Lumbar cushion: The back support for office chairs and car seats

Back pain is a widespread disease: According to a survey by the Robert Koch Institute, respondents stated that they had suffered from back pain in the last twelve months. The reasons for this can be varied: too little exercise, sitting or staying in one position for too long or even the wrong chair.

The latter is currently tormenting workers in the home office. If the employer in the office is responsible for a safe workplace and adequate work materials in the form of back-friendly office chairs, quite a few people work from kitchen or dining room chairs. One thing in advance: These chairs are not suitable for sitting for long periods of time and a lumbar cushion is no longer helpful.

The cushion has the benefit of making seating that is already designed for long periods of sitting a little more back-friendly. A classic example would be a car seat or an office chair that does not yet offer a lumbar support function. The lumbar cushions relieve the lower part of the back, specifically the five lumbar vertebrae that are located above the sacrum.

A support pillow for the lumbar spine should ideally meet various criteria. Logical: A washable cover is always an advantage. The filling depends on how you feel when sitting. Memory foam adapts to your back, cold foam is usually cheaper but less cuddly. For comfortable sitting, a holding device in the form of straps is not a bad idea. This should be available especially in the car so that the cushion does not slip uncomfortably while driving.

A lumbar support pillow that meets almost all of these criteria is the brand’s model . According to the manufacturer, the filling of the pillow adapts to your lower back. Unfortunately, it is only suitable for the office or kitchen chair. You should choose a different model for the car seat. You can remove the cover and clean it in the washing machine at home. The memory foam is of course not washable. The cushion stays in place on the chair using tension straps with a click fastener.

The brand’s lumbar pillow is slightly larger . Thanks to the memory foam filling, it should adapt to the back of the person sitting. Unfortunately the cover cannot be removed. According to the manufacturer, it is made of suede material and is less suitable for the washing machine. Special massage points make the pillow particularly interesting. The manufacturer promises that these can stimulate certain acupoints in the back, which should increase sitting comfort. With this pillow, tension straps also provide the necessary support if necessary. It is suitable for office chairs and car seats alike.

It offers a harder pace – in the truest sense of the word . This is not a pillow, but a support with a mesh structure. Compared to the classic lumbar cushions, the support offers advantages, especially on warm days, because its structure is significantly more breathable. However, the support net does not adapt well to the shape of the seated person’s back. This lumbar support is also held in place on the chair using a tension strap. Nice: This model also offers massage beads, which, according to the manufacturer, are intended to provide a pleasant feeling of support for the lumbar area.

This is a somewhat unusual lumbar pillow . Compared to the lumbar supports presented previously, it offers two parts where you can remove the cover and clean it in the washing machine. The upper part of the cushion can be detached as needed. Use a tension strap to attach the cushion to the seat. Secure the cushion using tension straps. The filling is made of memory foam, which, according to the manufacturer, adapts to your back. According to the manufacturer, the model is equally suitable for car seats and office chairs.

Buy from Otto: Elegear Chair cushions

The does not rely on a mesh structure or memory foam. The manufacturer prefers to use air. You can inflate the pillow using a button on the side. It reaches its full size in a maximum of 50 seconds. If the air cushion is too big for you, you can let air escape using a valve on the side. According to the manufacturer, the cushion is suitable for car seats and office chairs. A tension strap on the back provides the necessary support. Compared to foam cushions, the air cushion has the advantage that it does not compress after prolonged use and may therefore lose support for the lumbar area.

Buy from Otto: lumbar pillow Nancy

A simple and simple model is the lumbar pillow . Again, a tension strap on the back ensures the necessary hold of the cushion. You can remove the cover from the cushion and clean it in the washing machine. Aspero once again relies on memory foam, which, according to the manufacturer, adapts to the back and still has a supportive effect.

Of course, a lumbar cushion is not a panacea for back problems. It may just help prevent back pain. If the pain persists, the only solution is to go to the doctor. To prevent it from getting that far, you should get enough exercise and, if necessary, lose excess weight. The heavier a body is, the more muscles and vertebrae have to withstand.

It is also advisable not to stay in one position for longer than 30 minutes. Smartwatches or fitness trackers, for example, can help remind you to get up every now and then and take a deep breath. When sitting, it is important to straighten the pelvis by tensing the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. Also consciously support yourself with your arms.

If you have to lift heavy objects, it is recommended to do so from a squatting position and not from the back of your back. It is important to keep your back straight and pull in your stomach a little. According to “Apotheken Umschau”, pulling in the stomach strengthens the transversus muscle, which helps, among other things, to hold the lumbar spine in place. When lifting heavy objects, it is also advisable to lift them close to your body.

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