High Back or Mid Back Chair. Which is better?

When choosing a chair for your home or work office, one of the most common questions we receive is ‘Should I buy a mid-back or a high-back office chair?’ Although it may not seem like this choice matters, it is actually incredibly important for your sitting position and even your environment.

First and foremost, you need to consider your size and shape. One size does not fit all! The ergonomic chair features your chair has will influence your decision.

What you should consider

There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a mid-back or high-back office chair, which we will detail below, followed by a direct comparison of the two types of chairs.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Take the time to measure your back height. If you’re short, you’re more likely to require a smaller backrest than those who are taller. To take the measurement, do so when seated from your bottom to your shoulder. This measurement will indicate the size of the backrest you need.

One of the best ergonomic chairs features you can have if you can’t measure your back is an adjustable backrest.

A backrest with height adjustment can allow you to position the lumbar support of the chair into your lumbar area for full, permanent contact and support. A backrest should support your whole back and shoulders.

Once you have determined the height of the back of the ergonomic chair you need, you should consider width. If you’re larger in build, you will need a wider backrest for complete support. Equally, if you’re slim, a slimmer backrest will give you better support.

The backrest should provide complete back support as you lean through the thoracic (mid and upper back) and lumbar (lower back) areas of the spine. Your cervical spine (neck region) and your head can also be supported by the backrest.

When you’re seated incorrectly, tremendous pressure is placed on your neck, especially when it’s tilted forward. A high-back office chair will automatically guide and support your neck and head while you’re seated, which allows you to work for longer periods without neck pain.

Not all high-back ergonomic chairs include a headrest, so you could purchase one separately! If you’re particularly short or tall and have upper back, shoulder or neck pain, you should consider a neck or headrest. Ideally with adjustability in height and angle to allow you to position it just where you need it to alleviate tension.

A high-back office chair will encourage good posture, sitting upright, opening your shoulders, back and chest, and discouraging slouching.

A high-back ergonomic chair is crucial to provide good lumbar and thoracic spinal support and will follow the natural curvature of your spine. Lengthy periods of sitting can cause significant spinal issues over time, accelerating the wear and tear of your spinal discs and increasing the risk of daily back and neck pain.

Independent Tilt

High-back ergonomic chairs should have a backrest that is separate from the seat to allow independent tilt movement. Additionally, this separation will allow adjustability in the height and angle of the backrest.

Lumbar Support

For many who work in an office building, sitting in an office chair without adequate back support can generate high levels of stress on the lower back. Primarily because, in the seated position, the lumbosacral discs are put under some three times more pressure than when you’re standing.

Sitting without back support usually leads to poor posture, which stresses the soft tissues and joints in the spine. For many, sitting in an ordinary office chair can often exacerbate or even cause lower back pain.

In today’s society, we undergo lengthy periods of unsupported sitting. Long work days, commuting on worn-down seats on public transport, watching TV, or at the computer, can all encourage poor postural habits.

When sitting in an ordinary office chair, shifting one’s weight forward increases stress on soft tissue, joints and discs, which, in turn, can create muscle tension and pain in the lower back and legs. The lower portion of the spine, just above the buttocks, naturally curves inward toward the bells (the lordotic curve). Lumbar back support helps to promote good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back.

Without lumbar support, it’s more difficult to maintain the correct posture, and the lumbar spine and large muscles in the lower back have to work harder to support the proper curvature and alignment.

Over time, as the body tires, the muscles holding your spine in position become weak, and the head and upper back tend to lean forward to compensate for the weakening of the lumbar muscles. Your body’s natural tendency is to slouch forward, so having a high-back ergonomic chair to help prevent this will be beneficial to your body.

With good lumbar support from a high-back office chair, your muscles surrounding the spine will be alleviated from the literal pressure of maintaining natural spine curvature

Are You Sitting Correctly?

Your high-back office chair should be positioned correctly to achieve the right support for your back and neck.

One of the best ergonomic chair features is adjustable elbow supports, which help you to maintain proper posture by comfortably resting your arms and avoiding strain on the neck.

To achieve correct seat height, you should ensure both of your feet can lie flat on the floor, and that your knees are slightly lower than the level of your hips (with a footrest to elevate the feet while sitting in the office chair). By sitting with your knees below the level of your hips, you can reduce the rotation of your pelvis. This will inherently reduce the pressure in your lumbar discs by opening the pelvis and realigning your lumbar area.

Lastly, your monitor height should be straight ahead, at eye level, to avoid strain on your neck.

The differences between a mid-back and high-back ergonomic chair
High-back office chairs, compared to mid-back chairs, are far more ergonomically effective, offering excellent support to your neck, back, shoulders, and head. Furthermore, the tall backrest will naturally encourage an upright posture.

Although mid-back chairs are supportive, a high-back office chair will cover more areas of your body, thus creating a more pleasant sitting experience.

Here at Ergonomic Chairs Direct, we have an extensive collection of high-back office chairs available to help support you through long working days. Browse our selection of high-back ergonomic chairs now. Or, see our chair builder, answer a few questions and let us help to determine the best chair for you!