What is Lumbar Support? Everything You Need to Know

Comfort is a priority for everyone in the workplace. A minor ailment in the back, shoulders, or neck can leave us distracted, unable to work as effectively as we'd like.

Ergonomics seeks to provide solutions for those who suffer from pain while working. One solution is lumbar support. This guide tells you everything you need to know about lumbar support, where you'll find it, and how important it is for office chairs and other furniture you use in the office.
What is Lumbar Support and How it Works

The term “lumbar” refers to the lower part of your back. It consists of five vertebrae located between the diaphragm and the sacrum (which attaches to your pelvis). Lumbar support is a piece of furniture or furniture equipment that focuses on maintaining comfort in the back of the lumbar area.

Throughout the day, our lower back is under constant tension. Even innocuous tasks such as driving a car or working in an office can slowly cause damage to the fragile lumbar region.

Lumbar support serves to limit tension in the lower back so that we remain comfortable in whatever activity we do. It can be added to office furniture or car seats in the form of lumbar support cushions, but is currently mostly used in offices. furniture is made with ergonomics at its core. Office chairs and other everyday furniture come with built-in lumbar support.

Lumbar supports, whether built-in or optional, are made using breathable and hygienic fabric. Encouraging airflow and dissipating heat, the lumbar support prevents heat buildup in your back which can cause discomfort and sweat.

How it works

The spine has a natural curvature, and lumbar support is primarily concerned with maintaining it. Without support for the lower back, people tend to slouch in their chairs. Over time, this causes pain and discomfort and can lead to injury to the back muscles, nerves, spine or discs.

Lumbar supports are specifically designed to maintain the natural curvature of the back, reducing discomfort and minimizing our chances of injury.
Why Lumbar Support is Important

For every business, keeping your employees healthy and on task is critical to maintaining revenue. From an employee's perspective, the desire to maintain long-term health is always a consideration. Lumbar support is one of the best ways to do this in the office.

In 2018, an estimated 141.4 million working days were lost due to illness or injury (according to the Office for National Statistics). That's an average of more than 4 per worker.

Although minor illnesses such as colds account for the majority of workplace absences, musculoskeletal problems account for 27.8 million days of absence throughout the year (19.7% of the total). Back pain likely represents the majority of these injuries.

The 2017 workplace health survey showed that illness-related illnesses cost the UK economy £77.5 billion that year. In addition to the importance of the general health and well-being of society, businesses also need to realize that ignoring lumbar support will be detrimental to them.

How to Sit with Lumbar Support

Lumbar support is there to maintain the natural curvature of your back. Therefore, as long as you are already sitting in a stable position, you do not need to make any other changes to the way you sit. However, you should always keep the following things in mind:

Sit at the back of your chair so the lumbar support can work with your spine
Sit straight in your chair and do not slouch. Slouching causes your spine to curve in an unnatural position. Over time it will cause pain
Keep your feet on the floor
Shift your hips and knees to a right angle position

Take regular breaks. We all need to stretch our legs and flex our muscles, so get up and walk around at least every hour
Try to align your head, shoulders and pelvis. This will maintain the natural curvature of your back and ensure your weight is perfectly balanced

Follow the steps above, and you'll be in the best position for your lumbar support to work properly. In the end, it will make you comfortable and focused at work.

Use the diagram below to see how you should be positioned in your office chair.
Place to attach the lumbar support

As we mentioned, your waist is located in the lower back area. Your lumbar support needs to be positioned so that it is parallel to this area of ​​the back. In office chairs, it is located at the bottom of the chair back and just above your belt line. If you add a lumbar support cushion to your chair, position it in this area.

If you are unsure, use the diagram below.
How to adjust your lumbar support

For ergonomic office chairs equipped with lumbar support, adjust the position to ensure the chair is aligned with your back.

Most chairs have a knob located under the seat that activates the lumbar support. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise and the lumbar support will adjust its position.

Take the time to get the right position for your personal circumstances. Once you are in a comfortable position, you are ready to sit and use the ergonomic chair for your purpose.

Who Needs Lumbar Support

No matter who you are, your body experiences the same subtle stresses from doing everyday things like driving a car and sitting at home or at the office. Without implementing correct ergonomics, the chances of your employees suffering from back complaints will increase.

For anyone in your office who frequently uses an office chair, lumbar support is a vital way to maintain their long-term well-being and health.

A modern and effective office chair equipped with built-in lumbar support. At Furniture At Work, we have a variety of office chairs specifically designed for the comfort and satisfaction of your employees.