support is built-in.
- Simple to transport
What We Don’t Like
- There are no customizable features.
- There are no armrests.
Unlike several desk chairs, this one from Office Star is foldable, making it ideal for office employees who want handy, portable sitting as well as an ergonomic design. Featuring a lumbar-supporting backrest, a deep seat cushion, and smooth wheels, these folding chairs allow you to conserve room while relieving your back from work-related strain.
Again, if you’re a lone worker who spends all day at a desk, this may not be the ideal option, but if you’re an office manager looking for back-friendly conference room seats, look no further.
8. Dragonn Ergonomic Kneeling Chair is the best ergonomic knee chair.
What We Like
- Height adjustment of 10 inches
- Cushions that are thick and supple for joint comfort
- Casters that roll easily for repositioning
What We Don’t Like
- It takes some time to get used to.
- Taller or heavier persons may not be a suitable match.
Are you ready to think beyond the box? The DRAGONN by VIVO Ergonomic Kneeling Chair features two 3-inch thick cushions to support your bottom and knees while you “kneel to sit” at your workstation. Instead of hunching in an office chair, as many of us do naturally, a kneeling chair pushes you to maintain a better, healthier posture, akin to that of standing. 3
Many of the chair’s features are similar to those of a standard chair, such as adjustable height, rolling wheels, and supportive cushioning, but VIVO reminds customers that kneeling chairs use different muscles than traditional office chairs, so it will take some time for your body to adjust to using one. Rather than attempting to use a kneeling chair for eight hours right out of the box, the company suggests using it periodically at first, teaching your muscles to “sit” this way.
FAQ
How Did We Choose the Best Back Pain Office Chairs?
We consulted with physical therapists and other experts and spent hours searching the web for the finest and most effective office chairs for back pain. After considering all of our alternatives, we chose which to showcase based on a few key dermatologist-recommended criteria: cushion and frame materials, design, adjustability, and extra features.
We evaluated the benefits of each chair to its pricing after narrowing our selections. While some of the solutions on our list may be more expensive, we wanted to provide a diverse range of options to meet a variety of demands and budgets. We developed this list of the best office chairs for back pain based on all of these considerations.
What to Look for in Back Pain Office Chairs
Height Adjustable
When it comes to long-term ergonomics, adjustable height may be the most significant element to consider. If your chair is too high or too low for your desk, your spine will wind up bending or arching in an unpleasant posture (and your neck and shoulders will be affected, too).
Your feet should also be flat on the floor, which can be difficult for shorter individuals, especially after they’ve correctly adjusted the chair height for the height of the desk. In this scenario, she recommends getting a footrest or stool so your feet can sit flat.
Backrest Adjustment
According to Eby, the back of a chair may give support in three ways: the placement of lumbar support, the tilt of the backrest, and the depth of the seat.
5 You might not be able to locate a chair that adjusts for all three of these aspects, but you should make sure your chair adjusts for the one that impacts you the most.
In other words, persons suffering from low back discomfort should favor adjustable lumbar support, whereas petite people should emphasize adjustable seat depth. People with broader requirements may opt for a chair with a variable tilt to allow mobility.
“Adjustable backrest tilt enables for a change in posture while in the chair,” Eby explains, “for example, a more upright position when using a computer and a more reclined position when on the phone or reading.”
Support for the Arms
Should you choose a chair with armrests to support you all day, or will they obstruct your comfort? It’s a difficult subject, and even Eby concedes that armrests might be the most difficult component of an office chair.
“Armrests give upper body, shoulder, and neck support,” she continues, “but they must be positioned such that the chair can be fully drawn up under the desk.”
To acquire armrest support without interfering with the height of your chair or desk, Eby advises looking for a chair with adjustable armrests that can be raised or lowered to give support where needed (without messing up the rest of your ergonomics).
Cushioning that is firm
Even if your workplace chair isn’t designed for Netflix marathons, it should be comfy, according to Blessen Abraham, DC, of Brunswick Health & Physical Therapy Center in New Jersey: “The first step is to select a decent, comfortable chair that supports your low back, buttocks, thighs, upper back, and shoulders.”
When it comes to support, you’ll want to look for a chair that provides much, either in the way it molds to your body or in the depth of its padding.
“I generally advocate getting a chair that’s a little bit harder than softer because you’re going to be sitting on it for a long time and the padding will normally wear out the softer it is,” Dr. Abraham adds.
What other methods may I avoid back pain throughout the workday?
Moving throughout the day is the greatest method to avoid back discomfort. “The human body is built to move,” Eby explains, “so it’s necessary to stand up and walk about every so often, no matter how comfortable a chair you sit in.”
Dr. Abraham agrees, noting that the simplest method to avoid back discomfort during the day is to just take a break, get out of your chair every now and again, walk about, and stretch.
He also suggests establishing a dedicated workspace for work (if you work from home) and reserving your office desk for work alone, not for your lunch break. This not only encourages you to take breaks throughout the day, but it also allows your body to be positioned in different ways—for example, at the kitchen table rather than the desk for eight hours—and offers your body the room it needs to stretch out in ergonomically-friendly ways.
Which office chair materials offer the most support?
According to Eby, the perfect office chair material is solid enough to support your body while still providing enough give or padding to be comfortable. It also helps if the material is permeable, since this will keep your body temperature pleasant. According to her, the most popular materials that fit these characteristics are mesh, leather, and cloth.
What is the significance of having a back-supportive chair?
“If your spine is not adequately supported when you sit, you will likely to fall into postures that stress the discs and strain your tissues,” Eby adds. “Long-term, these postures can cause muscular imbalances and postural alterations, with muscle shortening in the front of the hips, chest, pectoral region, and back of neck, as well as weakness [developing] in the gluteals, mid-back, and neck flexor muscles.”
In other words, bad sitting posture not only hurts your back, but it actually affects your body—and not for the better. To address this, anyone who spends a significant amount of time sitting at a desk should invest in an ergonomic chair, especially if they suffer from back discomfort.