Computer/desk chairs and back pain

**TacoBell** · 06-15-2008, 01:29 PM

I have been having lower back pain for a while and I am looking for solutions. Do tons of stretching, core work, massage, yoga, etc. One activity that I know I am not aligned is at my computer. Tend to hunch.

Does anyone have a suggestion or an ergonomic computer/desk chair that has helped them? All suggestions appreciated.

**giammi** · 06-15-2008, 02:37 PM

I sit a 130 degree angle, so maybe this helps?
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/...y-sitting-back

**DunEdinRanger** · 06-15-2008, 03:14 PM

Herman Miller Aeron Chair.

**dpm802** · 06-15-2008, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by TacoBell

I have been having lower back pain for a while and I am looking for solutions. Do tons of stretching, core work, massage, yoga, etc. One activity that I know I am not aligned is at my computer. Tend to hunch.

Does anyone have a suggestion or an ergonomic computer/desk chair that has helped them? All suggestions appreciated.

First, make sure your desk area is set up properly ... see http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/hcg/hcg_view.mspx

Next, look into a BALANS Chair (its pronounced Balance.) Don't let the price scare you ... shop around (Amazon, etc.) and you can find them for under $100 ... less sturdy, cheaper fabric and cushioning, but quite usable.

Also, check some of the office furniture stores in your area, they often have clearance sales on furniture that had been out on rental. Go to a place that specializes in office furniture, not Staples or OfficeMax or anywhere like that.

When I was shopping for a new office chair, I went to IKEA ... I found this one to be incredibly comfortable, but I wound up buying this. Some of their cheaper chairs look comfortable as well, but I wanted a leather seat.

**Austin** · 06-15-2008, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

Herman Miller Aeron Chair.

I have one of the aeron chairs. They are not as comfortable as my other relax the back chair.

**Mysterion** · 06-15-2008, 03:57 PM

Definitely get yourself positioned properly first. And remember to get up and move around regularly--no excuses! Your body isn't made to sit still for extended periods, and it doesn't like it. No magical desk or chair will convince it otherwise. If you work for more than 60 minutes without getting up and stretching your muscles, you will feel it. It sounds as if you're plenty active, so you probably know this, but it's easy to get task-focussed and overlook the obvious.

Sermon over. I tried the popular Aeron chair, and it wasn't quite right for me. I went with the Knoll Bulldog Operational chair: http://tinyurl.com/45frej I got mine kitted out with most of the adjustable options, and it's served me well for 9 years.

**dingo** · 06-15-2008, 04:10 PM

If the problem is in the very lower part of the back, it may be due to the seat of your chair, rather than your posture. You may want to switch to a very hard seat (something like a visitor chair) combined with a couple of sessions to a chiropractor, until the back "heals".

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

**dingo** · 06-15-2008, 04:21 PM

Forgot to add an interesting "chair" that is popular with people which had back problem: a big yoga ball (26, 30, etc inches -- depending on your height).
The theory is that is slightly unstable, so it prevents a static posture and slightly trains the back muscles.

**burnwood** · 06-15-2008, 04:56 PM

You dont have to sit in a straight up position. You do need to keep your back straight. I sit with a little lean back but straight. I actually have a bad back from a car wreck and sitting anywhere for too long hurts but that helps me the most. I would look up those other chairs. But I work for the city. They supply the materials. If I brought my own chair, another copper would steal it like they stole my hat

**Isaias** · 06-15-2008, 06:29 PM

Aeron chairs kick butt

However I have found that their most comfortable chair is the caper.
That said...
I was at a convention last year (NeoCon). A Japanese company was displaying a prototype of a new chair...

Not only did it look very stylish, but it was the most comfortable chair ever. I had a lot of moving parts and it adjusted to your body (Like one half of a cocoon wraping you back)

**Isaias** · 06-15-2008, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by giammi

I sit a 130 degree angle, so maybe this helps?
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/...y-sitting-back

I wish I could show this to my bitter middle school teacher

she was obsessed with students sitting in a "proper position".

**giammi** · 06-16-2008, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Isaias

I wish I could show this to my bitter middle school teacher

she was obsessed with students sitting in a "proper position".

Same here...knuckles on my head when I was in the wrong sitting position. I am tempted to send him the link.

**PHormality** · 06-16-2008, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by giammi

I sit a 130 degree angle, so maybe this helps?
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/...y-sitting-back

what he said..Lean back.

That actually make desk setups that lean you back and the monitor, keyboard and mouse as well so its all in alignment, but you are leaning back

**homebrewer** · 06-16-2008, 08:37 AM

My personal favorite is the Kimball office, Skye chair, with the head rest. By far the most comfortable and ergonomically correct chair that I've ever found (and ergonomics/human factors is what I'm in graduate school for)

It is expensive, and very difficult to find a dealer that will sell to the public, but once you sit in it, the search was over for me. The great thing about it, is that literally every single piece of the chair is easily adjustable. Anything that you wish you could move on your current chair moves in three different directions on the Skye.

Kimball Skye

**mozart** · 06-16-2008, 09:37 AM

I went through a ton of problems over the years. Three things finally came together that made a change to the better for me:

1. I insisted that my employer provide me with an excellent chair. I chose the Steelcase Leap. I find it miles better than the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, but of course, YMMV.

2. I insisted that my employer provide me with an excellent computer monitor, because I do most of my work at the computer. Proper height is important. Along with the monitor, I switched from using a mouse to using a trackball. Much better!

3. I educated myself about proper posture. Unfortunately, that is much more complicated than it sounds, because it is not just about fixing any bad habits about sitting, but in fact about any other type of activity. It all goes together: if one wants to learn how to sit properly, one has to learn how to stand properly, how to walk, lift things, lie down, etc. One can't do one thing properly while neglecting the others. To that end, I can highly recommend looking into the Alexander Technique. I found that method to be much more useful than Yoga (quite useless IMHO, when it comes to everyday activities; whose sitting in a lotus position all day long?). Check out: http://www.alexandertechnique.com for a taste.

Take it seriously and try to fix things as long as they are still fixable. But don't even hope to fix things quickly. It's going to be a long process of getting rid of bad habits.

Good luck!

Best - MM

**TacoBell** · 06-16-2008, 09:52 AM

Thank you all for the advise. I will look into this further and guess I got to get my butt into some of these to see how they fit. Certainly positioning and moving around are important componenent as well.

**ted** · 06-19-2008, 01:05 PM

I use one of those big exercise balls for a chair - works great.

Just 2 words of advice/caution:
- Hold on to your desk for the first couple of days when sitting down, until you get used to not having something to lean back against. IE - you don't want to fall off the back when sitting.
- Don't bounce too much - they CAN explode. Didn't happen to me (at least not yet...), but did happen to Leo Laporte on his TWIT podcast (episode #98).