Do I need a back support?
The lower back has a number of muscles which assist with the flexibility of your body, and provide core strength. A lower back strain is one of the most common reasons for absences in the work places in the 21st century. This is possibly due to the number of desk-bound jobs we now do.

The lumbar region of the human spine carries the greatest percentage of the body weight. This, combines with the flexibility that is is also required to provide, makes it very susceptible to injury, and general degradation over time.

People who work at a desk, in the home office or at BigCo, generally should have an ergonomically designed chair to help reduce the pressure on the discs in the lumbar area of the spine. The best position to reduce pressure on this area is to be standing upright, shoulders back. However, this is obviously not a great position in which to work. To take better care of your back, it's important that a lumbar support pillow is used whenever you are seated for long periods of time.

Here are our current suggestions for lumbar supports.

The Lumbar Mate
This support is very easy to adjust and gives your an adjustable amount of support in whatever situation you require. The cushion can be adjusted by simply turning the knob which is built into the side. The LumbarMate comes with an adjustable strap which will attach to your office chair or car seat should you so wish.

It can be taken with you as it is compact and light. It relieves lower back pressure.

Back Huggar

This adjustable and very economical lower back support cushion is available in 'Memory Foam'. It's marketed as a home-health care product, and it can be modified by the insertion of a plastic bevel which allows you to vary the amount of support. It feature a spinal support column which provides very comfortable support to the lower back.

It too assists in the relief of pain in the lower back. It comes with adjustable straps which hold it in position on the back of your office chair. The cover is corduroy, and can be unzipped for easy maintainance and cleaning.

The McKenzie Original SlimLine Lumbar Roll

If your seat already has some degree of lumbar support built-in (quite common in modern office furniture), but you find it is not quite enough for your personal needs, this may be the answer. The strap is adjustable so should fit a variety of chairs and car seats. Its PolarFleece covering is resiliant, and is easily removed for washing.