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best office chair for sciatic pain

Best Office Chair For Sciatica Pain

If you work in an office and are one of the unfortunate people who suffer from sciatica, then this blog post is for you! I will share with you my research on the best ergonomic chairs that will reduce your pain while sitting at your desk.
There is no reason for you to not have comfortable working hours. Everyone deserves peace as they work hard to progress in life. There’s a lot of information out there about how to deal with sciatica, so let me help save you some time by giving it to you all in one place!

What is Sciatica?

Back support comes from the backbone. The tiny bones in the spine are separated with disks of connective tissue. When these disks become old worn out, or over-pressured, they start pushing outwards. They may put pressure on the surrounding nerves in the process. This includes the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body. It runs from the end of the spine to the feet. It hence affects your lower back, hips, legs, and feet.

Sciatica is hence a condition that refers to pain that shoots down the leg.

The symptoms of sciatica usually are:

  • either mild or severe shooting pains
  • a burning feeling
  • numbness
  • weakness
  • a tingling sensation

What causes sciatica?

There are two significant causes of sciatica: damage to the vertebral discs and irritation of the sciatic nerve roots. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc that presses on the nerve root at the lower back, causing pain down one leg. Also, spinal stenosis occurs when spaces are narrowing around the spinal cord due to either bone spurs or soft deposits from aging. This condition has no cure but can be managed through physical therapy, medication, or surgery.

As we mentioned before, the sciatic nerve runs from your lower back down to your feet, so people with this condition generally feel a sharp pain in their legs when they have moved them too much or rubbed against something hard.

best chair for sciatica pain

Who is affected by sciatica?

Usually, sciatica affects the elderly. However, it may be caused by obesity because obesity puts unnecessary pressure on your spine. In some cases, sciatica is caused by conditions like isthmic spondylolisthesis, which may be triggered by accident or birth. In short, nearly anyone can suffer from sciatica although some people are more prone than others.

Recently a spike has been seen in sciatica cases. This is because more and more people spend most of their time sitting for work. We are not as active as our ancestors used to be. Prolonged sitting can put stress on the spinal tissues and lead to sciatica.

How can I manage sciatica?

Sciatica is usually manageable by some lifestyle changes and medication. Exercise and pain relievers can help manage the condition. Hot and cold compresses may help too. The pain usually goes on for 4 to 6 weeks. This can easily stay longer if no care is taken to prevent the condition.

In extreme cases, one may have to turn to spinal injections or surgery. To avoid this condition, you should keep an eye on your weight, avoid sitting down for too long and improve your posture.

If sitting for long periods is part of your job and unavoidable, you should get a chair suited for sciatic pain and distress. It can help!

What is Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome is a specific type of sciatic nerve pain. It occurs when the piriformis muscle puts stress on the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is the tiniest in the body. It is a deep muscle located behind your gluteus maximus (the most significant muscle in your buttocks). The piriformis helps turn your legs outwards and rotates them inward or brings them together.

Piriformis syndrome is caused by spasms in the piriformis muscle, which sits deep within your buttocks. The pain starts from the lower back and can go down to your leg (sciatica) or buttock. In most cases, it is on one side only. This means that your pain may disappear temporarily if you change sides.

Since the body relies heavily on the piriformis muscle for balance, it may be hard to walk around with this condition.

To avoid dealing with these painful conditions, you need to make some changes for yourself. One of these is getting an office chair for sciatica pain. To help you in the process, we have made a list of the best office chairs for sciatica. Read on to find what suits you the best.

Factors to consider when buying a chair for sciatica

Adjustable Ergonomic Features

One of the most important things that you need to look at is the adjustability features. This will ensure that your pressure points are better addressed. The many adjustable features can help extend the comfort level over a long period.

In addition, chairs with adjustable backs are perfect in this regard as well because they allow for proper support. If your chair can offer side-to-side adjustment, it would be even better than one with just up and down adjustments because those do not cater for lateral movements anyway.

Multiple Seating Options

Along with adjustments, your chair should offer multiple positions for you to sit in. This will ensure you can always find a comfortable seating position for you, even if there are some changes to your body or physical condition.

Chairs that have reclining backrests are also great because they provide all-around comfort whether you prefer sitting straight or leaning back (when you take breaks) depending on what your body feels like doing.

It is even better to have chairs that offer additional features such as an optional footrest or dynamic, proprietary support systems, as these will further help your condition out.

Seat Design & Padding

Comfort is essential when it comes to managing sciatica pain.

Seats that are too hard will be uncomfortable and cause you more pain, while too soft centers won’t offer sufficient support. The aim is to look for chairs that have a cushiony surface.

Seat depth should also be considered – shallow seats can cause extra pressure on your sitting bones as not only do they not ‘give’ much, but the thighs tend to press into the seat edge resulting in discomfort. All the chairs we have added to our list are great for comfort, so you don’t need to worry.

Fit

If a chair is too large or too small for you, it won’t matter if it’s the most comfortable chair with the most features. Your chair should hence be the ideal size and height for you to help you be at your most comfortable

Best Office Chairs for Sciatica in 2024

Here are our top picks for office chairs for Sciatica.

OFFICE CHAIRSRATINGPRICE
Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair10/10 (Editor's Choice)
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Steelcase Leap Office Chair9/10
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Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair9/10
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Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair8/10
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GM Seating Ergolux Executive Hi Swivel Chair8/10
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Comfort Products 60-5800T Commodore Chair8/10
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Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair

Features

  •  Three recline options, upright, mid, and full recline
  • Adjustable seat angle
  • It comes in 3 sizes to accommodate different people
  • Breathable and flexible mesh design
  • 12-year warranty
  • ships fully assembled

Steelcase Leap Office Chair


  • 100% polyester fabric
  • come with wheels
  • Five reclining angles
  • 12-year warranty
  • Ships fully assembled

Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair


Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair


  • Made of 97% recyclable materials
  • Seat depth adjustment
  • Three tilt angles
  • Adjustable armrests

GM Seating Ergolux Executive Hi Swivel Chair


Comfort Products 60-5800T Commodore Chair


best office chair for sciatica

Conclusion

Choosing the best office chair for sciatica pain can be a difficult task, and we’ve reviewed some of the top chairs on the market to help you find one that suits your needs. Do any of these sounds like they would work well in your home or office? We hope this article has helped you decide which chair is right for you- now all that’s left is choosing which color! Leave us a comment below with what type of chair you plan to buy, so others know too. Which color did YOU choose?