What is a Good Office Chair for Bad Backs?

Back pain can be debilitating. It impacts everything you do, making life miserable, and changing the way that sufferers live and work. And yet, roughly one in every six people in England have back pain. It accounts for 40% of sickness absence in the NHS, and overall it costs £10 billion for the UK economy. So, finding ways to help reduce and alleviate back pain in the workplace is a sensible investment for both businesses and homeworkers. And a good office chair is the perfect place to start.

Tips for Choosing Office Chairs to Reduce Back Pain

Backrest

If it’s going to do its job properly, the backrest of an office chair should be in the region of 30-50cm wide. It should have an adjustable angle, and ideally, a sliding seat, as with the Ergo Click Plus. It should also be high enough to support the whole back.

Lumbar support

Lumbar support is one of the most important considerations when you’re shopping for office chairs. Whether you’re buying for someone who already suffers from back problems, or trying to avoid further problems in your team, lower back support is integral. Chairs that provide adjustable lumbar support, like the High Back Mesh Synchronous Executive Armchair, can help to maintain healthy posture by preventing slouching. And to create a more comfortable seating experience for anyone who needs to spend long periods at their desk.

Headrest

Chairs with headrests, like the i29 Exec, can also support better back health by supporting the neck when you need to recline. Whether for comfort or contemplation, we all need to recline sometimes, especially when working long hours. Headrests improve comfort, reduce neck pain, provide additional support, and encourages proper posture.

Seat height

If an office seat’s height is not easily adjustable, it’s going to strain its user’s back. When you’re working at a desk, you should be able to put your feet flat on the floor when your elbows are at desk height. If this isn’t possible, even with an adjustable chair, a footrest should be supplied to support this. Seat depth Seat depth can be a problem for workers of smaller stature. If you’re going to work comfortably, the back of your knees should be about 6-10cm from the edge of your seat without having to move away from the backrest. Having an adjustable seat slide and tilting back rest, as in the F94-101 Chair Package can help with this.

Swivel and glide

This probably goes without saying, but if you have back problems, you need your chair to assist your mobility. Being able to swivel your chair and easily glide on castors can help reduce unnecessary back strain.

With the right office chair, you can help to make your teams not only more comfortable but more productive. If a chair can ease the pressure and pain of a sore back, and help workers maintain better posture and back health, then they will ultimately improve the efficiency and profitability of your business. So, while ergonomic office chairs may seem like an unnecessary investment, they will save you money in the longer term.

View the full collection of office chairs available from UK Office Furniture.