Your back is still killing you. Sitting, standing and lying down are all painful. You have taken time off, tried physical therapy and used over-the-counter pain medications. You still need to work, but just the thought of sitting in your office chair is excruciating. You consider standing all day instead. Perhaps you should look into an ergonomic chair to help make your day more bearable. Eight out of 10 Americans suffer back pain sometime during their lives, so you are not alone.
Backrest
A chair that fits your six-foot colleagues may not be best for your five-foot-two-inch frame. You should find a chair with a backrest that you can adjust to fit your body. Look for a chair that provides good support for different sitting positions. The best chairs have a lumbar support that you can regulate to give you the most comfort. Be sure to try the chair before you buy. If purchasing a new chair is not possible, look at different removable lumbar seat supports. You may also use a pillow or a towel rolled and placed against your lower back.
Seat
The chair seat pan must be able to move forward and backward to accommodate your height, especially if you are short. If you cannot adjust the pan, you are apt to lose appropriate contact with the seat back, which may further aggravate your back. In addition, your chair seat must also be adjustable up and down so that you are sitting with your feet on the floor with your knees slightly bent. If you cannot adjust the height of your chair, consider using a footrest to take pressure off the back of your legs.
Armrest
Use of armrests is beneficial, especially if you spend long hours using a computer or doing other types of desk work. Be sure that you correctly position the armrests. Adjust your armrests so that your arms sit in a relaxed position. If you are slim, look for a chair that allows you to move the armrests in toward your body so that your arms sit naturally. Be sure to adjust the height of both armrests equally.
Chair Base
Examine the chair base when shopping. A chair with a five-prong chair base is safest, because it has no chance of toppling over. If you like to move around in your chair, choose one with casters. Otherwise you may find yourself leaning, reaching or bending at odd angles toward objects, and that may result in more back strain.
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