Is Lumbar Support Supposed To Hurt? (Explained)

Is the lumbar support of your office/gaming chair hurting your back? It might be time to adjust it!

The lumbar support on a chair is designed to provide lower back support and improve your posture while sitting. However, if the lumbar support is not properly adjusted, it can actually cause pain in your lower back.

The answer is no! If your lumbar support is causing pain, it is likely that it is not properly adjusted. If the lumbar support is too high or too low, it can put pressure on your spine and cause pain.

First, sit in your chair and place your hand on your lower back to adjust your lumbar support. Then, adjust the lumbar support until you feel a comfortable, supportive fit.

If you are still experiencing pain, you may need to consult a healthcare professional to ensure that the lumbar support does not aggravate a pre-existing condition.

In this article we will explain why your lumbar support might be hurting your back and how you can adjust it for a more comfortable fit.

Table of Contents

Why Does Using Lumbar Support Hurt My Back? (explain with points)

There are quite a few reasons why lumbar support might hurt your back. In this section, we’ll discuss some of the more common reasons.

1. You Might Be Using the Lumbar Support Incorrectly

One of the reasons why lumbar support might hurt your back is that you might be using it incorrectly.

Many people don’t realize that there is a right and wrong way to use lumbar support.

Most people don’t customize the support as per their needs, which puts pressure on the lower or upper spine, causing pain while sitting for long hours.

2. Your Lumbar Support Might Be Too Prominent

Another reason why using lumbar support might hurt your back is because your lumbar support might be too hard. If it’s too hard, it can put more pressure on your spine, which can lead to pain.

3. You Might Have an Underlying Condition

If you have an underlying condition, such as a herniated disc, then using lumbar support might actually make your condition worse.

This is because the lumbar support can put more pressure on the already damaged disc, leading to more pain.

If you have an underlying condition, it’s important to speak to your doctor before using lumbar support.

4. You Might Be Sitting in an Incorrect Position

If you are sitting too high or too low, the lumbar support might not offer you the best support for your lower spine.

In fact, it might actually make your pain worse. This is because you’re not giving your spine the support that it needs.

5. Maybe Your Lumbar Support of More or Less Prominent

Having more or less prominent lumbar support can cause issues on your lower back.

Some people love more prominent lumbar support while others love less prominent lumbar support depending on the natural curve of their lower spine.

According to your body type and lower back spine shape, you need to check your chair’s lower back support before buying it.

Or at least check if the chair has proper customizable lumbar support that can be customized as per your needs.

How do I know if my lumbar support is correct?

Your lumbar support should be positioned on your lower back on lumbar vertebrae(L1 – L5), and it should feel naturally comfortable.

You should not have to adjust your support frequently, and it should not cause you pain. It has to fit your body size and the type of chair you are using.

You’ll have to adjust your lumbar support when you first get it, and as your spine changes shape throughout the day.

The goal is to maintain the natural curve of your spine, so that your muscles and ligaments can support it properly.

If your lumbar support is too high, it will push your spine out of its natural position and cause pain. If it’s too low, it won’t support your spine properly and can cause strain.

Does It Take Time To Adjust Lumbar Support?

It may take a few days or even weeks to get used to lumbar support. This is because your spine is not used to being in its natural position.

Depending on the type of chair you have and the lumbar support system it provides, it might take a few days to week to properly get used the lumbar support.

Your muscles and ligaments need time to adjust and support your spine properly. It’s important to be patient and give your body time to adjust.

If you find that your lumbar support is uncomfortable, try adjusting it slightly. If it’s still uncomfortable, try a different type of support or speak to your doctor.

Where should lumbar support be on your back?

Lumbar support should be placed in your lower back (lumbar vertebrae L1 – L5). It should be level with your hips.

If you have a lumbar support pillow, you can place it behind your back when you’re sitting. If you’re using a lumbar support cushion, you can place it on your seat.

If you’re using a lumbar support belt, you should wear it around your waist.

How Much Lumbar Support Do I Need?

The amount of lumbar support you need will depend on your individual needs. Some people may only need a small amount of support, while others may need more prominent lumbar support.

Easy way to tell how much lumbar support you need is to go to a chair store, try a few chairs, and then customize the lumbar support to see which one feels most comfortable.

Now, depending on your lower back curvature, lumbar support might vary.

If you’re not sure how much support you need, speak to your doctor or physiotherapist. They will be able to assess your needs and recommend the best type of support for you.

Final Thoughts

In this article about whether lumbar support is supposed to hurt or not, we talked about how there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Depending on the lower back’s natural curve, different people require different types of lumbar support.

If you’re experiencing pain while using lumbar support, it’s important to consult with a doctor or physical therapist to ensure that you’re using it correctly and that it’s the right type of support for you.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us.