Not having proper back support and working for hours sitting in a not-so-comfortable chair. This is a very common scenario for office working people.
No matter how young or old are you, the negative impacts of sitting for this long hour in an uncomfortable position are not a very good thing. And definitely not something you should ignore. Because in a long run, this is one of the many reasons why people become older before their age.
And also, the cause of several posture-related diseases. However, lumbar support can help you fight back such poor posture results. And fortunately, these are pretty available nowadays. Before getting one, you might want to know how does lumbar support work and more information about it. That’s exactly why I’m writing this piece today…
Let’s Know How Does Lumbar Support Work, Its Effectiveness & Various Ways to Use
Fun fact! Your lumbosacral discs load three times more in a seating position comparing to when you’re standing. A study done by UCLA school of Public Health agrees that low back injuries are less probable to those who use back support devices.
So, no doubt, these lumbar support cushion, belts, and other types are sold out quite easily in a generation where whether you work or not, this seating position is what most are found in.
From how whole lumbar support works, its effectiveness to an appropriate type for office working people who seat in the chair, I’ll be blabbering a lot today. Bear with me till the end, I promise you won’t regret it!
What Is Lumbar Support & How It Exactly Works?
Remember those days when backache was a thing only meant for elderly people? Or mostly those who had to work physically throughout their whole life. However, today as we sit a lot, our muscles that should be strong through physical movement become extremely weak, unable to carry our weight and keeping us erect.
At some point, such musculature diminishing results in the poor back that cannot anymore support weight. And this leads to harming discs and even postural defect suffering slipped discs.
How do you fix that? Well, doing the opposite of what you just did to get into such a state. And that is getting your body back to physical activities. However, though we are super busy with work, family, and lots of other stuff, things are not that simple anymore.
That’s when lumbar support enters the chat. Without much physical exercise, you can include a lumbar support belt, cushion, or pillow and this will gradually improve your back issues. It’s basically a way to get your spine some support.
You wear it almost every day, work on your posture for a couple of hours and save time from special exercise. And eventually, this will help in getting rid of the pain as well as strengthening your back. The support basically holds your back’s lower region. And that’s the area where all postural issues and pains start from.
Lumbar Support Belt, One of The Most Popular Type
As an example of lumbar support, let’s talk about the most common type which is a belt form. Now there are also lumbar support pillows that are popular these days. What does a lumbar support pillow do?
Well, it basically is a very portable and light thing to carry around. Made of material foam, this thing works on relieving any pressure from your spine giving it slight support. Those who suffer from musculoskeletal conditions can get help by using it.
However, belts are still better as they don’t only provide comfort but also work for posture improvement. Now, this thing sits right on your lumber area, which is near your spine. And this helps to transfer weight to the belt as well as muscles from your spine. Eventually, you feel ease at in your spine area.
How Does Lumbar Support Belt Work? Gradually, the belt will build up your musculature. And at some point, your back will be again robust enough to hold a healthy posture. As a result, your posture will get back to being correct, and also there will be less damage.
Research on the effectiveness of support belts on trunk muscle function done by Christoph Anders and Agnes Hubner, shows pain level reduction as well as functional impairment enhancement in patients who suffer from acute low back pain.
Most support belts come with guides that have comprehensive detail on using them. You’ll find information about where exactly to put them for enhancing support in the best way. However, here’s a short idea of how you should be using this thing.
Put the belt right above where your lumbar vertebrae are. That way you let the belt work on weakest area. It’s probably the most vulnerable area for someone suffering from back-related issues.
Sometimes you may feel the belt is kind of forcing to keep an erect position. That’s what it does to bring your posture back to its correct form. However, if it feels too uncomfortable, adjust a bit, that should work. Also, you might just have tightened it too much. That’s not the way to go for. Keep it snug, just enough tight to work with your back.
The strong material of the lumbar support belt will be enough to hold you back for a long time. The major disburden in your spine slowly, but surely starts going away. As a result, your body gets to enjoy a healthy posture once again. Things becomes less difficult to work with for your backbone. And also carrying your weight becomes easier for the body due to better musculature.
Another Great Option Is Lumbar Support Cushion
From giving your pelvis, shoulders, and ears a proper alignment to playing a magnificent role in improving the lower spine’s typical inward curve shape, there’re bunch of posture-related benefits to this lumbar support type. I’m talking about the cushion variety that is also extremely simple to utilize as it’s portable enough to carry anywhere. From the office to even your car rides, you can literally use it all time.
Some believe there’s no need to get a separately bought cushion for lumbar support as rolled-up towels can do the chore. But apparently, towels cannot provide the actual bend-like shape plus the support necessary to actually support your lumbers. So, a specifically made cushion is going to be a worthy investment if you are suffering from poor posture, back-related issues, or anything similar to this.
Knowing how does lumbar support cushion works can also help you to grab idea on what will be most favorable ways of using it for better results. As this extremely popular type does need your mindfulness. The best tip regarding this is ensuring a vertical placement. And it should be done right across the office chair’s or your car seat’s back part. This way it will flush exactly against your back’s lower area. The key point is to maintain an aligning hip, shoulder, and ear position. And this will work to keep your spine’s natural curvature maintained.
Making the Most Out of Lumbar Support for Chair
Being tied to the office chair is equal to bringing harm to your back. You should know it by now. However, once you get the lumbar support belt or cushion, this fear starts going away slowly. But then again, just including the support mechanism won’t be effective if you fail to adapt some really simple but useful things into your lifestyle. Basically, these are the things you must do to make the most out of using a lumbar support belt or cushion.
First of all, make sure your office chair has some elbow support. You need to sidestep strain disturbing your neck. And that can be only possible once your elbow is comfortably on a support at a suitable angle.
You also need to pay attention to your knee. It should be bent at a certain angle for supporting your posture. The office chair that comes with a footrest is your best bet in such care. This basically lets your feet to elevate while you’re in a seating position.
When you are sitting in an office chair working on computer, your eyes should be looking straight ahead. This means you won’t be bending your neck up-down. It should be straight and let your back spine not suffer from discomfort.
Visual Explanation: How does a Lumbar Support Cushion can Help your Spine Health
Wrap Up
Well, we are done with understanding how does lumbar support work and more than that basically. Of course, the whole thing is still not completely explained. But let’s keep those for some other day and cut it a bit short.
Hopefully, you have a somewhat good idea about lumbar support’s effectiveness and the usage of belts for it. If you’re willing to invest in one, make sure to do enough research on picking something worth your time and money. Good Luck & Good Bye!
