Over 80% of the population suffers with low back pain resulting from many traumas, daily activities, poor ergonomics, and other causes. Many people sit all day whether it be at a desk job, driving around or at a desk at home in front of a computer. This is a major risk factor contributing to low back pain and something as little as lumbar support pillow can prevent problems.
Almost 90% of workers that are sitting all day experience back pain. This is due to the body being in improper postures that cause continuous strain to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Being away from neutral posture will also cause the joints to misalign and additional stress on the discs. If you are sitting in a chair with little to no support, the normal lumbar curve flattens increasing strain. Using a lumbar support pillow helps maintain the natural lumbar curve.
More chairs are being made ergonomically correct to provide lumbar support. If your work chair or car seat do not have lumbar support devices to help provide proper posture in your seat, healthcare providers like chiropractors usually recommend or sell them to patients. Research is showing these pillows not only improve the posture but help people improve comfort and decrease pain.
A recent study of 28 men with and without pain showed the effectiveness of a lumbar support pillow on people who were already suffering with pain. Those in the study sat in a chair for 30 minute intervals in a standard chair with or without a lumbar pillow. The lumbar and thoracic-lumbar postures were measured as well as the comfort level of the men.
It was found that the lumbar pillow helped decrease the lumbar flattening while increasing the thoracic-lumbar curse. This brings the spine to a more neutral posture while sitting. The patient’s objective comfort levels showed improvement.
Due to the small sample size of the study and only doing measurements after 30 minutes of sitting it is concluded that further research should be done on the long term benefits of using a lumbar support pillow. You can read the full study: click here
Dr. Russell Brokstein, Freehold NJ chiropractor, finds it important to adjust the areas of the spine associated with the pain people experience from extensive sitting at work and in their cars. These postures cause the spine to misalign. Chiropractic removes the pressure that causes the pain. Then by recommending a lumbar support pillow we can help maintain the natural curves of the spine. A lumbar support pillow assists chiropractic in back pain relief and prevent future work-related pain.