Lumbar support is the part of an office chair that supports the inward curve of your lower back. If you sit at a desk for hours, it's one of the features most worth getting right. But what exactly is lumbar support, where should it sit, and how do you set it up?
What Is Lumbar Support?
Lumbar support means support for the lower back, specifically the lumbar region of the spine. It can come from a chair's backrest, a cushion or another device that fills the gap between your lower back and the seat back.
The lumbar region sits between the thoracic (upper back) and sacral (hip) regions. It's made up of five vertebrae, labelled L1 to L5. It carries the weight of your upper body while still letting you bend and move.
Lumbar support is part of ergonomics. The meaning of "ergonomic" is simple: designed to fit the people who use it. Our guide to what an ergonomic office chair is explains the rest.
Where Should Lumbar Support Be?
Lumbar support should sit in the hollow of your lower back, where your spine curves inwards. To find that spot, stand up straight and feel the lower part of your spine. The inward curve you can feel is where the support needs to rest.
Optimal Placement of Lumbar Support
Lumbar support should be positioned to keep the natural curve of the lower back, known as the lumbar lordosis. When you sit, that curve tends to flatten, especially if you slouch. The support fills the hollow so the curve has something to rest against.
On a chair with adjustable lumbar support, set it in two steps:
- Height: sit right back in the chair, then move the support up or down until it meets the inward curve of your lower back.
- Depth or firmness: increase it until you can feel it against your back, but stop before it pushes you forward or off the backrest.
Is the lumbar support built into the backrest? Then change the backrest height or angle instead, until you get the same result.
Ways to Get Proper Lumbar Support
There are several ways to achieve proper lumbar support:
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Ergonomic Office Chairs: Choose chairs designed with adjustable lumbar support. These lumbar support office chairs typically have a contoured backrest that follows the natural shape of the spine and can be adjusted to fit individual needs.
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Lumbar Pillows and Rolls: These portable lumbar support devices can be used on various seats, such as office chairs, car seats or even sofas. They're shaped to fit the curve of the lower back and give extra support there.
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Posture Correctors and Belts: These are worn on the body rather than built into a chair, and support the lumbar region from the outside. They're a different product from chair lumbar support. If you're thinking about one because of back pain, ask a GP or physiotherapist first.
How Lumbar Support Technology Works: Fixed, Adjustable and Inflatable
Lumbar support technology comes in three main forms. Each one aims to keep the natural inward curve of your lower back supported while you sit.
- Fixed (built-in): the support comes from the shape and contour of the backrest. The Bilbao Fabric Operators Chair with Lumbar Support and No Arms works this way. Because it's part of the backrest, it moves when you change the backrest height or tilt.
- Adjustable: a separate pad or panel you can move up and down, and sometimes in and out, independently of the backrest. This lets you fine-tune the support to your own back.
- Inflatable (lumbar pump): a small air cushion in the backrest that you pump up or let down to change how firm the support feels. The Calypso Ergo 2 Lever Office Chair with Lumbar Pump is one example.
Whichever type you choose, the support only helps if you sit back far enough to feel it.
How to Sit With Lumbar Support
To get the most from a chair with lumbar support, sit right back so you can feel it against your lower back. If you can't feel it, sit further back or adjust the backrest. Then check the rest of your position:
- Feet flat on the floor, or on a footrest
- Thighs roughly parallel to the floor
- Sitting upright, with your shoulders relaxed
- Forearms level with the desk
- Your screen about an arm's length away
Many people perch on the front edge of their chair without noticing. If you find yourself doing it, sit back into the backrest until you feel the support in your lower back. A small change to the seat height or backrest angle can make that easier. Our guide to how to sit at your desk has more detail.
The Benefits of Lumbar Support
Here's what good lumbar support gives you:
1. Support Where Your Back Curves In
Lumbar support fills the gap between your lower back and the chair. That keeps the natural curve of your spine supported, instead of leaving it to flatten as you sit.
2. Easier Upright Posture
Proper lumbar support makes it easier to sit upright. When your lower back has something to rest against, you're less likely to slump forward or perch on the edge of the seat.
3. Comfort Through a Long Day
Sitting for long periods can be uncomfortable without proper lumbar support. A chair that supports your lower back feels better over a full working day. And when you're comfortable, it's easier to concentrate on the task in front of you.
Lumbar Support FAQs
How do you use a lumbar support chair?
Get the position of your lower back right first. The inward curve of your lower back should sit snugly against the lumbar area of the chair. Sit right back, then adjust the lumbar height or backrest until it does.
Is lumbar support really necessary?
Not every chair needs a separate adjustable lumbar pad. If a chair's backrest already fits the curve of your lower back, built-in support may be all you need. Adjustable support is most useful when several people share one chair, or when a fixed backrest doesn't quite meet your back.
Find a Chair With the Right Lumbar Support
Lumbar support is a small part of a chair, but you notice it by the end of the day. Look for support you can feel, in the right place, that you can adjust if you need to. Struggling to find a supportive ergonomic office chair? Let us know, and our friendly team can help you choose the right one.
