Chiropractic Tips: How to Find a Good Office Chair
By Sara Butler
If you work in an office and spend hours sitting at your desk in front of a computer screen each day, you may be missing one very important thing: a good office chair. What makes for a good office chair? Proper support of your lumbar spine. Without this support, you might be sitting with poor posture all day long and find yourself facing lower back pain. Here are some tips from the chiropractors at The Joint to help you find the healthiest office chair you can.
Why is Lumbar Support Important?
The portion of your spine that makes up its base is called the lumbosacral joint. It allows your body to bend and twist in any direction. An office chair that offers proper lumbar support will help to support this joint as well as the natural curve in the lower back, called the lordotic curve. If your chair is lacking in this type of support, then correcting your posture can be more difficult, leading to slouching and slumping over your desk.
If your chair is lacking in support, the muscle in the lower back and spine must work even harder to help support and maintain natural curvature and alignment. As the day progresses and those muscles grow tired, they’ll weaken. This may allow your upper back and head to lean forward in order to try to help compensate and keep your body properly positioned. You might not even notice it’s happening, but over the course of the day, you’re probably leaning forward more and more in your chair.
It’s About More than Back Support
When you’re looking for the right chair for your office, don’t stop at lumbar support. The chair should also provide support for other areas of your neck and your back. Look for proper elbow supports, adjustable height, and should fit you properly. When you sit in the chair, the back should sit flush against the small of your back. If it doesn’t, you can look into a portable lumbar support to help you achieve the right fit.
If you’re not sure what to look for in a chair or about how to properly support your lumbar spine, then come into The Joint today for a consultation. The chiropractors can help you understand what to look for and how to best support your body at work.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.