Best ergonomic chair for back pain 2021

With lockdown after lockdown, it’s safe to say almost everyone has tried a variety of ways to make DIY desk setup work for Malaysians. And those setups may have worked for the initial 1-2 months, but as time goes on, you may have begun to feel that it’s not quite working, and that your lower back is in such pain that you don’t even feel like standing up today,

DIY Work from home setup, courtesy of NY Times

Even if you reason that you just have to ‘tough’ it out for a bit longer as you’ll be returning to your office very soon, the average Malaysians still spends a large amount of time at their desks even off work. “A combination of improper equipment and improper posture can cause serious harm to the body,” explains Dc Andre Abader of Kiropraktis Chiropractic Center at Bangsar South. He advocates that it’s time for people to seriously re-examine their home work offices to be functionally ergonomic and comfortable to work in, or risk long term health issues such as slipped disc.

And anyone in the market for an ergonomic chair for back pain has probably encountered dozens of Facebook/Instagram/Google Ads with posters throwing out images of the spines in hopes to promote their ability to relieve back pain. The truth is, everyone’s body is different, and that the back pain that each individual feels could have completely different reasons. Studies (link) show that trying the chair will be the ultimate deciding factor and long term comfort. Below, a variety of ergonomic office chairs that Dc Andre, and several other doctors and physiotherapist says will help you sit ergonomically and in comfort, while minimizing damage and back pain (and other pains) felt by the body.

Duorest Alpha Chair

Duorest Alpha Ergonomic Office Chair by Duorest

The Duorest Chair Alpha is our undisputed chair for people with lower back pains, slipped disc, scoliosis, and spinal nerve damage. This is the best ergonomic chair for back pains, as we have seen the faces of countless customers instantly light up and relax as they first experience the chair, deciding there and then they would buy the chair.

Designed in Germany and manufactured in South Korea, this Alpha chair’s unique back care support ensures that your lower back is braced into an ergonomic posture, providing a sensation our customers describe as a hugging feeling. The two pieces create a stress free zone for the spine, while providing the flexibility to shift with you to create a holistic dynamic seating experience.

Pros	Cons
The best chair when it comes to leaning backwards, as the neckrest and backrest will create almost a bedlike feeling. Good for resting in.	The backrest can feel warm for certain body types despite the airflow space
Unique backrest mechanism by having two separate backrest pieces wrap around the back, leaving space in the middle for the spine. Good for customers with medical conditions relating to the back.	Can be a bit on the smaller side, as the backrest is not height adjustable.
Good build quality, from urethane castors to moulded polycarbonate, meant to be extremely durable	The latex holding the backrest of the chair does need to be replaced on average every 6-8 years.

Comfpro Truly Chair

Truly Ergonomic Office Chair by Comfpro

The Truly chair is a chair that has a larger focus on people wanting a strong lumbar support with its Trufit™ Backrest technology, something that really encourages the natural curve of the spine, akin to having a hand gently press against your lower back. The chair sells incredibly well in the US and Taiwan, going on to spawn many variants since then.

Apart from relieving back pain, the chair was designed with comfort in mind with its sponge and breathable back care. The chair’s incredibly thick high resilience foam, ensuring that it will last despite every day usage, and not compress, while the backrest is made from a polyblend of material that contours to any individual’s body shape and cooling for the Malaysian weather.

Pros	Cons
The most adjustable ergonomic chair on the market, with every component designed to fit anybody.	Lack of brighter colors
Unique backrest material (Trufit™ Polyback), a soft yet flexible durable plastic backrest that contours to the body to provide constant dynamic seating to the user. Comes with a lifetime warranty.	The chair does look overly boardroom like, with customers disliking the look.
Seat frame has a netting over the foam to ventilate easily despite not being mesh.	Concerns that heavier people will not be able to sit in this chair, as it has a weight load of 120kg.

Krede K10

K10 Ergonomic office chair by Krede

The Krede K10 from South Korea is a chair more suited for people who prefer a softer feeling, such as seniors with arthritis and osteoporosis. The back care is made with soft mesh, weaving in more fabric as opposed to traditional chairs, giving the user the feeling of laying against a hammock with even more breathability.

The chair also boasts a new synchro-tilt mechanism, giving the user a more comfortable feeling when reclining and adjustment settings that can be freely adjusted accordingly. Great if you enjoy rocking in your chair.

Pros	Cons
A very stylish chair that can fit any room, with a striking white frame	The white base does need some cleaning from time to time, but the black base doesn't have that issue.
A very soft feeling on the backrest, almost like sitting against a hammock.	Some have described it as being too soft, and not providing enough support for the back
A unique build that has all the pieces feel natural as it moves, satisfying armrest sizes and reclining. Good HR foam thickness on the cushion that doesn’t cause soreness.	The chair does not rise up very far, and is unsuitable for people of tall bodies.

Duorest Lady Chair

Duorest Lady Ergonomic Office Chair by Duorest

A second addition of the Duorest to this list, in due part that the Alpha and the Lady has distinct differences. The Duorest Lady is generally meant for people who have a smaller frame, mainly women and children. The difference in proportions have made the Lady chair popular among women, despite having tried the Alpha chair as well.

The principle design is still the same with the spinal stress free zone, dynamic seating capabilities, and bracing technology. We have had many customers who have purchased this chair for themselves due to their size, or for their kids with scoliosis, and requires a chair that will help brace them.

Pros	Cons
Purpose built for people with smaller frame, resulting in a firmer back support	The backrest can feel warm for certain body types despite the airflow space
Unique backrest mechanism by having two separate backrest pieces wrap around the back, leaving space in the middle for the spine. Good for customers with medical conditions relating to the back.	Can be a bit on the smaller side, as the backrest is not height adjustable.
Good build quality, from urethane castors to moulded polycarbonate, meant to be extremely durable	The latex holding the backrest of the chair does need to be replaced on average every 6-8 years.

How to resolve back pain issues?

So how does an ergonomic office chair help reduce the risk of pain in the back, and other areas? Ultimately the way how the ergonomic office chair is shaped is designed to reduce pressure on the back ad hips, as well as providing/encouraging micro-movements (known as dynamic seating medically), letting you lean back and rock the chair comfortably, while providing a firm cushion base for your hips.

All this leads ultimately to a better posture and comfort. Look at the pressure chart Miller above to see the difference between chairs with lumbar support but with poor posture, lumbar support and good posture, and non-ergonomic chair with good posture. (You can read about the full research article here)

Left: Sitting in an upright position in a chair with lumbar support shows bands of pressure
where the lower back comes in contact with the lumbar support.
Middle: Sitting in an upright position in a chair with postural support distributes pressure
across the sacral-pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic areas.
Right: Sitting in an upright position in a chair without postural support limits the distribution
of pressure across the sacral-pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic areas.

Alternatively, you can always apply Tiger Balm neck and back pain reliever, or by alternating between ice and hot packs on the sore muscles. But key to true lasting prevention of back pain is in choosing the right ergonomic chair for yourself, and constant discipline in strengthening your muscles and flexibility, says Dc Andre Abader.

Conclusion

To conclude, the best ergonomic chair for back pain would rely on your own feeling during your trials of the chair. Focus your attention on how your back, shoulders, thighs feel, and try sitting in them for at least 5-10 minutes before making a decision in choosing the ergonomic chair that fits you specifically and provides you with the support you need.

Also Dc Andre Abader recommends whenever possible, to try and move around in your chair, stretch, take a walk around the pantry every 2 hours, try jogging before and after work. You can check out our catalog here, send us an email at enquiry@ergoland.com.my, or give us a call and chat with us on Facebook to see what suits you the best!