What Is A Lumbar Support And Do I Need One?
Good posture is important even when we are at work. Yet, many of us neglect taking care of our posture at work. As a result, we often end up with aching backs and sore muscles. When we come home, we often find ourselves slumped on the sofa complaining about our aching backs or how tired we feel.
The region of our back which is most affected, is the lumbar region. If you take a look at your back in a mirror, you will soon realise why. The lumbar region is located between the chest region of the spine almost all the way down to the tailbone. Looking at your lumbar region in the mirror, you will see it is slightly curved. The curve needs to be supported at all times, and that does not always happen. This is where lumbar supports come in.
What Are Lumbar Supports?
Lumbar supports have been ergonomically designed to support the curve of the lumbar spine. Choosing the right one is not always easy, but in general, good quality chair lumbar supports are a must-have in the modern office environment.
That being said, you can also buy lumbar supports for car seats. When you spend a large part of your working day sitting in a car, you should invest in a lumbar support for your car seat. Not only does this principle apply to car drivers. If you are a bus driver or train driver, investing in a lumbar support is also a good idea.
How Do I Use A Lumbar Support?
Lumbar supports for lower back pain are perhaps the most popular lumbar supports we most frequently buy. They are an excellent way of preventing the need for back pain treatment which is often very costly.
A lumbar support should be placed against the backrest of your chair. When you sit, you should be able to lean against it and your back should remain in a natural position. The lumbar spine should always have a slight but distinctive curve.
Yes, it is important to have a comfortable chair, but as far as office chairs go, one size seldom fits all. This is where lumbar supports to prevent lower back pain come in.
How Do I Know If I Need A Lumbar Support?
Our spines are funny things. It would be easy to assume any pain would be felt in the immediate area. Although this is frequently the case, lumbar spine problems may not always manifest themselves in that way.
Don't forget that the spine is interconnected.
Nerve signals travel up and down all of the time. The vertebrae in the spine have some flexibility in between them, and their movement can cause pain in other parts of the spine.
Common signs that you need a lumbar support include the following:
- Difficulty in standing up from your chair
- Neck pain
- Pain in your lower back
- Stiff legs
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sciatica
- Shooting pains in the arms and fingers
- Painful knees
- Pain in the buttocks
If you are experiencing discomfort when sitting in a chair, you should check your posture. Are you sitting in a good position which is comfortable for you with your back against the back of the chair? If you are not, you should seriously think about investing in a lumbar support.
Don't forget the same principle applies to people working at home as well. Many of us who work from home, forget to look after ourselves. We sit in uncomfortable kitchen chairs for an extended period of time. Kitchen chairs do not support your lumbar spine. When you work from home, it is important to establish a dedicated working area.
Do I Only Need One Lumbar Support?
Once again, it all depends on you. Our spines are under constant strain. If you exercise a lot, you may find that you will need a different lumbar support. It is often a good idea to have a couple of different lumbar supports.
For instance, if you have been busy gardening over the weekend, your back would benefit from a different support. Switching between two different lumbar supports will often help to further reduce the risk of lower back pain.
Do I Need A Lumbar Support At Home?
There is no reason why you should not have a lumbar support at home. Take a look around any furniture store, and you will quickly realise rise and recline future is now very popular.
Most rise and recline furniture supports our spines better than ordinary sofas, beds and chairs. The availability of rise and recliners, is a clear indication that we need lumbar supports both at home and in the office.
That does not mean you should run out and buy an expensive new sofa or bed. Instead, take a look at the different lumbar supports that are available for use together with living room furniture and bedroom furniture.
Sitting In A Chair For An Extended Period Of Time
When you know that you need to sit in a chair for an extended period of time, it is best to have a few exercises that you can do during the day.
Don't worry, they don't have to be complicated. Standing up and stretching your entire core on a frequent basis is a good idea. You should also try bending sideways as you stand up. Just let your arm drop to one side at the time.
This will help to increase circulation and at the same time take pressure of the vertebrae in the lumbar region of your spine. You will soon notice the difference.
No matter where your office is located, at home or in a city based office, lumbar supports will help to protect you against back pain and other health problems we associate with lumbar spinal issues.
We talk about buying lumbar supports, but in fact what you are doing, is investing in your own spinal health.
Brought to you by Your Back Pain Relief
