Office Chairs, Seatbacks, Ergonomics and Lumbar Support and Why They All Work

Office Chairs don’t really require a seatback in order to work properly. The spine is able to maintain it’s natural curvature even without the lower back support provided by the average task chair seatback. However, the natural tendency for most people when seated for long periods of time in front of the computer is to slouch forward towards what they are concentrating on.

This slouching posture pushes out the lower back, making the natural inward curve point in the wrong direction. With the spine pushing outward towards the chair, the lower back structure is strained, creating unneeded tension. It was obvious there was a need to remind all of us to sit properly and the lower back supports for seatbacks on office chairs were born.

Some manufacturer’s still make amazingly ergonomic chair models without any seatback, such as the Swopper stool, which helps train the person to sit corretly and position their body correctly instead of 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 properly in order to work right. An ergonomic chair is no help at all when used improperly, it is the seating position that really matters and how you use the mechanisms that matter to your body health.

When placed correctly, a good lumbar back support should keep your ears, shoulders and hips aligned which in turn maintains the natural inward curvature of the lower spine. Overall the lumbar back support should keep the spine in a very natural position, not overly accentuating the inward curve and not leaving it totally unsupported either.

Most portable lumbar support pillows that are built to use with office chairs are shaped with one end different from the other and should also be positioned correctly where needed to keep the spine posture right. If your ergonomic office chair has a built in support piece, it is important to test to see if the chair fits well for your body type. Not all chairs and supports were built for one size fits all and everyone’s back is just a bit different when it comes to placement and curvature from the neck down.

Some ergonomic office chair models come with an adjustable lumbar support which can be key for some people when it comes to getting the proper fit. The seatback should be positioned so that the curve of the lower spine is supported by the curve in the back of the chair. Some offices require the same office chair to be used with a variety of employees and this level of lumbar back support adjustability can help everyone to sit comfortably.

When seated for long hours in front of the computer, it does not help to ignore office chair ergonomics and posture if one tends to keep sitting in the same chair and keep working. Comfort ability can contribute greatly to one’s overall performance and productivity. When sitting well, body health will greatly improve and one is bound to notice less back pain and tension and thank office chairs for the birth of the lumbar support.