Lower back pain is an incredibly common complaint. In fact, it is estimated that up to 85% of the population will experience some sort of back pain in their lifetime.

But did you know that a massive 80% of all back problems are caused by sitting in an unsupportive chair? With many of us spending so much time in poorly designed office chairs, it’s hardly surprising that so many of us suffer from back pain.

It is, however, possible to help prevent back pain at work, simply by ensuring that you’ve got the appropriate amount of back support whilst you’re at your desk.

Ergonomic Chairs

Standard office chairs are manufactured on a one size fits all basis, meaning that, whilst they may provide the necessary support for some, most individuals will eventually experience some sort of back problems from sitting in them for an extended period.

There are, however, a whole host of ergonomic office chairs on the market that have been designed to provide optimum support during long periods of sitting down. Fully adjustable and customisable to accommodate an individual’s height, spinal curvature, and desk set up, ergonomic office chairs can provide enhanced lower back and lumbar support, improved comfort, improved posture, and more.

Back Support Cushions

But, if you don’t want to invest in a brand new, ergonomic chair, you might want to consider a back support cushion that can be used with any chair, applying a light, soft, and adjustable back support that will provide gentle pressure relief for your back.

What’s more, this method of support is also easily transportable, so you can take it everywhere you go. A back support cushion will make any chair more comfortable and can be used on your work chair, car seat, dinning chair, sofa, or even when you’re travelling.

Other factors

Standing

One way to rid yourself of an unsupportive chair is to remove the chair from the equation completely. Standing at work is gaining increasing popularity and some Japanese companies have even ditched their desks entirely.

However, it’s worth noting that The Cornel Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group has highlighted that standing at work all day can, in actual fact, cause health issues as well. Standing for long periods is not only more tiring, but it can also substantially increase the risk of carotid artery disease and varicose veins.

Movement

No matter how comfortable or supportive your office chair is, the fact is that the human body simply isn’t designed to sit in any one position for hours on end. With this in mind, it is incredibly important to get up and move around as much as possible during the course of the day. Many experts now recommend micro-breaking – taking short, regular, and meaningful breaks from sitting at your desk, whilst building movement variety into the working day.

Variety

Although its not always possible, some experts recommend one specialist chair that adjusts to support a variety of positions which can adjust the angle of the seat & backrest, plus adjustments in lumbar height & depth. Mix this with sitting and standing throughout the day rather than sitting all day and take regular standing/walking breaks at least once per hour for a few minutes. A mobile back support for on the go support on any chair you sit on is also strongly recommended.