My back is killing me. My office chair is not helping. Will an ergonomic chair make any difference and does anyone have any suggestions for a good one?
It should help...but it could be your posture, lack of core activation that's not giving you enough support.
What type of back problem are you experiencing? Upper or lower? Any specific condition you're aware of currently? I've dealt with a herniated disc in the past and prolonged sit-downs in certain chairs were a problem for me. At work they provide everyone with an ergonomic Aeron chair and it seemed to work well, but it's also got a hefty price tag of around $500. My solution was to get back in shape and maintain better posture. It alleviated the root cause of the back troubles for the most part.
Great thread idea! I'm looking for a desk chair to replace the one I have in my study. Also have a bad back after lower back surgery, and need something both comfortable and very adjustable. Leather is good. Any ideas?
It's lower back. I've had problems on and off since I was 16. Root cause, as I've been told by a few of the orthopedic doctors I've been to is likely arthritis from what is now 32 years of soccer. I haven't had the problem for almost 2 years until this weekend. Got a couple of good shots in the back from a jackass on the opposing team. That said, my posture could be better as could the strength in my core. It's something I'm definitely going to work harder on when this pain goes away. In the meantime, since I sit pretty much all day, I figured a good chair would at least help. Thanks for the suggestion...
You can't tell by the looks, but the Embody chair is much better than the Aeron chair. It's also a lot more expensive though.
I was thinking of this cheap one for my workbench. http://www.amazon.com/Executive-High-Back-Chair-Fabric-2x28-1/dp/B000Q5XTE8/ I have never had back problems but crap chairs with no adjustments cut off my circulation.
I had some general back and body pain issues after sitting at work all day, then sitting for a while at home. At home I purchased a Herman Miller Embody ($1300) after looking at pretty much all ergo chairs that I can find. Herman Miller makes the previously mentioned Aeron, but I has some issues with them. The Aeron has three sizes, A/B/C (small to large). I am 6'/160 pounds and the A was just too small. The B's seat was not deep enough. The C was just way too big (really wide). Retail on a new one is $700 for a basic one, but used they're usually around $500 - depending on your location Craigslist may have some. HM also makes the Mirra which is pretty decent chair. The seat is mesh like the Aeron and the seat pans in and out. I did not like the plastic back, but they do have the option of a fabric cover. Pricing starts in the $700 price range, but fully configured it can get into the $1200+. http://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/work-chairs/embody-chairs.html Outside of HM, there's also Steelcase (Leap), Humanscale, HON, and Haworth (Zoby) that I looked at. It came down to the Embody versus the Mirra and Leap, but once configured to how I wanted, they were over $1,000. Due to the comfort and design, I chose the Embody. Also, Herman Miller has a 12 year warranty, so it will last for a while. Ultimately, you must sit on one before making a good decision. Also, configure and adjust the chair as much as possible. Keep in mind that padded seating can eventually wear out, also doesn't allow for as much breathing... I prefer a mesh seat. An important sizing measure that I noticed was that you do not want you legs to hit the seat to ensure better circulation. I had a chair at work prior that had this problem and my legs did fall asleep.
Nice list and suggestions, although I'd add the Allsteel #19 as well. It's probably the best chair I've ever owned in that range. It's a bit expensive (~$1K), but you can find deals from time to time. Try them all though leroy, and find the one that fits you best.
Im a big guy and have a allsteel 19 chair that is extremely comfortable, it is a little expensive depending on material and extras but well worth it. I buy furniture for my company and the ignition chair by hon was hit because of the memory foam.
I appreciate the feedback. I'm going shopping today to find one. I do have one question, though...are you Goldilocks?
Speaking of Steelcase, has anyone tried the Think chair? I bought a Mirra from Herman Miller at home after seeing good reviews. I like it, but am not blown away. Then one day, I went on a training at another company. They had these Think chairs in their conference room. I was amazed by how comfortable they were. I literally didn't want to stand up. I'm thinking about getting a Think now after that experience, even though I already have a Mirra. Anyone has had experience with Think?
