The Best Office Chairs for Piriformis Syndrome

If you’re concerned about your lower back pain and think it might be caused by Piriformis Syndrome and now you’re looking for an office chair to help better support you and cut down on the pain, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ll be reviewing 10 of the best office chairs for piriformis syndrome on the market. We’ll look at factors including the build quality, features, adjustability, materials, comfort, and price to help you decide which is the best fit for you. 

Let’s get started!

The Best Office Chairs for Piriformis Syndrome

• Steelcase Gesture – Editor’s Choice
• Duramont Office Chair – Budget Pick
• Secretlab NeueChair – Best Value
• Herman Miller Embody – Premium Pick
• Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming
• Herman Miller Aeron – Best Mesh Office Chair
• Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric Office Chair
• Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Executive Office Chair
• DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Chair

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Steelcase Gesture – Editor’s Choice

When it comes to the best possible office chair to alleviate pain from piriformis syndrome, the Steelcase Gesture is our top pick.

While Steelcase prices all of its office products on the higher end of the spectrum, you definitely get what you pay for:

• Unbelievable ergonomics. From the adjustable seat to the fully adjustable arms, you can dial in adjustments so that the chair fits your body like a glove.
• All-day comfort. The Gesture is designed to have its seat and back move as part of a synchronized system, which means it keeps you supported for extended periods of time. This system makes it a no-brainer for those who spend more than six hours in a chair each work day.
• Extremely high quality. Steelcase doesn’t mess around when it comes to build quality. This chair can support up to 400lbs, meaning it can support an average-sized person for a very long time.

The biggest downside to this chair is its price, but if you have the money in your budget to afford it and are concerned about back pain from piriformis syndrome, you certainly won’t regret it. This is a chair that can easily last you more than a decade.

You can find the Steelcase Gesture in a number of color and material options on Amazon, but prices will vary greatly, in addition to availability. If you order directly from Steelcase, it’s going to be a custom order that will take several weeks to fulfill.

One other good note: Steelcase ships its chairs fully assembled and ready to be used.

Duramont Office Chair – Budget Pick

At this price, the Duramont Office Chair is an absolute steal.

It may not look as chic as some of the higher-end office chairs on our list, but the Duramont Office Chair does an incredible job at supporting your back and helping with pain from piriformis syndrome, in addition to including some nice other features.

• Mesh backing is quite supportive and allows your back to breathe. This is very helpful during warmer months when you can get a little sweaty, depending on the temperature in your office.
• Lumbar support cann adjust the entire length of the chair’s back. This is important if you’re also dealing with any upper back pain that may require some support. In addition to going up and down, the lumbar support in this chair also goes in and out, allowing you to put additional pressure on your back.
• Five-year warranty lets you rest easy that the chair was built with higher quality materials and should last for at least that long, if not longer.

For a cheaper chair, it does have its limitations. You can only choose one color, for instance. Thankfully, it’s black, which is pretty common for office chairs.

It also requires assembly that can be tricky for those who aren’t the handiest.

Quality control can also be an issue, according to some owners, since this chair is mass produced. But if you order from Amazon, returns are easy. So, make sure to save your boxes and be careful when opening them just in case you need to send the chair back.

Secretlab NeueChair – Best Value

The Secretlab NeueChair was designed with one goal in mind: Support your back, neck and shoulder muscles so they don’t need to work harder to prevent slouching. And we’re happy to report that it lives up to expectations.

Secretlab is one of those companies that consistently makes quality products and prices them competitively, which is why we labeled the NeueChair as our best value buy. It sells at a price that’s affordable for most and delivers an office chair that feels way more expensive. In fact, we’ll go as far as saying this is the only commercial grade office chair at this price point.

The secret sauce to this chair is its core. Instead of plastic, it’s made of steel, giving the chair a high-quality feel. You can rest assured it’ll last for years to come.

And then there are the multiple points of adjustment that can all be controlled from levers located on the arms. Secretlab calls it ControlShift. The technology makes it easy to adjust your posture without searching for a particular lever or knob.

For those with piriformis syndrome, you’ll love the lumbar support. You can actually set the chair into a “focus mode” where the adjustable lumbar pushes forward, holding you up and putting just enough pressure on your lower back.

There aren’t too many complaints about the Secretlab NeueChair, but some owners felt it was important to note that the seat pan doesn’t actually tilt. Instead, it can move forward and backward.

This also is a chair designed for average-sized people. With a weight rating of 240lbs, it’s one of the lower capacities on this list. So, if you’re a bigger person, you may want to consider another chair.

Trying out this chair is also a breeze. Secretlab gives you 49 days to try out and return if you don’t like it — no questions asked. If you decide you want to keep it, the company backs up its chair with a 12-year warranty that protects against manufacturer defects.

Herman Miller Embody – Premium Pick

Check out my guide on the Best Herman Miller Office Chairs

Herman Miller is known for three things when it comes to office furniture: Incredible design. Life-changing ergonomics. And high price tags.

As our premium pick, the Herman Miller Embody checks all of those boxes. If this chair falls into your budget, you can’t go wrong with it.

The Embody provides support for day-long sitting thanks to its narrow back, which does a great job at promoting correct posture. Don’t worry; there’s enough flexibility to still move around.

Owners have reported that this chair is great for relieving lower back pain, including paint caused by piriformis syndrome, in addition to arm swelling and the pinching of hamstrings, which is common for those who sit for a majority of the day.

Perhaps one downside is the fact that Herman Miller focuses a bit too much on ergonomics and not enough on cushioning. That’s not to say that this isn’t a comfortable chair, it’s just designed not to have you lounge in it. The cushion on the seat pad is a high-quality foam, but some people may want more of that feeling of sinking into a chair.

While it could take several weeks to ship, Herman Miller gives you more than enough color options for all of its chairs and office furniture. The team in Grands Rapids, Michigan then custom builds your chair and ships it to you already assembled.

Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming

Gamers who work full-time in an office setting, but still want to play at night have a unique challenge in preventing lower back pain and conditions, like piriformis syndrome.

Thankfully, the Secretlab Titan was designed with just that person in mind. And as a bonus, it’s priced super competitively, making it an attainable purchase for the most hardcore gamer.

We love how much space there is with this chair. Yes, it will take up some space in your gaming room, but you’re going to be quite comfortable.

The Titan has been called the most comfortable gaming chair on the market. That’s thanks to its:

• Unbelievable cushion. Secretlab fills its cushion with its patent-pending cold-cure foam mix which gives you the firmness you need to support your back, but also that memory-foam like cushion, which feels really good.
• Quality materials. You can’t go wrong with either the Softweave Fabric or the Napa Leather, but the latter is special. It’s engineered to be four times more durable than regular PUJ leathers, so don’t worry about rips or tears.
• Adjustability. Gamers need everything from their lower back to their wrists to be supported. Secretlab’s full-metal 4D armrests can move in the slightest direction or angle to find that sweet spot and reduce the risk of carpal tunnel.

Secretlab pushes its chairs to the test before shipping them out. That’s why they put a 5-year extended warranty to protect you against getting a chair with manufacturer defects.

If you’re a gamer with piriformis syndrome, go buy the Secretlab Titan right now.

Herman Miller Aeron – Best Mesh Office Chair

Herman Miller is the king of coming up with rad and incredibly useful designs. The company’s Aeron chair is as good as it gets when shopping for a mesh office chair.

We’ll get the bad news out of the way first: This is a four-figure chair that’s going to set you back. If this is beyond your budget, keep looking.

Now the good news:

• Multiple sizes. This chair actually comes in a variety of sizes, so you can tailor-fit it to your body type. This is huge when it comes to ergonomics and supporting your lower back.
• Dynamic backrest. This is the key to battling conditions like piriformis syndrome. The backrest, which is intertwined with the cool mesh backing, supports the natural curve of your spine — perfect for all-day sitting.
• Adjustable tilt and seat angle supports your ability to work leaning forward or to relax a bit while reclining backwards.

You won’t find ergonomics like this on any other chair. Herman Miller has patented its PostureFit SL hardware which is designed to have your body mimic its strongest posture. Think chest open, back straight and pelvis tilted slightly forward.

We also love the many color options offered by Herman Miller. Each chair is custom made, which is why it tends to be so expensive.

But if you’re doing a home remodel and need a statement piece for your office, the Aeron chair certainly fits the bill.

Check out my guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric Office Chair

Not everyone wants a mesh chair. Some actually prefer fabric.

So, if you want the best fabric chair on the market that can also help you with piriformis syndrome, you’ve come to the right place.

The steelcase Leap is a premium office chair that’s highly adjustable. There are five positions you can lock in, for example, when reclining back.

The lumbar support is excellent, offering an ability to adjust up and down and in and out.

Steelcase also doubled down on durability and strength with its Leap chair. It can hold a maximum weight of 400lbs, meaning it accommodates the largest of people who need to spend a lot of time in an office chair for work.

And as a bonus to all of this, it comes in nearly 30 different color combinations, so you can find one that matches your office perfectly.

The price is going to be the worst part about this chair, but if you need a quality chair for your home office, consider this an investment in your health and overall wellness.

Steelcase protects its products with an impressive 12-year warranty against any defects. They also ship the chair to your fully assembled, meaning you can take it out of the box and get to work right away.

Check out my guide on the Best Fabric Office Chairs

Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Executive Office Chair

They make incredible mattresses and it turns out they’re not bad at manufacturing an executive-style office chair as well.

The Serta AIR Health and Wellness office chair is like sitting on a cloud. And it sells at a price that will make you even happier.

The main differentiator between this chair and others on this list when it comes to lumbar support is that Serta uses an air lumbar technology, creating a similar effect to the lumbar support that your car provides. The lumbar cushions actually pivot when you move, allowing it to provide all-day support and improve your posture.

If you’re looking for an executive style office chair, this is certainly it. The bonded leather contrasts nicely with the wooden frame. It also rolls quite smoothly.

Some owners have complained that the armrests can scratch easily. It’s also a little tricky to assemble, which is expected for a chair at this price point. One other pain point is the neck and head area, which some owners have reported as being too firm.

Still, if you’re looking for a supportive, executive-style office chair at an incredible price, don’t ignore the Serta AIR Health and Wellness chair.

DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Chair

One of the best sitting positions for piriformis syndrome is a semi-kneeling position, making the Dragonn by Vivo a chair you need to at least check out and see if it’ll work for your home office.

Kneeling chairs are all about ergonomics, helping not only with lower back pain but also in alleviating pain in the knees, shins and buttocks (which is where piriformis syndrome originates).

Dragonn chairs force you to have good posture while you’re sitting in it. Otherwise, you’d fall out of your chair.

It’s important to note that this is not designed for all-day sitting. It would ultimately cause pain in your knees. It’s also not that comfortable for sitting beyond a couple of hours.

So, if you like to get tasks done or have a standing desk that allows you to stand for an hour or two at a time, this could be a great option.

Owners have reported their back feeling healthier after a week’s use. They were also surprised by how cushiony the seat is on their bottom.

What is Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome is a relatively uncommon disorder where the piriformis muscle that’s located in the buttocks compresses the sciatic nerve, typically when the muscle experiences multiple spasms.

When the sciatic nerve is compressed, it can be very painful and make it difficult to walk around. It’s important to note that those with sciatica typically don’t have piriformis syndrome.

While only 200,000 people are diagnosed with piriformis syndrome each year, there are a few symptoms you can look out for in order to detect the condition early on and potentially treat it before it gets worse:

• Tingling or numbness in the buttocks. The muscle is located in the upper buttocks, close to the hip.
• Stiff buttocks and hips after an extended period of sitting.
• Additional pain when climbing stairs.

One of the biggest contributors to piriformis syndrome is sitting for an extended period of time, which can be difficult for those who work in front of a computer for a majority of the day.

Thankfully, office chair manufacturers are quite familiar with piriformis syndrome, among other lower back issues, and have designed chairs to best support you and your back.

It’s important to note that no office chair on our list is going to make your existing pain go away. They might prevent things from getting worse, but you should consult with your doctor in order to come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

If you’re trying to avoid piriformis syndrome altogether, a combination of consistent walking and exercise, paired with a new, supportive office chair can work wonders.

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Piriformis Syndrome – Buyer’s Guide

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Ergonomics

The ergonomics of a chair designed to help with piriformis syndrome is similar to office chairs designed to deal with sciatic pain. They offer great support around the lower back, allowing you to sit up straight for an extended period of time.

More expensive models offer a wider range of adjustability options, while the cheaper models only offer a few options.

As long as you feel confident in your chair’s ability to support your lower back, you shouldn’t have much else to worry about.

Build Quality

Many office chairs use high-quality plastics that do a great job at keeping cost and weight low, but office chairs that use metal pieces will simply last longer.

Research the materials in a chair you’re interested in. If there’s a lot of plastics, you may want to stay clear because plastic can wear out quickly.

Price also tends to dictate build quality, i.e., the higher the price, the better the build quality. So, find the happy medium which offers you the best bang for your buck.

Lumbar Support

Lumbar support is the main ingredient of an office chair when it comes to alleviating pain associated with piriformis syndrome and preventing the pain from getting worse.

Most chairs include an adjustable lumbar support bar that moves up and down your spine, allowing you to dial in the perfect location. That support bar applies a little bit of pressure on your spine, helping you sit up straight and not slouch.

When it comes to piriformis syndrome, set the lumbar support to its lowest setting to apply pressure near your tailbone and lower back. Your piriformis muscle is located near this area and can benefit from that pressure.

More expensive chairs are going to feature more precise lumbar support settings, while cheaper models will be more limited and slightly more difficult to move up and down.

Adjustability

When you have lower back pain, like piriformis syndrome, you absolutely need a chair that’s 100% adjustable. This doesn’t mean that it can just only go up and down to accommodate for your height. You also need it to be able to adjust…

• The arms. The ability to pivot arms rests and move them up and down can make typing more comfortable and cut down on the chances of issues like carpal tunnel syndrome.
• The recliner. You need a chair that can recline and lock in the recline mode. This is good for stretching your back and relaxing a bit.
• The lumbar support. Everyone is shaped differently, so you need the ability to move your lumbar support so that it can hit the sweet spot on your lower back and alleviate any pain you may be feeling. 
• The headrest. Not all chairs come with an adjustable headrest, but the ones that do can be a lifesaver for those who spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. Over time, our necks become tired and we can let our heads slouch, potentially causing injury to our neck muscles. An adjustable headrest can keep everything in place.

Seat Comfort

On top of all of the ergonomic features you need to examine when shopping for an office chair to help with piriformis syndrome, you also need to determine something really simple: Is this chair comfortable to sit in?

Your best option for a seat is memory foam. It allows you to sink in and then forms to your buttocks, which is quite helpful with piriformis syndrome. Memory foam can apply just enough pressure on your lower back and tailbone to help with the pain associated with piriformis syndrome.

A mesh backing is also important. Mesh tends to be quite supportive, but also allows for air to flow, keeping your back cool.

Cushioned armrests also make a big difference for all-day office chair people. If your arms are on hard plastic for an extended period of time, you could be prone to tensing those forearms and causing injury over time. 

Price

It’s difficult to put a price on an office chair that can potentially alleviate back pain. If it’s successful, that chair is invaluable because it keeps you comfortable.

But you need to have a limit and some restraint so you’re not spending money that you don’t have.

For those currently working from home: Before shelling out your own money, see if your employer will purchase or subsidize your chair. You might be surprised by their answer.

If you’re on your own, though, pick a budget and stick to it. As you can see from the list above, you have options at all price points. The cheaper ones won’t have all the bells and whistles, but they can do a good job of preventing your back pain from getting worse.

FAQs

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Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Piriformis Syndrome?

Office Chair for Piriformis Syndrome	Award
Steelcase Gesture	Editor’s Choice
Duramont Office Chair	Budget Pick
Secretlab NeueChair	Best Value
Herman Miller Embody	Premium Pick
Secretlab Titan	Best for Gaming
Herman Miller Aeron	Best Mesh Office Chair
Steelcase Leap	Best Fabric Office Chair
Serta AIR Health and Wellness	Best Executive Office Chair
DRAGONN by VIVO	Best Kneeling Chair