Best Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease

For many office workers, finding the best office chair to prevent and alleviate back pain can be difficult. With so many options to choose from and many manufacturers claiming their chair has the best lumbar support, it can be hard to identify which one is best suited for your back. 

Sitting for too long in one position and sitting with bad posture causes compression on the discs in your spine. Ultimately, this leads to premature degeneration. Degenerative disc disease is quite common in adults. In fact, one clinical study found that 40% of people ages 40 and older have one or more degenerative vertebral discs. And 80% of adults ages 80 and over have it. Although degenerative disc disease is a normal part of aging, sitting with a bad posture can certainly increase the likelihood of having it. 

After extensive research and testing, we’ve compiled our top 9 office chairs for degenerative disc disease. This will alleviate some of the lower back pain and provide the proper support for a healthy posture. 

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is when the wear-and-tear on a spinal disc causes symptoms of neck and back pain. In addition, this damage in your spinal disc may even lead to numbness, weakness, or sharp pains in a person’s legs or arms. The most common areas of disc degeneration are the lumbar spine (lower back) and cervical spine (neck). Although the term is labeled as a disease, it is a condition in which there is wear and tear on a disc that causes instability and pain. 

The Best Office Chairs for Degenerative Disc Disease

• Herman Miller Aeron – Best Overall
• Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair – Best Under $300
• Duramont Office Chair – Budget Pick
• NeueChair by Secretlab – Best for Hip Pain
• Steelcase Gesture – Best for Sciatica
• Herman Miller Embody – Best for Lower Back Pain
• Steelcase Leap Plus – Best for Heavy People
• La-Z-Boy Delano – Best for Neck Pain
• Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming

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Herman Miller Aeron – Overall Best Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease

Check out our guide on the Best Herman Miller Chairs

When it comes to ensuring proper posture, movement and adaptability is an important component to consider. The Herman Miller Aeron features their patented 8Z pellicle upholstery, which is an elastomeric weave that stretches across the backrest and seat. The mesh is soft and is responsive to your movements and posture to ensure full-body support. 

In addition, users immediately notice its smooth suspension in the chair, which adds to the overall comfort level and improves circulation. Not to mention, having a mesh back offers breathability, which keeps you cool during those long working hours. 

Another essential feature is the unique PostureFitSL which consists of two adjustable lumbar pads to support your lower back. These pads flex separately from one another and can be adjusted to fit the curvature of your spine. This stabilizes the base of the spine and offers support to your sacrum and lumbar. If you’re looking for the best chair to prevent degenerative disc disease, sciatica pain, or other forms of lower back pain, the Herman Miller Aeron is a worthwhile investment. 

Pros:

• Offers three models to suit people of different weight and sizes 
• It comes fully assembled and includes a 12-year warranty 
• Their adjustable Posture SL pads stabilize the base of the spine and provide lumbar support 
• It comes with fully adjustable arms 
• Harmonic tilt ensures a balanced and smooth recline 

Cons: 

• Quite expensive compared to other office chairs 

Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair – Best Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease Under $300

The Ticova ergonomic office chair has an array of adjustable features, making the price tag quite surprising. Users can adjust the seat height, headrest height and angle, lumbar and backrest height, recline angle up to 130 degrees, a rocking function, and armrest height, angle, and forward and backward. These adjustments ensure that you get to lock in the right position for your needs. 

We found the chair also to provide exceptional comfort. The seat cushion utilizes a seat cushion with three inches of high-density foam. In addition, the foam cushion is designed with a W shape and waterfall seat edge design. The waterfall seat edge slopes downward to alleviate some of the pressure on the back of the thighs to improve blood circulation in the lower limbs. A W-shaped seat cushion will disperse the pressure evenly and will mold to fit your hips and tailbone. 

Lastly, we like the mesh back, which keeps your body cool throughout the day. Also, the backrest has a sectioned lumbar pad. This pad can be adjusted by height to fit into the curve of your spine and ensure a healthy posture at all times. 

Pros:

• Very affordable compared to most office chairs 
• The seat is designed with a W-shaped and waterfall edge to disperse pressure on thighs and hip 
• The seat uses three inches of high-density foam to support sitting for long hours 
• It comes with 3D stainless plated metal armrests along with soft PU paddings for comfort 
• The curved lumbar portion provides some lower back support 

Cons: 

• The manufacturer only offers one year warranty 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $300

Duramont Office Chair – Best Cheap Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease

The Duramont offers the perfect blend of ergonomics and comfort. When it comes to degenerative disc disease, it’s important to cover the most vulnerable areas, specifically the lower back and pain. Duramont has a mesh fabric padded headrest that can be adjusted by height and angle. This is especially important when you choose to recline your backrest. Without a headrest, your angle tends to hang forward or back, which disrupts the spinal alignment. 

The right lumbar support is incredibly unique to each individual. People have different heights and preferences when it comes to back support. That’s why lumbar support should be adaptable or adjustable. The Duramont offers a built-in internal lumbar pad adjusted by height and depth using a two-way knob. 

Adjusting the height of the lumbar pad will ensure that it fits perfectly in the curve of your spine. It can also be adjusted by depth, which changes how much the pad pushes outward. Based on overall adjustability, comfortable thick seat cushion, and resilient back support, we find this chair one of the best-value office chairs in the market. 

Pros:

• Supports up to 330 pounds 
• Uses breathable mesh back to keep you cool 
• Relatively affordable office chair
• Lumbar support can be adjusted by height and depth 
• Thick high density molded foam cushion along with a W-shaped design helps distribute and relieve tension 

Cons: 

• Only reclines up to 125 degrees 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $200

NeueChair by Secretlab – Best for Hip Pain

Although Secretlab is known for its gaming chairs, the NeueChair is their only office chair model available. It’s made with their signature NeueMesh upholstery fabric, a premium 3-layer mesh that combines duPont yarn and polyester. This mesh material is designed for elasticity and breathability. 

Its elasticity can easily adapt to your body’s movements and has a supportive bouncy effect. In addition, the NeueMesh passed the ISO 12947 abrasion resistance tests and the ASTM tensile and tearing strength tests to ensure customers are getting a highly durable chair. 

Slouching, poor posture, and crossing your legs may lead to hip pain while sitting. NeueChair has posture correcting features to help prevent hip pain. This chair has a focus mode. The focus mode will slide the seat back while simultaneously pushing the backrest forward into your lumbar. As a result, you’ll be sitting in an upright and healthy posture. 

Pros:

• Convenient levers located under the armrests to adjust the seat height and recline
• It offers a relax and focus mode, which adjusts the strength of lumbar support 
• The curved seat and three-layer flexible mesh upholstery distributes pressure and alleviates hip pain
• Patented NeueMesh upholstery is durable, flexible, and keeps you cool 
• Secretlab offers a 12-year warranty 

Cons: 

• This chair doesn’t have a tilt-lock to set a specific reclined position 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs for Hip Pain

Steelcase Gesture – Best for Sciatica

Sciatica refers to the pain that runs along the sciatic nerve. This nerve path branches from your lower back to your buttocks and hips and down to each leg. The Steelcase Gesture features a contoured backrest that will align with your spine to its healthy and natural S-shape. It also offers its signature 3D LiveBack technology, which mimics and adapts to every little movement. As you twist, turn or shift your body weight, the backrest provides equal support to prevent any one area of the body from receiving too much pressure. 

In addition, the Gesture includes a manually adjustable tilt mechanism allowing you to dial in the precise level of resistance to recline. This tilt tension balances your body weight so that the chair can be tilted back with ease. As a result, you’ll be able to recline back with minimum effort but still have enough resistance to provide sufficient back support. And the Gesture has a variable backstop enabling you to lock in your preferred recline position. 

Pros:

• The chair arrives fully assembled and includes a 12-year warranty 
• 360-degree rotating arms work well for long desks and working with multiple tech devices 
• The edge of the seat is flexible, which relieve pressure points underneath your thighs 
• 3D LiveBack technology mimics and adapts to your natural movements for proper support 
• Able to recline and lock into four different positions 

Cons: 

• Quite expensive compared to other office chairs 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs for Sciatica

Herman Miller Embody – Best for Lower Back Pain

The Herman Miller Embody was meticulously tested and built with the help of over 20 medical doctors in the field of ergonomics, vision, physical therapy, and biomechanics. As a result, it is one of the most ergonomic chairs when it comes to supporting your body’s natural alignment, healthy movement, and pressure distribution. 

The backrest of the Embody was purposefully built to mimic the human back. It has flexible ribs to promote healthy movements. In fact, the pixelated support on the chair will adjust to your movements. Most office chairs use the same foam padding for their backrest. The Embody uses a high-quality suspended rubber canvas supported by a skeletal structure. As you bend, twist, and move around in your seat, it conforms to your body movements and is constantly supporting your back muscles. 

Instead of adjusting the lumbar support for lower back support, the Embody has a backfit adjustment allowing you to adjust the entire backrest so that it lines up perfectly with your spine’s natural curve. As a result, you’ll achieve the optimal posture. 

Pros:

• The backrest features pixelated support that conforms and supports any micro-movements to remove pressure build-up
• Narrow back design helps correct posture while also give the flexibility to move around
• Backfit adjustment is designed to match your spine shape 
• Armrests can be adjusted by width, height, tilt, and depth 
• Smooth recline function and able to rock back and forth 

Cons: 

• Higher price than the Herman Miller Aeron 
• Some people prefer chairs with a thick seat and back cushion 

Check out our guide on the Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

Steelcase Leap Plus – Best Office Chair for Heavy People with Degenerative Disc Disease

For heavy people, finding an ergonomic chair to fit your body’s weight and build can be difficult. The Steelcase Leap Plus is an excellent option for heavy individuals. It includes all of the ergonomic features of the Steelcase Leap except built with more heavy-duty qualities. This chair can support up to 500 pounds, which is more than most heavy-duty chairs. 

The Steelcase Leap Plus offers their unique Natural Glide System technology allowing you to comfortably recline while still maintaining body alignment to prevent straining your neck, arms, and eyes. Its armrests are 4-way adjustable, meaning users can adjust the arms by height, depth, width, and pivot to support their shoulders and neck. Having your arms in the right position, where your wrists aren’t strained, will also prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Just like the standard Steelcase Leap, the Plus model has its 3D LiveBack technology, which conforms the backrest to your movements. As you shift your body weight and move, the backrest will follow to provide equal support. 

Pros:

• The chair arrives fully assembled 
• It supports up to 500 lbs 
• Available in 15 different colors 
• 3D LiveBack technology flexes to support your movements 
• Able to control the firmness of the lumbar support 

Cons: 

• The chair weighs 75 lbs 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs for Heavy People

La-Z-Boy Delano – Best for Neck Pain

Check out our full La-Z-Boy Office Chairs Review & Buying Guide

The Laz-Boy Delano is one of the most comfortable executive office chairs in the market. This chair is fitted with its patented ComfortCore and memory foam padding technology. Each layer of premium foam is meticulously placed throughout the chair. For example, there are additional layers of padding on the headrest and lumbar area. These are the two most common areas where your body is prone to pain. 

The padding on the headrest helps to support your neck and keep it upright. In addition, the thick padding will alleviate some of the pressure and allow your neck to relax. The lumbar support also protrudes outward to fit the curvature of your spine comfortably. 

Often overlooked, the chair is designed with a waterfall seat edge to enhance leg circulation, which leans to an increase in energy and decreases fatigue. That’s because blood tends to build up pressure in your lower extremities, causing joint and muscle stiffness. We also like that the chair can support up to 350 pounds of weight and has a 10-year manufacturer warranty. This means the Delano is quite the durable and heavy-duty chair that will last you for many years. 

Pros:

• Offers memory foam cushions and extra padding in the lumbar area and headrest 
• The contoured lumbar panel helps to support the lower back 
• The one-touch lever allows you to adjust the height easily or tilt backward 
• Made of luxurious bonded leather and rich, solid wood arms for an elegant look 
• Supports up to 350 pounds 

Cons: 

• Bonded leather upholstery may cause heat build-up 

Secretlab Titan – Best Gaming Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease

Check out our full Secretlab Gaming Chairs Review & Buying Guide

Secretlab Titan offers many of the ergonomic features that office chairs provide, except it has a design geared towards gamers. Users can choose between plenty of design options to enhance their gaming setup. You can choose to rep your favorite Esports teams or even get chairs to support your favorite game or pop culture figure. Secretlab has partnered with plenty of brands. You can select special edition chairs such as Cyberpunk 2077, World of Warcraft, the Joker, League of Legends, Game of Thrones, and more. 

The Titan offers external memory foam pillows for lumbar support and headrest support. Memory foam is designed to conform to the shape of your body to provide body-hugging support and relieve the tension in those areas. If you choose to use their internal lumbar support, there is a knob located on the back of the chair to adjust the height and depth. The height adjustment will ensure the lumbar support fits into the curvature of your spine. And the depth will ensure the support protrudes outwards to match your needs. 

Pros:

• Ideal look and ergonomics for gamers 
• Lumbar support can be adjusted by height and depth 
• Armrests are padded and can be adjusted in any direction 
• Available in plenty of flashy designs 
• You can choose from Prime 2.0 PU leather, software fabric, or NAPA leather upholstery

Cons: 

• It does require about 20 to 30 minutes of assembly 

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease – Buyer’s Guide 

When selecting the best office for degenerative disc disease, there are many factors to consider. These factors will serve as a buyer’s guide as you’re searching for an office chair. 

Build Quality

One of the primary differences between inexpensive and premium office chairs is their build quality. There’s a reason why premium brands such as Steelcase and Herman Miller offer a 12-year warranty. They are supremely confident in the quality of their product. 

There are several factors that make up a strong build quality. First, consider the base and frame of the chair. Ideally, you want to look for aluminum and steel components since they last for many years. Avoid plastic or nylon bases because they are more easily worn down or fall apart. Some chairs may even have reinforced gussets and ribs to provide additional stability to your chair. 

Another aspect to consider is the upholstery. Many of the premium models use multi-layered fabric materials. For example, the NeueChair uses a three-layer mesh and has passed numerous strength and abrasion tests that prove its quality and durability. Also, the foam material can have a higher build quality. High-density foam typically holds its structure for longer than standard foam. The more thickness the foam has, the better. However, memory foam lasts even longer and has a life expectancy of about eight to ten years. 

Ergonomics

An office chair should have ergonomic features to assist in making it easy for you to work and sit in your chair for many hours. For example, the NeueChair offers a focus mode where you can adjust the seat pan to move backward while the backrest shifts forward. This allows you to have proper back support as you’re leaning forward. 

Some of the premium models have a synchronous type of tilt feature where the seat tilts upwards as the backrest leans back. This ensures that you’re still maintaining a good posture despite reclining backward. Another ergonomic feature is the tilt tension. Users can adjust the right of tension needed to recline. As a result, you can smoothly recline and be supported throughout your back. Any feature or adjustment that improves your work efficiency, such as features that improve your posture, is considered to be ergonomic. 

Back Support

When it comes to preventing lower back pain, proper back support is essential. This is where premium models tend to differentiate themselves from less expensive chairs. Chairs such as the Herman Miller Aeron, Embody, and Steelcase Leap offer more adaptable back support. For instance, the 8Z pellicle design from the Aeron and the 3D LiveBack Technology is designed to mimic and respond to micromovements in your body. This means as you shift your body weight, twist, turn or bend, the backrest will move to provide equal support to your back muscles. 

In addition, the back support should also have an internal lumbar support system. The Aeron features two adjustable pads that can be adjusted separately to fit your spine. This can be very useful, especially for people with Scoliosis. With most lumbar systems, you’ll want to align the support with your spine. Adjusting the height of the lumbar system allows you to fit the support into the curve of your spine. If you can adjust the depth of the lumbar support, that affects the firmness or the extent to which the support protrudes outward to match your comfort level. 

Adjustability

Adjustability ensures that the chair can be customized to fit your needs. For example, if your chair is too high or too low, it can cause you to strain your neck or back. An office chair should have a wide array of adjustments such as seat height, seat depth, armrests, headrest height and angle, lumbar adjustment, backrest tilt adjustment, tilt tension, and rocking feature. 

The seat height ensures you are sitting at the right eye level to your monitor and your feet are planted flat on the floor. Armrest adjustments ensure that your arms are placed parallel to your desk height to relieve tension from your neck and shoulders. Seat depth adjustment ensures your back is completely flat on the backrest. This ensures your back is fully supported. 

Headrest adjustments are made to keep your neck and head supported while sitting. Lumbar adjustments are essential for people with lower back pain. The lumbar support must fit the curvature of your spine while also providing sufficient support to your lower back to maintain a healthy S-shape. A backrest recline allows you to lean back to your desired angle. Reclining backward is great for taking some of the pressure off the base of your spine. 

Seat Comfort

Seat comfort is an important consideration, especially for those looking to prevent any type of pain like degenerative disc disease and sciatica. A seat should be supportive, pressure-relieving, and be comfortable to sit on for long hours. Some chairs offer thick and high-density foam cushions designed to alleviate the tension in your buttocks and hips. This includes chairs such as the La-Z-Boy Delano and the Duramont office chair. 

Some seat cushions may be designed to relieve pressure in your muscles. For example, the seat cushion may have a w-shape or a waterfall seat edge. The W-shape is supposed to fit the shape of your buttocks and disperse the pressure evenly throughout the seat. A waterfall seat edge is a downward slope that improves circulation under your thighs and prevents your legs from falling asleep. 

Weight Capacity

For those who weigh above 250 pounds, it’s important to consider the weight capacity. Many standard chairs can support only up to 250 pounds. The premium models can hold even more weight. For example, the Herman Miller Embody supports up to 300 pounds, and the Steelcase Leap holds up to 400 pounds. However, if you want an office chair specifically built for heavy people, we recommend the Steelcase Leap Plus. It has a more sturdy and heavy-duty base, along with wide dimensions. In addition, it can support up to 500 pounds. 

Price

If budget is a concern, there are plenty of office chair options to choose from. We’ve mentioned several chairs in each budget range from inexpensive, mid-tier to premium. If you’re under a tight budget, we recommend the Ticova or Duramont office chair. Both have excellent adjustability and ergonomic features considering their price point. 

For mid-tier options, we suggest NeueChair or La-Z-Boy Delano. And for premium options, we suggest any of the Herman Miller or Steelcase Leap models. Keep in mind that premium chairs typically last longer, provide more ergonomic features, and a longer manufacturer warranty. As a result, it’s worth the investment to pay a little more considering you won’t have to buy a new office chair every other year.

Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Degenerative Disc Disease

Best Office Chair for Degenerative Disc Disease	Award
Herman Miller Aeron	Best Overall
Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair	Best Under $300
Duramont Office Chair	Budget Pick
NeueChair by Secretlab	Best for Hip Pain
Steelcase Gesture	Best for Sciatica
Herman Miller Embody	Best for Lower Back Pain
Steelcase Leap Plus	Best for Heavy People
La-Z-Boy Delano	Best for Neck Pain
Secretlab Titan	Best for Gaming

FAQs

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