Why Most Ergonomic Chairs Still Can’t Prevent Back Pain (3 of 4)

Comfort Can Be Misleading

Comfort and support are two very different beasts. A soft, cushy chair can feel amazing at first, but if you slouch too much or let your pelvis sink too deep, you will pay for it later. A very firm chair is also not an option because at that point it’s just torture.

The “best” chair is not always the most padded or the most expensive. It’s the one that fits our needs best and helps you stay supported. That’s also why asking your friends what setup and chair they’re using rarely works. A chair that feels perfect for one person might be uncomfortable for another.

The Chair Is Only One Part of the Setup

Even the best chair money can buy can’t fix a bad workstation. If your monitor is too low, your neck will hurt like hell. If your desk is too high, your arms and shoulders will get destroyed. If your keyboard is too far away, you’ll keep reaching forward, negating all that lower back support that you paid for.

Your chair, desk, screen, keyboard, and mouse are all a part of your workspace. When one piece is off, your body usually compensates somewhere else. This is also why so many people opt for a sit-stand desk. It’s not because they love standing all day, but because such a desk makes it easier to switch positions. It’s all about changing things up: sit, stand, walk, stretch, repeat.