5 Ergonomic Chairs that Provide Back Support for Office Chair (Singapore) 

Breathe a sigh of relief — you’ve finally found the solution to your back pains: this guide. 

By now, you most probably know that your office chair (or lack thereof) is somehow causing you persistent backaches.

It’s not comfortable, it lacks firm lumbar support, and you can’t sit in it for long periods without feeling like your back got trampled on, right? 

To make sure that this is a problem of the past, we’ll let you in on why exactly you get upper and lower back pains, and which office chairs can help you prevent that with proper lumbar support.

Say goodbye to your back pain, poor posture, and — you may not realise this — lowered productivity! 

Why exactly is your chair causing you back pain?

First off, I’m no expert on the human body. I can’t tell you how ergonomics affects your aching back.

But you know who can?

Georgina Hannigan — a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (CEAS III) with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy and Masters of Science (MSc) in Hand Therapy!

Why do I say that she’s the real deal?

Because she’s also the founder of Fit for Work, a team of globallyrecognised Ergonomists that optimise workplace set-ups for both large corporations and individuals like you and me.

So, what’s her professional take on the number one cause for back pain?  

It’s sitting with poor posture for long hours.

To illustrate why, Georgina gave us this little exercise to try:

Bend your head forward and look down at the floor for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

You’ll notice that your head gradually begins to feel heavy. You may even find it painful to maintain that position!

This is because when a muscle is engaged and placed under strain for an extended period of time — in this case, your neck muscles are stretched and straining to fight against gravity — it gets fatigued and results in pain.

If your posture is good, the bones of the spine — the vertebrae — are correctly aligned. 
​Source:  Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School 

Similarly, sitting with bad posture and misaligned joints means that your muscles work extra hard just to keep you in place. Over time, the muscles tire and break down, which then leads to the pain you’re trying to relieve.

Mystery solved! 

Why it's important to take immediate action

Okay, I know a nagging pain in your back doesn’t seem like a life-threatening situation, but hear me out.

Georgina recommends taking action as soon as possible. 

That's because discomfort and pain have a much scarier impact on us than we think, and it affects us not just physically, but also psychologically and emotionally.

Can you believe that so many of us have been unknowingly sabotaging ourselves by not getting help right away?!

According to a study by UpJohn Institute, participants experienced substantially less pain and enhanced productivity when they were given ergonomic chairs that provided the necessary support for their bodies.

This is a simple cause-and-effect endorsed by Georgina:

Being more comfortable while working naturally lifts your mood, boosts morale, and reduces distractions.

In turn, all these increase your job satisfaction and work quality! 

Finding the best ergonomic office chair

So which ergonomic office chair is the best fit for you? 
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​Do you prefer plush leather or cooling mesh? Are you willing to fork out over a thousand dollars?

Regardless of your preference and budget, you'll definitely find the lumbar support you crave so desperately in your office chair here:

1. Herman Miller Aeron

Source: XTRA

A recognised name in the ergonomic furniture industry, the Herman Miller Aeron is known for being a premium ergonomic chair that has high quality at an equally high price.

Available in 3 sizes, the office chair is highly adjustable according to your spine's natural curve and movements, has a sleek ergonomic design, and can last decades.

Good for those who like to lean towards their desk, the office chair also has a unique feature that allows both the chair and user to tilt forwards, but it can give the feeling of falling from the chair — this might not be for everybody.

Unfortunately, the Herman Miller Aeron does not come with a headrest (only available as an add-on from compatible brands) and has seat depth limitations as well, which some may find unacceptable for the astronomical price that they have to fork out.

2. NeueChair

Source: Secretlab

Known for their gaming chairs, NeueChair is Secretlab’s take on ergonomic office chairs. It gets the job done with its many adjustable features, such as its backrest reclination (that can be locked in place), lumbar support, and seat pan depth.

If you’re not a fan of having to reach for the chair’s adjustment levers, you’ll appreciate this very special feature of NeueChair’s: its adjustment levers are placed under its armrests instead

!Alas, where it pales in comparison to other competitors is also its armrests, which can only be adjusted up and down and left and right to a certain extent, instead of having a wider range to suit all positions and movements.

It also doesn’t come with a headrest by default; the headrest is only available as an add-on for another $180.

3. Steelcase Gesture

Source: Steelcase

Rated as the Best Office Chair by The New York Times, the Steelcase Gesture is another high-end ergonomic office chair that belongs to the premium-priced tier. ​

​Boasting all the adjustability required to ensure a good posture regardless of your body size, what’s extra good about the Steelcase Gesture is that it comes with a flexible seat edge that bends to relieve the pressure on your thighs when you sit.

This can help improve blood circulation, making it especially helpful for users with pain that extends to their legs.

That said, the Steelcase Gesture offers a comparatively shallow degree of recline of 120-degrees and has a backrest that is unable to lock in place at a reclined angle. This means that the office chair is good purely for the office — forget about kicking back and relaxing in the Steelcase Gesture!

Again, the headrest is only available as an add-on for at least another $192, bringing the sky-high cost just a notch higher.

4. Ergohuman Classic

Source: Ergohuman

If you’re looking for a fuss-free, no-frills office chair that covers all the bases for decent ergonomics, the Ergohuman Classic is a popular choice that has been in the market for close to two decades.

It’s fitted with an automatic lumbar support and adjustable seat base, armrests, and headrest, and most importantly, comes with a synchro-tilt mechanism that allows the backrest and seat pan to be linked and adjustable with a single lever — good for those who prefer straightforward usability, not so ideal for those who prefer fine-tuning every component for utmost personalisation.

In a similar vein, its headrest is only height-adjustable, the armrests are limited to just height, depth, and angle tweaks, and while there is back reclination, there are only 4 lockable positions to choose from.

Without the headrest, it is one of the more affordable options on the list at $858! 

5. ErgoTune Supreme: An ergonomic chair at an economic price

Not satisfied with the chairs above?

Or perhaps, are you still on the lookout for a slightly more affordable office chair?

Either way, we got you covered. Cue drumrolls!

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Determined to provide an office chair that ticks all the necessary boxes yet without costing you an arm and a leg, we designed the ErgoTune Supreme chair, which is known for its impressive 11 points of adjustability and equally amazing price (it’s currently going at just $599).

Think we’re tooting our own horn, aren’t you?

Well, it’s true.

It’s only natural that we feel proud of our product. We’re confident that it can bring you the back support that you’ve been yearning for, and if we weren’t, something’s wrong!

So hear us out: 

Smart Lumbar Support

The ErgoTune Supreme helps to alleviate back pains because it has ATLAS™, the Auto Tuning Lumbar Area Support.  

As its name suggests, this lumbar support automatically shifts with your body’s movements to fit your natural spine alignment, ensuring that your lumbar is always cushioned and well-supported in proper posture. 

Limitless Adjustability

The ErgoTune’s backrest height, seat depth, and seat height can also be adjusted so that you can maintain the correct sitting posture no matter your height or body proportions, with your hips, knees, and ankles all at a 90-degree angle. 

This is important to be rid of all kinds of pains related to bad posture, including neck, shoulder, and back pains, wrist injuries, sciatica, and more.  

ErgoTune's Adjustable Backrest

You can also calibrate both the recline angle and tension with the TrueTilt™ Precision Recline Controls, and of course, the backrest is lockable, exactly the way Georgina advocates so that you will be less likely to lean forwards or slouch in your chair!

Extra Ergonomics

We did mention that there were 11 points of adjustability in our ErgoTune office chairs, so you can also expect other ergonomic designs such as adjustable arms and an adjustable headrest to ensure full support for your head and upper spinal columns.   

ErgoTune Duraweave Hybrid Mesh for breathability

Plus, the ErgoTune uses a unique, German-engineered breathable mesh known as the Duraweave Hybrid Mesh to give you comfort, durability, and breathability, which most would agree is necessary for our humid weather.

In short, here’s the ErgoTune Supreme at a glance: 

We’re not exaggerating, ErgoTune really helps

Since the launch of our ErgoTune Supreme in 2020, we’ve garnered hundreds of verified reviews from satisfied customers on our website!

We’ve also got in-depth video reviews, press reviews from publications such as TheSmartLocal, Singapore Home Decor, and MoneySmart, and badges of approval from trusted personalities such as Teresa (@teeteeheehee), Preeti Nair (@preetipls), Sneaky Sushii, and more. 

Read them on our product review page, and then some more on our ErgoTune Instagram page!  

Extra tips to feel better while working long hours

But wait!

While it’s undeniable that having an ergonomic office chair will greatly improve your back condition with the lumbar support, is more that you can do to feel and perform even better?

Apparently, yes, there is.  

Whether you’re in the office or working from your home office, Georgina suggests optimising your desk set-up, and emphasised that movement is the key to feeling your best. 

For starters, have your desk at the correct height, monitor and laptop screen at eye level, and mouse and keyboard easily within reach. This will make you feel more comfortable, and accessories such as monitor arms and height-adjustable standing desks can help you achieve that. If an ergonomic chair is too pricey for you at the moment, consider getting a lumbar support pillow as a temporary solution. 

​Try moving around every 45 minutes to 1 hour to relieve and relax your muscles as well. This will reduce the likelihood of aching after a long workday!

Alternatively, if you find yourself simply switching from one sitting position to another for long hours during this WFH arrangement, Georgina has tips to help you get up more often: 

• Have a cup of water at your desk instead of a large tumbler so that you have to walk to the kitchen to refill it more frequently
• Stand up whenever you're having a call!

Sit pain-free with ergonomic office chairs

The ErgoTune Supreme in Charcoal Black and Coral Red 

Forgive us for being blunt.

You only have one body, so don’t **** it up.

Don’t normalise pain and mediocrity — a poorly-designed desk chair, less-than-ideal work efficiency, and discomfort putting a damper on plans are all things that you shouldn’t have to live with!

Instead, invest in an ergonomic chair for better posture and a pain-free back. If you don’t wish to break the bank, it’s fine.
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That’s why you have our ErgoTune chairs, ready to let you be your happier, healthier, and more efficient self!