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Are Gaming Chairs Actually Bad For Your Back? Why Cushioning, Posture And Long Sitting Matter

One of the myths about chairs is that the more cushion you have, the better the support. However, comfort and support are not the same thing. A soft feeling chair may allow the body to sink into a position that is not in proper alignment of the <span>spine</span>, pelvis, neck and shoulders. 

<span>Gaming chairs</span> often come with plush padding, deep seats, high backrests, and reclining mechanisms. These features may make the chair cozy for long gaming sessions. But this comfort can be at the expense of <span>posture</span> if the chair does not have enough lumbar support or the person is sitting in a slumped posture. The problem isn’t necessarily that a gaming chair is soft. The bigger issue is how the chair supports the body and how long the person sits in the same position. 

<h2>How Long Hours Of Sitting Can Strain The Spine</h2>

When person sit for hours on end, the muscles that support the spine are working non-stop to maintain the correct <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/your-laptop-could-be-changing-your-necks-shape-what-hours-of-looking-down-are-doing-to-your-spine-article-155971210" data-type="tilCustomLink">posture</a>. A backward roll of the pelvis and rounding of the lower back can put additional strain on the muscles and structures that surround the spine. 

This can lead to pain, stiffness and discomfort in the lower back over time. Sometimes a firm office chair can provide a more stable base and help maintain a neutral sitting position. This does not mean that a hard chair is healthier than all gaming chairs, but that the right firmness and support might be better than too much padding that allows the body to sink. 

The position of the lower back is especially important. The chair should curve to fit the natural curve of the lower back. Feet should be comfortably on the floor and hips and knees should be in a comfortable position. A bad sitting posture can also affect the neck and shoulders. If the monitor is placed too low, the head will move forward and downward. This may result in a <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/yoga-poses-that-can-fix-your-kids-slouched-posture-article-151297751" data-type="tilCustomLink">stiff neck</a>, shoulder pain and headaches over the following several hours.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/physiotherapy-day-are-hourly-breaks-enough-to-minimise-risks-from-prolonged-sitting-doctors-warn-office-workers-article-156118472" data-type="tilCustomLink">Physiotherapy Day – Are Hourly Breaks Enough To Minimise Risks From Prolonged Sitting: Doctors Warn Office Workers</a> 

 <h2>Why An Expensive Gaming Chair Cannot Fix <span rel="noindex">Long Sitting</span></h2>

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Another myth is that buying an expensive gaming chair automatically solves the problem of long sitting. A chair’s appropriateness is not dependent on the amount of cushioning. The height of the chair should correspond to the height of the person, the proportions of the body, the arrangement of the desk, and the daily activity. 

More importantly, no chair can make long, uninterrupted sitting healthy. Those who work or game for several hours should get up regularly, walk a few minutes, stretch and change their sitting position. 

Persistent <span>back pain</span>, numbness, tingling, weakness or pain traveling into the legs should not be simply put down to the chair and may require <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/delaying-exercise-health-check-ups-and-better-sleep-heres-the-long-term-health-cost-article-156003412" data-type="tilCustomLink">medical assessment</a>. So, the healthiest chair may not be the softest or most expensive one. It’s the chair that gives good support, allows natural movement and doesn’t leave one in one position for too long.

<strong><em>By Dr. <span rel="noindex">Mohit Muttha</span>, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Kharadi</em></strong>

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One of the myths about chairs is that the more cushion you have, the better the support. However, comfort and support are not the same thing. A soft feeling chair may allow the body to sink into a position that is not in proper alignment of the spine, pelvis, neck and shoulders. Gaming chairs often come with plush padding, deep seats, high backrests, and reclining mechanisms. These features may make the chair cozy for long gaming sessions. But this comfort can be at the expense of posture if the chair does not have enough lumbar support or the person is sitting in a slumped posture. The problem isn’t necessarily that a gaming chair is soft. The bigger issue is how the chair supports the body and how long the person sits in the same position. How Long Hours Of Sitting Can Strain The SpineWhen person sit for hours on end, the muscles that support the spine are working non-stop to maintain the correct posture. A backward roll of the pelvis and rounding of the lower back can put additional strain on the muscles and structures that surround the spine. This can lead to pain, stiffness and discomfort in the lower back over time. Sometimes a firm office chair can provide a more stable base and help maintain a neutral sitting position. This does not mean that a hard chair is healthier than all gaming chairs, but that the right firmness and support might be better than too much padding that allows the body to sink. The position of the lower back is especially important. The chair should curve to fit the natural curve of the lower back. Feet should be comfortably on the floor and hips and knees should be in a comfortable position. A bad sitting posture can also affect the neck and shoulders. If the monitor is placed too low, the head will move forward and downward. This may result in a stiff neck, shoulder pain and headaches over the following several hours.Also read: Physiotherapy Day – Are Hourly Breaks Enough To Minimise Risks From Prolonged Sitting: Doctors Warn Office Workers  Why An Expensive Gaming Chair Cannot Fix Long Sitting               Another myth is that buying an expensive gaming chair automatically solves the problem of long sitting. A chair’s appropriateness is not dependent on the amount of cushioning. The height of the chair should correspond to the height of the person, the proportions of the body, the arrangement of the desk, and the daily activity. More importantly, no chair can make long, uninterrupted sitting healthy. Those who work or game for several hours should get up regularly, walk a few minutes, stretch and change their sitting position. Persistent back pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or pain traveling into the legs should not be simply put down to the chair and may require medical assessment. So, the healthiest chair may not be the softest or most expensive one. It’s the chair that gives good support, allows natural movement and doesn’t leave one in one position for too long.By Dr. Mohit Muttha, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Kharadi

are gaming chairs actually bad for your back? why cushioning, posture and long sitting matter

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Are Gaming Chairs Actually Bad For Your Back? Why Cushioning, Posture And Long Sitting Matter

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