Proper lumbar support, whether in an office chair or the driver's seat of a car, helps maintain the natural S-shaped curve of your spine. This helps prevent musculoskeletal imbalances that may develop over time due to sustained poor posture.
Step 1
Adjust the lumbar support up or down as necessary so that the protruding portion of the curve fits into the natural inward curve at the small of your back. The actual chair adjustment may be carried out in a number of ways depending on what sort of seat you have, including pumping a handle, rotating a dial or removing a spring-pin and sliding the backrest up or down.
Step 2
Move the backrest forward or back as necessary--again, this may be accomplished in a number of ways--so that your thighs are fully supported by the seat of the chair but the edge of the seat pan does not dig into or even contact the backs of your knees.
Step 3
Sit naturally in the chair, resting your back against the lumbar support so that it supports your spine. Do not use force to press your back into the lumbar support; this shouldn't be necessary.
Step 4
Watch out for any painful or uncomfortable points of pressure against your spine from the lumbar support; these are all signs that it isn't properly adjusted to the curve of your spine.
Step 5
Feel free to recline up to 15 degrees backward. This is still considered to be a proper sitting position. Make sure that the lumbar support still sits comfortably against the curve of your spine with no pressure points.
Tips and Warnings
- If your seat doesn't have a built-in lumbar support, you can use a rolled up towel or a partial roll of paper towels as a substitute.
