Posted by Maria Dimitrova

Gain: Office chairs that provide comfort and back support to prevent back pain

Cost: between $79 and $198

One of the most common causes of lower back pain is sitting for long periods in a chair that is uncomfortable and that doesn’t allow you to maintain the correct posture. Hunching over a desk, perching on the end of a chair, or sitting with your back in a rounded position can put pressure on the ligaments in the lower back, causing aching, pain and stiffness.

If you work at a desk most of the day, taking regular breaks to stretch and move around is a good idea but this can only make a significant change to your back pain if you combine it with a better sitting position.

The features of a good ergonomic chair

• Seat height. Office chair seat height should be easily adjustable. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the easiest way to do this. A seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor should work for most people. This allows the user to have his or her feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.
• Seat width and depth. The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17-20 inches wide is the standard. The depth (from front to back of the seat) needs to be enough so that the user can sit with his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair while leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be adjustable.
• Lumbar support. Lower back support in an ergonomic chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve tends to lead to slouching (which flattens the natural curve) and strains the structures in the lower spine. An ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment (both height and depth) so each user can get the proper fit to support the inward curve of the lower back.
• Backrest. The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. It should be able to support the natural curve of the spine, again with special attention paid to proper support of the lumbar region. If the office chair has the seat and backrest together as one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward once the user has determined the appropriate angle.
• Seat material. The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a cloth fabric that breathes is preferable to a harder surface.
• Armrests. Office chair armrests should be adjustable. They should allow the user’s arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly, and the forearm should not be on the armrest while typing.
• Swivel. Any conventional style or ergonomic chair should easily rotate so the user can reach different areas of his or her desk without straining.

Take a look at the top-ranked office chairs on Amazon:

***

Boss Black LeatherPlus Executive Chair

Average Amazon rating: 4/5, around $164

Product features:

• Ergonomic office chair with lumbar support and pneumatic seat height adjustment
• Upholstered in black LeatherPlus; waterfall seat design eliminates leg fatigue
• Upright locking position and adjustable tilt tension control
• Weight capacity is 250 pounds; easy assembly upon arrival; no tools required
• Measures 26-1/2 inches wide by 28 inches deep; adjusts between 45 and 48-1/2 inches high

What the reviewers have to say:

Pros:

• “I’m in heaven. This chair gets the award for the perfect chair for a very bad back. My back is so bad that I’m disabled. Normally I can’t sit for any short period of time. I have been able to work on my crafts today without being so crippled up. I was sooo…HAPPY! The chair has amazing lumbar support built in it and hits me in the proper zone of my back. The LeatherPlus is very buttery soft but seems very durable. I raked it across my texured wall without a rip or scratch on it. I’m loving this chair just after using it in these last 2 days.“
• “I do like this chair! Purchased one for my home office during recovery from disabling bout of back pain and sciatica. Despite already owning a lazy boy recliner and a different adjustable office-type chair, this one turned out to be the ONLY comfortable, tolerable seat in my house“

Cons:

• The gas cylinder is flimsy and insufficient for anyone over 150 lbs much less 250 (I’m 221).
• The structure of the back cushioning might be good for some people, but I find it uncomfortable (I am an average bodied 5’11” male)
• I am 5’9″ and my feet are dangling at the lowest hight for this chair.

***

86000 Series Executive Mesh Back Chair (See all Home Office Desk Chairs)

Average Amazon rating 4,5/5, around $174

Product features:

• Assembly Required: Yes, Base: 5-star Nylon, Color: Black, Dimensions: 45″ Height x 28.5″ Width x 28.5″ Depth, Frame: Black, Product Series: 86000, Seat: Fabric – Black
• Features: 360° Swivel
• Sold as 1 each

What the reviewers have to say:

Pros:

• “Very nice for long gaming sessions (6+ hours). Fabric durable and the mesh backrest gives support and ventilation. Controls allowed me to set the position of the chair to match my body contours. Assembly easy and delivery was faster than advertised. Chair has a good quality feel to it. Arm rests are nice but I prefer not to use them.”
• “The chair has 3 levers to control the position of the back and seating….love that! It has saved my back from much pain which was often when using basic office chairs. Worth the money since I do software development in a office environment with a lot of sitting.“
• “This chair is a very good value. I’ve used Aeron chairs at work for many years and like them. However, the price is steep for home use. I have used this chair now for almost three months and it is comfortable throughout those full days in the home office. It is also easier to adjust quickly compared to the Aeron chair. I particularly like the fact that both back position and seat angle can be adjusted to maintain good posture”

Cons:

• “The arm rests are wobbly, and the tilt feature is extremely limiting.”
• “Unless I sit down very carefully, the seat angle adjustment releases and I have to readjust it. THe chair is very comfortable but the above problem is very annoying“
• “for the price i paid, i figured this chair would have better back tilting tension. when i lean back, it just reclines to the furthest point and its hard for me to balance a point in between.”

***

Alera Ravino Big & Tall Series High-Back Swivel/Tilt Leather Chair, Black

Average Amazon rating 4,5/5, around $198

Product features:

• Adjustability – 360 Swivel, Mid-Range Knee Tilt, Pneumatic Seat Height, Tilt Lock
• Arm Color – Aluminum, Black
• Arm Material(s) – Aluminum
• Arm Style – Padded Open Loop
• Back Height – 32 1/2 in

What the reviewers have to say:

Pros:

• “I got my chair and couldn’t be happier… It’s comfortable and was VERY easy to assemble with what was provided in the box… I put it together myself in about 15 minutes with NO problems at all… Excellent buy overall and very sturdy…”
• “A very heavy and sturdy chair. I weigh around 340 and I got tired of breaking pedestrian chairs over the years. I can lean back on this one and not have to worry.“
• “the cushioning on this chair is just right for me. I didn’t want a chair that is soft and cushy, but one that is comfortably cushioned. I would say that it is medium-firm which for me is just right. It has a very wide seat and when I sit all the way back in the chair the top of the chair lines up with the top of my shoulders. The chair is also incredibly sturdy. I have no concerns with it anything breaking on me. Lastly, it wasn’t too hard to set up. I’m not too mechanically inclined and it took me about an hour.”
• “Trust me when I say there’s not a office chair out there of this quality for even close to the price this one is! All metal legs (five not four) heavy duty frame.“

Cons:

• “The seat is very lightly padded and as a result you can’t sit very long”
• “This is not a high-back chair. The width is good, and any full-figure individuals might find this chair perfectly adequate. The height does not come to my neck, and is just about even with the tops of my shoulders. I have a long torso, so others might have different responses.”
• “The arm rests serve no purpose except to hold me in the chair. They are way too low to put my arms on. I am 5’8″ so I am no giant, hmmm makes me wonder who actually designed this“

***

Boss B8106 Executive Chair, Black (See all Home Office Desk Chairs)

Average Amazon rating 4/5, around $79

Product features:

• Ergonomic mid-back chair with lumbar support and pneumatic seat height adjustment
• Upholstered in black LeatherPlus; large 27-inch nylon base for greater stability
• Hooded double wheel casters; upright locking position and adjustable tilt tension
• Weight capacity is 250 pounds; requires easy assembly upon arrival
• Measures 25-1/2 inches wide by 27 inches deep by 40-1/2 ? 44 inches high

What the reviewers have to say:
Pros:

• “It’s quite comfortable, sturdy, and seems well made for a very affordable price. Assembly was very easy and took about 15 mintues.”
• “I spend a solid 8-10 hours/day in a chair, typing away; like as most of you do. I needed a budget chair that was comfortable with a high back. This fits the bill. Lumbar support is good, fake leather experience is nice and high/tilt adjustment spot on.”
• “very soft, comfortable chair; height adjustable; back does lean back and does support the user“
• “This is a cheap chair that delivers the best comfort for your back“
• “Great chair for the money. 2 days running at 10 hour days and I’m very comfortable. My back pain is gone. Will buy another.”

Cons:

• “Don’t buy this chair if you have a cat because it will scratch the hell out of it.”
• “The chair is very good quality, but perhaps a little stiff on the back part”
• “The one major complaint I have about it is the fact that the arms are very small. Not high enough to rest your elbows on. A small complaint is that this chair does not have carpet friendly wheels like other chairs have. So it’s kinda hard to move around on carpet.“
• “Have bought two of these over the years. Both of them failed in about a year. The welds on the bottom of the chair just under the seat broke on both of them”

***

Alera Nico High-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair, Black (See all Swivel Office Chairs)

Average Amazon rating 4/5, around $151

Product features:

• This office chair features black Caresoft upholstery that has the look and feel of top-grain leather
• Tufted cushions, lumbar support, and padded arms and headrest are designed to provide all-day comfort
• An attractive design, the chair features a durable black steel frame
• A five-star base with casters makes it easy to roll the chair to where it’s immediately needed
• Other features include pneumatic seat height adjustment, and 360-degree swivel

What the reviewers have to say:

Pros:

• “This is a very good chair for the money. Sturdy, comfortable and perfectly balanced.
  I highly recommend this model if you spend a lot of time at your desk like I do.
  The padded arm rests come in handy when I have my feet up on the desk with my keyboard in my lap.“
• “The tilt adjust is a great feature as well; I can easily switch between a harder working tilt and a more casual surfing the web tilt.“
• “The chair is very comfortable and seems well made. It’s definitely a “big and tall” chair, with an emphasis on the “tall”. I’m 5’10 and my feet can only just lay flat on the ground with the chair at its lowest setting.“
• “Quality, fit, and finish are all great. I’ve had the chair for three weeks now and it is working great. This chair goes together quick and easy with the directions included.”

Cons:

• “This chair is comfortable for the back. However I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone less than 6 feet tall since the height adjustment doesn’t go very low. You feet wouldn’t lay flat on the floor, which is not very good ergonomics. I returned the chair for this reason.”
• “This chair is built solid. So, if you are overweight, you can rest assured; it won’t break if you sit down on it. However, it is hard as a rock. As such, if you have to sit down for any length of time or are elderly or have any kind of back trouble, forget it.”
• “I’m about 6’3 / 240 lbs and when sitting up straight with my back against the lumbar the headrest only comes up to about the middle of my neck. This is disappointing for me as I really liked the looks of that headrest.”
• “Awkward angle on the head rest, am going to have to make some sort of custom cushion to make it bearable“

***

Boss High Back Executive Chair with Pillow top Pewter Finished Base and Arms (See all Home Office Desk Chairs)

Average Amazon rating 4/5, around $132

Product features:

• Beautifully upholstered in Black CaressoftPlus
• Pillow top cushions for added comfort.
• Padded arm rests
• Adjustable tile tension control
• Pneumatic gas lift seat height adjustment

What the reviewers have to say:

Pros:

• “This item was SUPER EASY to assemble. It only requires a Phillips head screwdriver and comes together with 12 screws. Can’t find the screws? That’s because they’re already screwed in”
• “It is super soft and comfortable with good lumbar and head support (for when you want to lean back and relax.”
• “The material is also very soft and feels very nice on skin, such as bare arms when you rest them on the arm rests“
• “It’s not a thickly cushioned chair like some others, but it’s still very comfortable to sit in for extended periods of time.”
• “I think this is a good value for the money, especially for those of us that do not want to pay more than $150 for an office chair. This chair feels very well built and sturdy. It’s arms are fixed which I can see being a problem for someone but they fit me perfectly so it’s not an issue. The padding on here feels very luxurious and more expensive than you paid. It leans back which is important to me and it does that easily. “
• “Couldn’t be happier with this chair. It’s very comfy and the back support is great. It was also very easy to put together.”
• “I have been using it for a few weeks now. Great feel and very comfortable. Easy assembly. No complaints.“

Cons:

• “The specs of this chair do not mention that it has a weight limit of 250 lbs. I didn’t notice on the back of the chair that the tag says this until I had it all put together“
• “I have had this chair LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, and already the lower portion of the right arm has split almost completely in half. I attribute this to the aforementioned shoddy design. Since there is no direct junction between the back and the seat,all structural strain on the back is focused into the arms–and being made of cheap plastic, they are simply not built to withstand it.”
• “It is almost impossible to position the back and insert the screws at the same time, making what SHOULD be a very simple assembly into a two-person job. Also annoying is the fact that the installation requires a screwdriver–a fact which is not indicated anywhere on the packaging. What’s wrong with a simple hex key?“
• “What a huge disappointment! I had a chair from Staples that I paid $85 for and was ten times more comfortable and lasted 5 years. This chair lasted 2 months.“