Best office chair for back pain 2024

Is your back giving you problems? Your chair could be the culprit

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The best office chair for lower back pain is more important than ever, after all, back pain is an issue that we’ve all encountered. In fact, research from the Annals of Translational Medicine shows that 7.5% of the world’s population suffers from lower back pain. This is a wild statistic and it’s far higher than any of us at WePC were expecting. Interestingly, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, complaints relating to back pain on Twitter rose by 84%. This is in no small part due to the increasingly sedentary lifestyle the pandemic created, when your commute to work is across the room to your desk, you really aren’t getting any exercise. All of these reasons lead you to search for the best office fochair r back pain. And we here at WePC will help you find the solution your spine so desperately needs.

Best office chair for back pain 2024: our top picks

Additionally, anyone who’s ever worked in an office is acutely aware of how cheap the provided chairs are, many without armrests, back support, or neck support. And chances are the computer chairs you’re using at home aren’t much better. We think it’s time that changed. A slight ache or twinge in the back can initially be easy to ignore and may not be too painful, but it can worsen over time until suddenly, boom, you’re one of those people with a ‘bad back’. Let’s help you sort this horribly common issue by giving you a rundown of the best office chairs for back pain.

Best office chair for back pain 2024: reviews

The best office chair for lower back pain

Editor’s Pick

Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody

Chair Type

Office

Maximum Load

136 kg

Dimensions

45″ H 29.5″ W 29″ D

Sitting Height

432–559 mm

How We Review

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Herman Miller Direct

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Pros

• Novel and unique ergonomic features
• Contemporary design
• Comes pre-assembled

Cons

• Expensive

According to Logitech, this chair was designed utilizing the input from over 30 physicians and PHDs in biomechanics, vision, physical therapy, and ergonomics. This is an impressive and varied pool of knowledge to draw from. And it’s resulted in some pretty interesting and effective features.

We particularly like Logitech’s Posturefit Spinal Support system. In short, the surfaces of the chair dynamically adjust to the unique shape of the user’s spine. The helps even out overall pressure and replicates the spinal alignment of standing up straight as closely as possible. You can also choose to lock these surfaces once you’ve found a healthy position. Additionally, you can actually change the depth of the seat base, which is a pretty unique feature we haven’t seen before. Yes, it’s expensive, but if you want the best of the best for your health, this is it.

Best ergonomic office chair for back pain

Steelcase Series 2 Office Chair

Max load

400lbs

Seat height

16.5″ – 21.5″

Materials

Steel & polyester

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Pros

• Weight-activated adjustment
• Broad range of colorways
• 4-part, effortless assembly

Cons

• Headrest doesn’t come as standard

We really like the weight-activated automatic adjustment mechanism. Essentially, the chair automatically flexes in response to the weight of the user, providing a more custom-feeling seating experience. This combines with the mesh backrest to produce a feathery seating experience which really does adjust to you, not the other way around. Annoyingly it doesn’t come with a headrest as standard but it’s still worthy of a mention for its styling and ergonomic prowess. The armrests are also of note as they are fully adjustable and very easy to dial in, so your shoulders and arms can be in a relaxed, healthy position.

It also takes the cake for possibly the most simple building process we’re aware of. It comes in only four parts and requires no tools whatsoever. You can literally unpack the chair and be sitting in it within a minute. It’s a bit of a mystery to use why easy assembly isn’t more common.

The best gaming chair for back pain

Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 Series

Height range (Medium Size)

5’6″ – 6’0″

Maximum load

286lb/129kg

Seat width

56cm

Tilt-lock?

Yes

Height adjustment range

75mm

How We Review

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Pros

• Magnetic neck cushion
• Novel lumbar support system
• Wide range of designs
• Two material options to choose from

Cons

• Fairly expensive

One of the reasons we really like the Titan EVO 2022 is that it successfully does away with lumbar support pillows and clumsy elasticated straps for neck support. It replaces the pillow with a height and intensity-adjustable lumbar support system. It can be adjusted in very small increments to perfectly cradle and support your lower back. The traditional strap-secured neck pillow has been superseded by a magnetic solution that results in a cleaner look and less migration over time. All the other niceties are retained too, 4-way adjustable armrests, tilt, and height adjustment.

If you enjoy the varied designs and don’t mind looking like a ‘gamer’ this is a very good option. Secretlab has even had the chair verified by medical professionals, with Dr. James Goh of the National University of Singapore saying “The Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 allows for all the essential adjustments to achieve a good sitting posture. The lumbar curvature contours nicely at an appropriate height, providing an evenly distributed contact area that adapts to and supports your lumbar spine.”

For more information, check out our full review of the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 Series

The best office chair for back pain under $300

Allguest Ergonomic Office High Chair

Max load

350lbs

Seat height range

16.9 – 20.2 inches

Materials

Steel, plastic

How We Review

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Pros

• Very affordable
• Breathable mesh design
• Elegant aesthetics.

Cons

• Static armrests

Of course, not everyone is willing or able to spend upwards of $500 on the most scientifically-backed, over-designed ergonomic gaming chairs. The Allguest cleverly prioritized the parts that matter the most, resulting in a chair that doesn’t have every ergonomic feature, but it retains the most important aspects, namely neck support, and lumbar support. We are big fans of the breathable mesh design as it’s ideal for long periods of use and/those of you who live in hot climates. tilt, lock, and recline are all present so if you’re suffering from back pain, and need a quick and budget-friendly solution, we highly recommend this chair

Best office chair for back pain – what to look for

When it comes to ergonomics, posture, and health, there is a lot to look out for. Millions of years of evolution probably didn’t account for sitting at a desk 8+ hours a day, every day. This means there are inherent health risks associated with it. The vital aspects of an office chair for back pain are adjustability, lumbar support, and neck support. If these characteristics are present, then you have the makings of the best office chair for back pain. Funnily enough, gaming chairs tend to rank very highly in terms of ergonomics as they are designed for the, let’s face it, ridiculously long hours that gamers log in front of the screen. Gaming chairs boast the most adjustability out there and often go through more R&D cycles than the typical office chair you’re used to.

Lumbar support

You’re probably already aware that the human spine has a natural ‘S’ shape to it, when standing up straight, this is the default position of the spine. Ideally, you want to maintain this shape when sitting, and one of the features that can help with that is lumbar support. Of the 26 vertebrae in the spine, 5 of them, designated L1-L5 make up the lumbar, which is usually referred to as the lower back. this area of the spine is convex, curving out towards the front of the body. Typical office chairs do not account for this, and usually cause the user to either straighten out this curve via slouching back, or reverse it by hunching forward.

Of course, the spine is capable of a lot of mobility, but extended periods of sitting can be problematic as it forces the spine out of alignment for too long. Most chairs that attempt to rectify this issue do it either with an adjustable section of the backrest or with a pillow. Chairs like the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 utilize an inflating lower section which can be dialed in via a control nob on the side, many other chairs like their Omega series instead use a memory foam cushion. Regardless of the method to produce lumbar support, it’s very important to maintain the aforementioned curve of the spine. If the lumbar support is insufficient, it can lead to aches and pains from prolonged strain on the muscles of the lower back.

Neck support

The neck comprises the top 7 vertebrae of the spine, and it’s equally important to properly support it. Without adequate neck support, most people have a tendency to slump forward, producing prolonged strain on the neck. This can lead to aches, stiffness, even tingling in the extremities due to the nerves of the spine being compressed. A proper neck support pillow will cradle your neck into the ideal position. Unlike lumbar support, there aren’t really any wild inflating adjustable solutions for this, just a pillow, ideally memory foam.

Adjustability

Humans come in all different shapes, sizes, and weights. This means that the best office chair for back pain needs to be fully adjustable to cater to the individual. Height is an important consideration here as it’s recommended to sit with your knees at a 90-degree angle. Obviously, the height of the chair needs to be adjustable to facilitate this position depending on the person in question’s height.

The height of the shoulders and arms is important too, as improper positioning can lead to strain. To combat this, ergonomic chairs have adjustable armrests so you can make sure your arms are properly aligned with your desk.

Additionally, the angle of the backrest relative to the seat needs to be considered. Somewhere in the range of 90-110 degrees is ideal. This allows for optimal configuration.

All these things are needed for a truly healthy seating position, so this list will only feature chairs that have lumbar support, neck support, and sufficient adjustability options.

What is the best way to sit in a chair?

It may seem like a silly question, but we’d wager that right now, you aren’t sitting in a healthy position. The ideal position comprises the following

• Knees bent at 90 degrees, with your feet flat on the floor.
• Back and head making contact with the back of the chair.
• Eyes level with the top of the monitor.

Other gaming chair guides

If you’re looking for other setting options, check out our guides below

• Secretlab Chair – The Ultimate Gaming Chair Guide
• Best EwinRacing gaming chair
• Best Budget Gaming Chair
• Best Corsair Gaming Chair
• Best Console Gaming Chair
• Best Gaming Chair For Big Guys
• Best Cheap Gaming Chair
• Best white gaming chair

Final Word

There we have it, folks a brief rundown of the best office chairs for back pain. We’ve made some recommendations and explained the common causes and health risks of back pain. Regardless of your budget, you’ll be able to find a solution to help better your posture and your health. It’s worth noting that even with the best chair in the world, you’ll still need to take regular breaks, so keep this in mind and stay healthy!