With an estimated 31 million Americans reported having low-back pain and expert predictions of about 80% of Americans eventually experiencing these problems during their lifetime, it is no wonder why annual back pain treatment costs have climbed up to about $50 billion in the U.S. at this point.
One way to reduce your risk of back pain is increasing lumbar support to decrease back problems by purchasing and routinely using the best back pillow for your chair. Let’s analyze everything you need to know in order to reduce back pain and how to get your back resting with ease up against the best back pillow for your chair.
Causes of Low Back Pain
Before we delve into what to look for in the best back pillow for your chair, let us take a look at the specific reasons why your back started hurting. Here are many of the core causes for lower back pain:
- Arthritis
- Birth defects
- Breakage of the discs between the vertebrae
- Compression of the sciatic nerve (pain in the buttocks and down the leg)
- Infections
- Injuries such as sprains or strains
- Injury, swelling, or compression of the spinal nerves
- Kyphosis (large hump in the upper back)
- Lordosis (excessive forward curvature of the lower spine)
- Non-spine related causes of back pain (Examples kidney stones, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, pregnancy, and tumors)
- Osteoporosis
- Poor physical conditioning
- Repeated ligament or muscle or ligament strain from heavy lifting
- Ruptured or bulging disks between the bones of the spine
- Scoliosis (sideways curve of the spine)
- Slippage of the vertebra puts pressure on nerves
- Spina bifida (the spinal cord is outside of the spinal column)
- Trauma to the spine
Decreasing back pain begins with practicing good posture to avoid discomfort, especially if you spend tons of time seated in front of your computer.
Poor posture brings about the wanted reaction of chronic pain and weakened muscles. Your head needs to be in an upright position and in alignment with your shoulders, which means absolutely no slouching.
Supportive Chairs
When you are looking for improved comfort, the height, angle, fit, and low-back support of your chair makes a huge difference.
Wear Backpacks Properly
Children and adults alike wear backpacks during the week, but how many people wear them in a way that doesn’t cause back pain? Place the heaviest objects in the back of your pack with the bottom of the backpack at the top of your hips.
You may think wearing your pack with just one strap looks cool. But it won’t feel cool when pain strikes. Wear both shoulder straps and avoid slinging the backpack onto your back.
Ergonomic chair designs provide proper back support, enabling you to remain seated at the right height related to your desk surface, benefitting your neck, shoulder, elbow, and back.
Lumbar support keeps the proper natural curve in your low back. Adjustable armrests provide arm support for your elbows and shoulders. These features contribute to good posture while you work.
Use a Supportive Back Pillow
Lower back lumbar support is needed to address and ward off back pain while you are busy at work in the office, sitting up for long periods of time socializing at the dinner table, or while you are getting a good night’s sleep free of irritating aches and pains.
Getting enough sleep is crucial to energizing your mind, spirit, and body rejuvenating, and pain is just the type of aggravated assault on that necessary process that you can do without.
When experiencing troubling back pain, try sleeping on your side with a pillow lodged between your knees to keep your spine straight and to prevent it from twisting. This will quite often release the tension and get you falling asleep in a much easier manner.
Pure Memory Foam
Back pillows made with memory foam are more durable and are able to contour to the shape of your body in response to your body heat. Now you will be able to have truly customized support to offer relief to lower back pain.
Versatility
Having a lumbar support pillow that is not permanently attached to your office chair makes it portable and possible to make use of in the car, on an airplane, and outdoors in your backyard.
Adjustable Straps
Get your hands on a back pillow with two adjustable straps that allow you to attach it to chairs of various sizes and shapes. The dual straps keep that back pillow of yours secure so that you don’t have to worry about it slipping and falling out of place.
Hypoallergenic Cover
Pick a back pillow that supplies you with a removable hypoallergenic mesh cover because these breathable covers ramp up your comfort and can easily be removed and machine washed to keep them fresh and clean.
Conclusion
Having the right back pillow cushion can help relieve your discomfort today and be supportive enough to help you prevent further frustration with your vertebrae in the future.