The support that is provided to the lower back while sitting in any chair is termed lumbar support. When it comes to sitting comfort, lumbar support is of paramount importance because if your chair doesn’t support your back properly, you’ll definitely suffer from chair-induced back pain. Office chair and gaming chair manufacturers give focus on superior lumbar support when designing a chair.
There are so many things about lumbar support that you should have in your knowledge, and most importantly, where should lumbar support be on your back? This article will highlight the various aspects of lumbar support, which will help you understand the importance of having lumbar support in a chair.
Why Do You Need Lumbar Support?
First, we will discuss the necessity for lumbar support for your back. Your back needs lumbar support since the human spine’s bottom segment normally slopes inward. Its lower portion has a curvature that appears to push the stomach forward.
Support for the lower back will keep this bend inward.
This lumbar support aids in maintaining proper posture even when we are at rest. Our muscles that maintain that inward curvature will deteriorate and even weary if we don’t have lumbar support. Our bending and outward bends are prompted by this. That is why lumbar support is crucial for your back.
Why Does Lumbar Support Hurt My Back?
Although it may be a question for many people, lumbar support rarely harms the back or causes discomfort. So, there could be a variety of additional factors if your lumbar support is giving you trouble. The back may feel unpleasant while sitting in the chair if the lumbar support is positioned incorrectly. Your chair is probably too big for you, or the lumbar adjustment may not be at the proper height.
Additionally, if you are using a lumbar pillow, it’s possible that it is not positioned correctly. To make it comfier, put it in your lumbar region. If the wrong lumbar support is used for your back, it could hurt your back. This occurs whether you are sitting in an office chair or on a lumbar pillow.
If so, make sure the office chair you select is the right size for you—neither too big nor too little. The backrest’s ability to tilt at a 90-degree angle is also crucial. The chair should allow you to sit up straight, so you may more easily determine whether it will accommodate the curve of your back.
Where Should Lumbar Support Be on Your Back?
This section will highlight the main topic of the article. It is advised that you should place the lumbar support on your lower back in response to the query of where to place lumbar support. The region above your pelvic bone and below your ribs is more specifically referred to as the lumbar support.
Your lower back, which is considered home to your spine, is where your lumbar support should be put at the same time. Sitting on a chair and straightening your back without pulling your chest forward is one method for determining where you should support yourself.
You’ll notice that your lower back will curve inward when you’re in this position. This is where your chair’s lumbar support or pillow should be placed. In order to ensure that the curved position always fits the curve of your back, use a chair that allows you to lock the height of the backrest.
4 Types of Lumbar Support
There are several types of lumbar supports. Among the various forms of lumbar support, 4 common lumbar supports are,
1. Fixed Lumbar Support
Fixed lumbar support refers to lumbar support that cannot be adjusted. Even though this support may not be appropriate for your height, you will still need to adjust with fixed lumbar support. Usually, such office chairs are available at a slightly lower cost.
2. Adjustable Lumbar Support
One of the best lumbar supports is the adjustable lumbar support. This is due to the fact that each person’s lumbar support comfort and fit are not the same. You are able to change the settings to obtain the most comfortable position with adjustable lumbar support. Some things you need to verify with the adjustable lumbar support.
You must determine whether the lumbar support is a few inches or less from your back. Additionally, make sure the lumbar support on chair is deep enough to cover the space between the seat and your natural sitting position.
The depth of the majority of lumbar supports might not be ideal. In that case, you will need to adjust your posture so that you are sitting more deeply on the seat.
3. External Lumbar Support
Chairs without lumbar support can be equipped with external lumbar supports. Straps are used to fasten these adaptable attachments to the chair’s back.
4. Dynamic Lumbar Support
A few of the high-end office chairs include adjustable dynamic lumbar support. In the first or second uses, you might need to adjust it to fit your lumbar area. After that, the lumbar naturally conforms to the curve of your body as you lean forward.
How to Adjust Lumbar Support of Your Office Chair?
Depending on the style and mechanism of your office chair, there are numerous ways to modify the lumbar support. Here are a few steps for adjusting an office chair’s lumbar support:
- You may turn the knob on your office chair to adjust the lumbar support if it has one. Simply turn the knob. The manufacturer’s instructions specify whether to turn the knob in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. After adjusting the lumbar support, make sure your spine’s natural curve is being correctly accommodated.
- Some office chairs feature a backrest that may be adjusted in height. Therefore, you only need to adjust the backrest’s height so that the mesh or the cushion’s curvature best fits your back. To do this, you must push the backrest’s side button and slide the backrest up or down.
- Since some chairs lack a button, you must first check to see if the backrest can be raised and lowered. If it is possible, find the height that best fits your lower back. Without buttons, backrest adjustments typically fit more tightly. So, moving the backrest up and down may require a strong push or pull.
Conclusion
Of course, superior upper body support is a result of lumbar support. It allows your torso to rotate from side to side. It safeguards the spine’s nerve highway, which runs up and down it. In addition, it manages the sensation and movement in your feet.
Where should lumbar support be on your back, it is a very critical question. This is because you can experience better lumbar comfort in prolonged sitting only if the lumbar support is located in the appropriate area of your back.
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I am an Interior Designer and founder of MyComfortHaven.com. Love for ergonomics and content creation made me pivot my career from interior designing to writing.
I like to write compelling, well-researched, and unique content about how commonplace things like chairs can greatly impact pain relief and productivity.