We spend around 8.9 hours a day on average sitting down, according to some estimates, and studies have long linked excessive sitting to muscle and joint problems, back pain as well as a higher risk of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Of course, the key to avoiding these problems is to move more, take a break from sitting and walk every 20 minutes, for example. But finding the right chair can help ensure you do as little damage as possible when you are sitting.
‘You have to be active to get better from conditions such as back pain,’ says Richmond Stace, a physiotherapist and pain specialist in Harley Street in London. ‘However, the right chair can be useful both for promoting good posture and giving you some comfort when you need it.’
As well as standing stools and ball chairs for the workplace, there are now special chairs designed for people with specific conditions such as hernias or after a hip operation.
But are they worth it? We asked Mr Stace and Sammy Margo, a physiotherapist in North London, to assess a selection. We then rated them.
Komfort Hernia chair, €869 (£771.92), komfortchair.com
FOR HERNIA
Komfort Hernia chair, €869 (£771.92), komfortchair.com
CLAIM: The seat back on this chair has been designed to maintain posture in the event of hernia (where soft tissues protrude through an area of weakness in the abdominal muscles), both before and after surgery. The back is concave and wrap-around, also making it useful for scoliosis (curvature of the spine), the manufacturer says. The seat has a central groove which is said to relieve pressure in the delicate area of the coccyx, the tail bone.
VERDICT: ‘This is an all-singing, all-dancing chair which you can adjust in so many different ways to fit your body curves and proportions,’ says Sammy Margo. ‘The central groove in the seat relieves pressure on the coccyx because the load is taken by the buttocks.
‘This could be useful for people suffering from coccydynia (inflammation of the coccyx) and may help alleviate the discomfort of a hernia by supporting good posture.’ But, she adds, that as it is expensive, you might want to think hard before buying it. 7/10
Drive Medical hip chair, $445 (£330.96), alimed.com
FOR ARTHRITIS IN THE HIPS
Drive Medical hip chair, $445 (£330.96), alimed.com
CLAIM: This has a high seat and is designed for patients after hip surgery, so they aren’t forced to bend at the hip.
VERDICT: ‘If you’ve had hip surgery you’ll be told to avoid bending your hip more than 90 degrees, due to the risk of dislocation,’ says Sammy Margo. ‘That’s why a high chair like this is useful. However, most of the hip patients I see — typically after a joint replacement — who need this will either hire one (mobilityhire.com, from £12 a week) or buy chair raisers (£19.98 for a set of four, amazon.co.uk) that attach to the feet of their existing chair and lift it, which work out cheaper.
‘You’d use it for six weeks after hip surgery.’
For patients who need this long-term, such as those with failed hip replacements (when the implant loosens) it might be worth the investment. 7/10
ME Design Backfriend, £61.50, backcs.co.uk
FOR LOWER BACK ACHE
ME Design Backfriend, £61.50, backcs.co.uk
CLAIM: The Backfriend is a ‘seat within a seat’ that provides extra support for the lumbar (lower back) and thoracic (upper back) regions. The firm material gives support and helps to prevent backache.
VERDICT: ‘This inner mould gives a good level of support in a chair,’ says Richmond Stace.
‘However, I don’t think it would be much good for sitting on for hours because it is too rigid, so you still have to shift your position regularly to be comfortable.’ 3/10
Leifheit Multi Seat Niveau-Chrome,£39.99, amazon.co.uk
Leifheit Multi Seat Niveau-Chrome,£39.99, amazon.co.uk
CLAIM: The seat on this stool can be adjusted to 13 different heights.The makers say it is designed as a ‘helper while sitting and standing, which is kind to the back’.
VERDICT: ‘I’m a big fan of this,’ says Sammy Margo. ‘It’s great for anyone who has to stand for a long time such as when doing chores because standing for a long time in one position can cause backache.
‘We also encourage people with bad backs to stand up or perch on a seat occasionally because it redistributes the weight of the body through the legs, and reduces pressure on the back which can cause damage in the long term.’9/10
Back App chair, £508, relaxbackuk.com
Back App chair, £508, relaxbackuk.com
CLAIM: There is a ball at the base of this stool which can be adjusted to make the stool more or less stable. You sit on the stool and place your feet on the stand so you don’t touch the floor. You have to work the muscles that support the spine in order to balance.
A 2013 study part-funded by the company found people with lower back pain had less pain when they used the chair than with a standard office chair in a trial where their pain was monitored at 15-minute intervals while typing.
VERDICT: ‘I found it comfortable to use — the design is interesting, as you are constantly rocking,’ says Richmond Stace. ‘This helps keep your posture upright by supporting the back of your thighs and buttocks.
‘It would be suitable for an active person as a preventative measure against developing poor posture, but I don’t think it would suit anyone with established back pain or for using over long periods as there is no back rest.’ 5/10
Back 2 Mesh Lumbar Support, £22, back2.co.uk
Back 2 Mesh Lumbar Support, £22, back2.co.uk
CLAIM: This is a mesh cushion that can be attached to any chair with straps. It’s designed to fill the gap between your lower back and the chair, providing extra support. You lean back into the mesh and it moulds around the curvature of your back.
VERDICT: ‘This is a simple, but effective, way to convert one of your existing chairs to give you more support to the lower back (lumbar region),’ says Richmond Stace. ‘This is important, as this will promote a better sitting position with an S-shaped curve of the spine.
‘However, it shouldn’t mean you can sit for longer; you still have to make the effort to get up and move around every 15 minutes.’ 6/10
Okamura Portone chair, £499, back2.com
FOR A BETTER POSTURE
Okamura Portone chair, £499, back2.com
CLAIM: This ‘ergonomic’ office chair has a foam cushion seat and reclining back that flexes with the motion of your body.
The seat depth, head rest and height are adjustable to provide support and reinforce a healthy posture.
VERDICT: ‘The sturdy back rest will support your back if you sit upright with your back against it,’ says Richmond Stace. ‘But, as with any chair, there’s nothing to stop you slumping forwards.
‘The adjustable seat depth and height and reclining back as well as the fact it has wheels can help you keep active on it. But it doesn’t have a lot of padding so I wouldn’t want to sit in it for too long. The term “ergonomic” — doesn’t mean much.’ 5/10
Okamura Portone chair, £499, back2.com
Gaim balance ball chair, £75.75, athleteshop.co.uk
CLAIM: This chair promotes ‘active sitting’, where you are encouraged to move and engage muscles in your abdomen and trunk while sitting. You sit on a gym ball that’s on a stand with a back rest.
‘By sitting on the ball, you’ll improve your posture and spinal alignment while getting a powerful core-strengthening workout,’ the manufacturer says.
VERDICT: ‘Sitting on a ball requires you to be upright and encourages you to switch on all the “sitting muscles”, such as abdominal muscles and those in the buttocks, in order to balance,’ says Sammy Margo.
‘Using these muscles helps to strengthen them, which in turn can protect the lower back and improve your posture.
‘It would be too tiring to sit on a gym ball all day, though, which is why I like this chair.
‘You can remove the ball from the stand and use it periodically for ten to 20 minutes and then place it back into the stand and sit up against the back rest for when you need more support.’ 9/10
Varier kneeling chair, £265, backinaction.co.uk
Varier kneeling chair, £265, backinaction.co.uk
CLAIM: This is a stool on rockers. You sit on the forward-sloping seat, and bend one or both of your knees to place the lower legs on the shin pads to vary your position, and find the ideal balance point. The rocking motion means you tilt your pelvis forwards in order to balance, which is said to encourage an upright posture and straighten the spine.
VERDICT: ‘These stools are worth a try, especially if you have back pain, because they encourage you to rock and take pressure off the lower back,’ says Sammy Margo.
‘However, there is no back support, which means they aren’t suitable to use for long periods. It could also exacerbate any existing knee problems.
‘Plus it is probably not strong enough to bear the pressure of very heavy weight.’ 4/10
Lightweight aluminium transit wheelchair, £199, betterlife healthcare.com
THE TRAVEL-FRIENDLY WHEELCHAIR
Lightweight aluminium transit wheelchair, £199, betterlife healthcare.com
CLAIM: This wheelchair weighs just 8.3kg (18lb) and is suitable for people weighing up to 18st. It has an adjustable back and rear wheels, flip-up arm rests and removable footrests.
EXPERT COMMENT: ‘This is a very light wheelchair which can be practical at the same time as comfortable,’ says Sammy Margo. ‘It would be great for short sitting periods, but you might want a more bespoke chair if you have to sit for long periods. Its main advantage is that it is easy to load and unload in the car for trips out.’ 7/10