Office chairs for bad backs

If you work in an office environment or you’ve created an office space at home, it’s important to find the best office chair for you. This is especially true if you sit at your desk for long periods and/or suffer from a bad back or neck.

Using an office chair that doesn’t support you in the right way can have a huge impact on your productivity, health and wellbeing. The good news is that there are plenty of ergonomic chairs available, designed to enhance your posture, support your back and optimise comfort, whether you’re working at home or in the office.

Finding the right ergonomic office chair will help to reduce back pain, provide the optimal seating position, and give you the support mechanisms you need to work in comfort.

In fact, it has been estimated that every year in the UK, approximately 10 million workdays are because of back pain, with the most common causes of bad backs at work being poor posture, sitting in the same position for extended periods, and not taking regular breaks.

Typically, back pain caused by an uncomfortable office chair or sitting incorrectly can be rectified in just a few days. Even more extreme cases of back pain can be cured in a few weeks if you improve your posture, invest in a suitable ergonomic chair and take frequent breaks away from your desk.

How posture affects disc pressure in the spine

When it comes to finding the perfect office chair, it’s important to shop around and do your research. You’ll quickly discover that there are lots of different chairs, with different features and price points, so it’s a good idea to have a budget in mind before you start your search.

Treating back problems

Contrary to widely held opinion, one of the best ways to treat a bad back is to keep active and invest in the right supportive office chair, so that your posture is correct and it doesn’t make your pain worse.

Back stretches and exercises can also help, along with activities such as walking, swimming and yoga. Some people find that hot and cold packs can offer relief from the pain caused by a bad back.

Finally, you should try to relax as much as possible and always try and adopt a positive mindset, even if it’s challenging.

If you decide to take time off work because of a back problem and spend a lot of time laying down, you could potentially make your back muscles even weaker, which will exacerbate the problem in the long term. So, keep moving and keep active if you’re physically able to.

Correct posture

Poor posture while sitting at your desk will almost certainly cause back problems in the long term. Why? Your body isn’t designed to remain in one position all day long, so it’s important to move about as much as possible.

When you are sat at your desk, make sure you sit up straight in your chair, ensure your lower back is properly supported and, if necessary, add a neck rest to your chair. You may also need to make some adjustments to your office chair to achieve the maximum level of support and comfort.

All employers have a duty to ensure that their workforce is as safe as possible from risk and harm. Therefore, it you’re unsure how to reduce the chances of back pain occurring or RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), ask for a workplace assessment to be conducted.

There are a number of factors that can affect your sitting posture, including:

  • The positioning of your computer screen
  • Your desk layout and equipment
  • Your computer mouse positioning and placement
  • Your keyboard positioning and placement
  • The height of your office chair, particularly in relation to your desk and computer monitor
  • Office chair adjustment

As a bare minimum, your ergonomic office chair should have the following adjustable features:

  • Seat height
  • Back rest (both height and tilt)
  • The back rest should ideally adjust independently of the chair seat to ensure maximum comfort
  • Make the necessary adjustments so that your thighs are at right angles to your body or sloping slightly downwards.

Additionally, your feet should be firmly planted on the floor. If you find that your legs do not allow this, a footrest should be used. This will help prevent your circulation becoming restricted and protect your back from possible injury.

Ergonomic office chairs – Our top picks

Java 200

Although this is a budget ergonomic chair, it certainly does the job in terms of providing optimum comfort and support.

Featuring a posture curved seat with a waterfall front, an under-seat skirt, sculptured lumbar and spine support, gas height adjustment, back tilt adjustment, back height adjustment and a black nylon base fitted with twin wheel hooded castors, the Java 200 is available in red, green, blue and black.

Complete with a five-year guarantee, this chair is sure to be a welcome addition to any office space.

Java 200 office chair with back support

Mentor Mesh Task Chair

Featuring a height adjustable ratcher back, a black or white nylon stiletto base, a height adjustable armrest and an integral seat slide, the Mentor Mesh Task Chair boasts all the components needed to work in comfort.

Stylish, functional and equipped for almost any home or office environment, this office chair is a great option if you’re looking for ergonomic functionality, especially if you suffer with back pain.

Available in lots of different colours, this chair comes complete with a five-year guarantee.

Mentor mesh office chair with back support, wheels and arm rests

Flo

With gas lift height adjustment, a non-synchronous mechanism with side tension adjustment, a height adjustable back rest, independent back angle adjustment and a seat slide, this chair isn’t the most affordable office chair, but it’s certainly worth its price tag!

Incredibly comfortable, flexible and functional, this Flo office chair not only provides an outstanding amount of support, but it also looks the part too.

And, to ensure that your office chair fits right into your home office or office workspace, there are lots of different colours to choose from, including Calypso, Souba and Lobster. Choose from many draughtsman chairs from our range, many suitable for bad backs.

Orangebox Flo ergonomic chair

Here at BT Office Furniture & Interiors, we supply and install office furniture throughout most of the UK. With almost 50 years’ experience, our team of professionally trained installers have an extensive product knowledge when it comes to finding the best office chair for bad backs. Choose a great office chair today with us.

You may also like our article: https://btoffice.co.uk/office-chairs-for-tall-people-bt-office-furniture/

If you require further information about any of our products, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team.