Best 8 Office Chairs For Degenerative Disc Disease That Reduce Back Pain

Finding the best office chair to prevent and alleviate back pain can be really difficult. There are so many models on the market and brands claiming their chair is the best for your issue.

Sitting for too long in one position and sitting with bad body posture causes compression on the discs in your spine.

After extensive research and reading, we made this comprehensive guide with all info you need to know. Plus, we’ve reviewed the top 8 chairs for degenerative disc disease.

Our Top Picks

Introduction To Office Chairs That Supports Your Back

When choosing the best office chair designed for your issue, there are some factors you need to take into account. In this section, we’ve explained everything – how this disease affects you and which features you should look for to find the office chair that will meet your needs.

How Does This Disease Affect You?

Degenerative disc disease typically occurs at an older age, but it is strongly influenced by the way you have been sitting your entire life. Sitting for too long with bad body posture causes compression on your disc and this leads to premature degeneration. It causes neck and back pain, weakness and numbness.

Who Should Use This Chair?

Of course, this chair is designed for people who struggle with neck and back pain, numbness, weakness or sharp pain in the user’s legs and arms. Unfortunately, many people have this disease, especially those who work for 8+ hours per day. Degenerative disc disease is a normal part of aging, but bad posture increases the risk of having it.

Can You Use It If Don’t Have That Disease?

This is a very good question. Seated desk jobs are a modern invention and human bodies aren’t designed for sitting but moving. Sitting puts a lot of pressure on your pelvic bones, so if you need to sit for 8 hours or longer, you should use this kind of chair to prevent disease and keep your body healthy.

How Does It Differ From Other Chairs On The Market?

Office chairs for degenerative disc disease allow you to adjust nearly every component of them which is not the case with all other chairs. Quality ergonomics is a top priority for this chair. Meaning, this chair should support your back perfectly, whether with its shape or multi-adjustment features. For example, recliners are famous for back pain relief because they allow you to sit back and relax the muscles in your back.

Types Of Office Chairs Suitable For Degenerative Disc Disease

There is, of course, a standard office chair with armrests and a set of casters that works for many people. If you want to try something a bit different than this chair type, there are a few models available. Try reclining office chair, exercise ball, ergonomic stool or kneeling chair. Try out different options and choose the model that suits you best.

Stool Or Chair?

There is no right answer to this question because we are all different. But stool has some benefits – the higher seating position from a stool allows the things to slope downwards, keeping your pelvis and lumbar in a neutral position, so the spine achieves its natural “S” curve.

How Can That Chair Help You?

A good office chair for degenerative disc disease will mimic your spine taking the pressure off of your spine, arms and legs. Here are the main benefits on your health this office chair type provides you with:

• promotes better body posture,
• prevents slouching,
• aligns your hips and pelvis,
• prevents neck pain.

To conclude, it boosts your productivity level since you won’t be focused on back pain but on your tasks.

Choosing The Perfect Office Chair For Degenerative Disc Disease

Adjustability allows you to customize your office chair to fit your needs. A good office chair should have a wide array of adjustments, including back support, seat height, seat depth, backrest tilt adjustment, headrest height and angle, etc. It should be stable, sturdy and support your weight.

Chair Build Quality

One of the biggest differences between expensive and cheap office chairs is their build quality. Some premium chair models even come with a 12-year warranty. When buying a chair for the best back support, look for aluminum and steel components and avoid plastic or nylon bases. Another thing is upholstery – premium models use multi-layered fabric materials, like 3-layer mesh. Plus, memory foam lasts for a long time and gives great support.

Back Support

Proper back support is essential. A chair designed for adequate back support should have an S-shaped backrest and follows the natural shape of your body. Some premium models use advanced technology that responds to micromovements in your body and provides equal support. You should be able to adjust the chair’s angle and tilt.

Seat Comfort

A good seat should be supportive, pressure-relieving and comfortable. Seats with thick and high-density foam cushions will alleviate and prevent degenerative disc disease. There are seats with a W-shape that fits and supports the shape of your buttock. Be careful, too little cushion cause back pain, while too much cushion puts too much pressure on your hamstrings.

Straight Back Vs Reclining Office Chair

The angle of the backrest is critical when it comes to back pain relief. Many studies research this issue, so, according to some research, the ideal sitting angle to minimize disc pressure is at 135-degree. The office chairs with a large tilting or recline angle are the best for degenerative disc disease pain.

Supported Weight Capacity

Most standard office chairs support a person’s weight of up to 250 pounds. So, if you weigh above 250 pounds, check the chair’s weight capacity. Office chairs that are specially built for heavy people have heavy-duty bases and wide dimensions.

Avoid These Office Chair Types

The worst office chair is the one that doesn’t support your back properly. For example, gaming chairs only have basic adjustment features and usually lack some of the more advanced features which you can find in a good ergonomic office chair. Any office chair with a hard surface and fixed backrest are bad for your disease.

Best 8 Office Chairs For Degenerative Disc Disease

All the products listed down below are high-quality, reliable and meet industry standards. They support you and give you the right amount of comfort your back needs. Here we will take a closer look at the ones that provide the best lumbar support.

Herman Miller Aeron Chair

This is one of the most popular ergonomic office chairs for back support. Herman Miller Aeron The chair dimensions are 41” in height, 27” in width and 16.7” in depth. The seat height can be adjusted from 16” to 20.5”. Aeron features patented pellicle upholstery, it’s an elastomeric weave that stretches across the backrest and seat.

The mesh is soft enough to ensure full-body support. That mesh will keep you cool and sweat-free during long or hot working days. Aeron features unique PostureFitSL which contains two adjustable lumbar pads that support your lower back adequately. Adjust the pads to your spine shape.

Aeron has an interesting feature that allows forward tilt seat position. Ideal for people who like to sit forward. The tilt limiter lets you set the recline range at one of three postures. Except the fully adjustable arms, you can easily set seat angle. This model is backed by a 12-year warranty, it’s reliable and durable.

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Steelcase Gesture Office Chair

The Steelcase Gesture is a premium office chair featuring excellent build quality, adjustability and comfort. It supports a wide range of technologies and posture, mimicking the natural spine movement. That makes this chair suitable for various body types and sizes. Choose between many color options.

The overall chair height is adjustable from 39” to 44”, also, you can adapt seat depth and seat height, fully adjustable arms, recline tension adjustment. The contoured backrest will align with your spine and reduce back pain. The 3D LiveBack technology adapts to every back movement.

Also, there is a manually adjustable tilt mechanism allowing you to adjust recline level. The seat is equipped with foam padding, it boasts soft edges for prolonged sitting. This ergonomic office chair comes with a 12-year warranty, which proves its quality.

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Dragonn Kneeling Office Chair

Vivo made this Dragonn kneeling chair which looks very attractive and a bit unusual. This chair will keep your spine aligned by distributing your weight evenly throughout your legs and buttock. Dragonn supports a maximum weight of up to 250 pounds. It’s available in three colors – black, white and grey.

Adjust the seat height from 21” to 31”and find the most comfortable position while working. The cushion dimensions are 16” x 12” and the knee rest has 17.6” x 10”. This kneeling chair is equipped with four smooth casters. Two front casters are lockable, this prevents unwanted movement.

This chair is very good for degenerative disc disease, it supports your back and keeps your spine in a natural position. A forward-tilting seat relieves back and buttock pressure. A mesh 3-inch cushioned seat offers great support, it isn’t too soft. Its strong metal base ensures durability. Dragonn is suitable for both short and tall people.

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Aeris Swopper Ergonomic Chair

This chair is a bit different than others on this list. The idea behind the Swopper chair is simple – it encourages constant movement as you sit. So the designers combined the best features of a regular office chair with an exercise ball chair. Swopper is a practical, durable and highly functional office chair.

A sturdy base comes with strong springs to initiate movement. You should sit right above the springs to achieve the most effective position. Your pelvis should be slightly above your knees while your feet are placed flat on the ground. The height is easily adjustable from 22” to 27.5”.

Its unique technology supports dynamic sitting and reduces back and hip tension. Swopper features 2.3” high-density foam, which feels quite firm. Because it isn’t a standard office chair, you’ll definitely need some time to get adjusted to it. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

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Hbada Ergonomic Recliner Chair

This chair is designed to offer great support as well as comfort. Hbada is an ergonomic reclining office chair equipped with comfortable lumbar support, seat cushion, adjustable headrest and footrest. It is available in black and white colors and its price is affordable.

Breathable mesh back promotes air circulation makes your back sweat-free and allows you to sit comfortably for many hours. It is possible to adjust the headrest height and angle, back height and depth, armrest height and distance from seat, seat height, backrest tilt and tilt tension.

Hbada features a thick cushioned seat with 3.9” of high-density foam padding. The kinematic tilt mechanism allows you to adjust and lock the backrest between 90 and 150 degrees. In case you want to rest your feet, there is a pull-out padded footrest. Adjustable lumbar support allows you to align its height to your lower spine.

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Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair

Ticova is an ergonomic chair with an array of adjustable features. Plus it is very affordable when compared to most office chairs. The chair height can be adjusted from 41.7” to 52”. The seat height can be adjusted from16.5” to 21.3” which works for the majority of people.

It is equipped with a big curved foam headrest that provides more comfort and support to your head and neck. The breathable mesh backrest with strong tensile strength allows air circulation. It’s easy to adjust lumbar and backrest height, recline angle up to 130 degrees and rocking resilience.

Ticova features stainless electroplating 3D armrest with thicker PU padding. The armrest height and angle are adjustable enabling you the most comfortable position. The seat cushion is equipped with 3-inch high-density foam and it has a waterfall seat edge design. That design alleviates the pressure on your back and hips.

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La-Z Boy Delano Office Chair

If you looking for an ergonomic office chair that’s also aesthetically pleasing, you should consider the La-Z Boy Delano office chair. Choose between two colors – black and brown. The chair’s height range goes from 45” to 48” and the seat height can be adjusted from 21” to 35”, making this chair suitable for tall people.

Its sturdy components surpass strict BIFMA standards for quality and safety. La-Z Boy Delano features patented ComfortCore and memory foam padding technology. There are additional layers of padding on the headrest and lumbar area – areas where your body is prone to pain.

This elegant chair is designed with a waterfall seat edge to enhance leg circulation and eliminate muscles stiffness. La-Z Boy Delano can support up to 350 pounds of weight. Ideal for heavy people. This is a quite durable and heavy-duty office chair backed by a 10-year manufacturer warranty.

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Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair

Duramont ergonomic office chair offers the best values in terms of price vs performance. It features excellent build quality, adjustability and comfort. When it comes to degenerative disc disease, it’s important to have good support for the lower back. Duramont has a built-in internal lumbar part, so use a two-way knob and adjust its height and depth.

Its mesh fabric padded headrest can be adjusted by height and angle. Duramont features a thick and high-density molded foam cushion with a  W-shaped design. It helps you distribute your weight evenly and relieve tension. Duramont comes with a maximum tilt angle of 120 degrees.

Also, armrests are fully adjustable. This office chair allows you to easily find the most comfortable body position. It is made from high-quality materials allowing it to support a weight of up to 330 pounds. Simple instructions enable anyone to assemble this chair quickly. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

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How To Adjust Office Chair To Fit You Correctly?

Let’s start, first, change your seat height, your feet should be flat on the ground with your legs bent at 90-degree. Then the lumbar support should sit at your lower back and the armrest should sit at elbow height. If the chair has a headrest, it shouldn’t force your head forward or downward.

Few Helpful Tips For Better Body Posture

A good ergonomic office chair can’t solve all your problems, so there are a few tips you can do while working. Incorporate them in your day and include some back exercise when you get home. Consult with your doc about your condition and suitable exercise.

1. Don’t sit in the same position for too long
2. Take a break from your tasks and stretch
3. Keep your shoulders back
4. Place the monitor directly in front of you (about an arm’s length away)
5. Your spine should be aligned
6. Don’t cross your legs