Are gaming chairs bad for your back? Find out the answer in the following article of FittingChairs. We also give you the overall comparison between gaming chairs and office chairs, check out right now!
How does the gaming chair work?
Firstly, we have to confirm that the gaming chair is born to bring an excellent sitting experience for gamers, streamers, or anyone who has the demand for sitting long hours.
The operational mechanism of the gaming chair is very simple but extremely convenient.
With the mission of reducing stress and fatigue on your spine, most gaming chairs have perfect lumbar support, along with wide adjustable features that provide you with useful ergonomic solutions.
Other important additional plus points of gaming chair are its mesh headrest and reclining function.
Many gaming chairs in the market allow you to lie down like the way you take to sleep on your bed. So, you can easily take a rest or sleep on your gaming chair after long sitting hours. Don’t worry about the discomfort when you lay on your gaming chair because most gaming chair is made from soft padding foam.
Are gaming chairs bad for your back?
So are gaming chairs bad for your back?
First of all, we have to confirm that the gaming chair is extremely good for your back. So, there is no room for wondering whether gaming chairs will be harmful to your spine and back.
Here are several reasons why we say gaming chairs are perfect for you.
Firstly, as we have already mentioned about the gaming chair operational mechanism, most gaming chairs have fully ergonomic adjustments which can be customized to your body.
So, you can adjust your gaming chair until you find comfort when sitting on it.
Secondly, the most outstanding points of gaming chairs which make them become one of the priorities when people want to buy an office chair for sitting in long hours is the backrest and reclining function.
It is obvious that you definitely need a chair that can provide you with a supportive backrest if you have to sit a long time to focus on your work. Moreover, you may also have the demand of taking back for relaxing or having a nap after a hard time for working or gaming. Gaming chairs will meet all your needs.
Thirdly, adjustable lumbar support will be an added plus point that you have to take into consideration when intending to buy a gaming chair. With this feature, you can control the lumbar support up and down depending on your need. That’s why we say no to your question about are gaming chairs bad for your back.
Finally, most parts of gaming chairs are made from padding cushion material. So, there is no discomfort caused by the firm feeling of the chair material.
Do gaming chairs lean back?
As we have already said above, the gaming chairs will provide you with a wide range of reclining function. Moreover, you can lean back completely and take the full relaxing posture on gaming chairs.
So, the answer to do gaming chairs lean back is total yes. Gaming chairs will definitely allow you to lean back freely and widely.
What’s more, to buy a chair that can fit your demands of leaning back, you need to write down the level of reclining you want. Then, just check whether the reclining range in the product description of the gaming chair that you intend to order is meet your needs or not.
Just remember that every issue will be solved easily when you know exactly what you need.
How to sit in a gaming chair properly
To take a healthy posture in gaming chairs, you need to highly note these points.
- Seat height
Seeking the most proper sitting posture on a gaming chair, seat height must be listed as the first adjustment that you need to take in priority.
With this point, all you need to do is adjust your seat height until your feet are flat on the ground and your legs should be bent at a 90-degree angle.
Two joints, the ankle, and hip joints can be put lightly but neutrally as a result of this. The body is relaxed and neutral when all three joints are at peace and not strained or squeezed. Your back receives plenty of strength while you sit comfortably with your knees bent at a ninety-degree angle. Your back can easily keep the entire body straight with this strength.
By doing that, your joints and the ankle can not be under any pressure and your body is relaxed and neutral. Your back receives plenty of strength while you sit comfortably with your knees bent at a ninety-degree angle. Then your back can easily keep the entire body straight with the support of the right sitting adjustment.
- Backrest
It is essential to adjust the backrest in order to maintain a good sitting position. It should not be tilted too far forward or backwards.
The lumbar cushion should fit perfectly into the curve of your spine if the backrest is properly positioned. Don’t worry if it’s a little painful at first because it’ll take some time for your back to adjust.
Ensure that you are sat in an upright stance at all times. This should put a tiny amount of pressure on your spine’s curvature and maintain your head above your pelvis.
To prolong your sitting experience sustainably, you need to make sure that the lumbar support of your gaming chair is adjusted properly.
- Armrests position
For a gaming chair, armrests are also an important adjustment that you need to notice. This is because they reduce unwanted strain on your shoulders, neck, and upper back.
Most gaming chairs have 4D armrests, which allow you to adjust the armrests fitting your desk height and your sitting posture. This feature provided you with comfort to your arms and also your shoulders.
The armrests should ideally be level with your desktop, but it should be acceptable as long as your hands can lie flat and your arms’ tilt does not exceed 90 degrees.
Besides these main features, if you’re over 6 feet tall, you should double-check the footrest extension range to be sure it’ll suit your legs and feet. Refer to the ideal list of the best office chair with footrest now!
Are gaming chairs better than office chairs?
There will be no exact answer to this question. Because one of the key elements when rating a chair depends on what you actually need for a chair.
In general, these two kinds of chairs have the same purpose which is taking care human health by ergonomic solutions.
However, when it comes to comparison, gaming chairs are better than office chairs will based on your needs.
Currently, with the same price range, a gaming chair will tend to have more ergonomic adjustments than the office chair.
Thus, if you just need to find out a chair for your working corner, get the office chair. But if you are seriously looking for a chair to decorate your gaming or working corner at home. It depends on you.
To know more exactly which chair is the right one for you, a gaming chair or an office chair? Check out our article of gaming chair vs office chair to gain deep insight into this case.
What should you look for in a gaming chair?
Here is buying guide of gaming chairs. We hope that you will keep in mind these things when considering buying a gaming chair for yourself. Or, choosing the best reclining office chair can work for gaming setting.
Ergonomic features
Ergonomics is the most critical factor to consider when purchasing a gaming chair. The simple reason is that everyone has the demands of healthy sitting postures for a long time for gaming, streaming, working, or any other purpose.
Ergonomics refers to how something is built to best suit the user based on a set of psychological factors. An ergonomic gaming chair is one that is designed to promote productivity and efficiency for the player who sits in it.
In short, the ergonomic features of a chair will maintain your good posture and support motions. It also helps to reduce your back discomfort caused by the lack of lumbar support.
So, how can you tell whether a gaming chair is constructed ergonomically? There are a few key ergonomic elements to give you the answer.
- A considerable degree of adaptability is available. You should be able to adjust the seat height, back angle, and armrests to better fit the measurements of your body. The more adjustments you can make, the better ergonomic this gaming chair is.
- Lumbar support is another point you have to take into consideration. The finest gaming chairs will feature adjustable lumbar support that you can adapt to your spine’s shape. A lumbar pillow in a less costly chair will accomplish the job but in a more rudimentary fashion.
- Having a tilt lock or tension system will secure your backrest tilt in place and accommodate varied positions.
- A high, curved backrest with enough support for the upper back and neck.
Besides the product description of a gaming chair, you have to read the real feedback of customers who bought this chair before and other information sources on review websites.
Build quality
The construction quality is the second factor to consider when purchasing a gaming chair. The better the construction, the longer your gaming chair will endure. You don’t want to spend money on a chair that breaks or becomes uncomfortably unpleasant after only a few weeks of use.
Again, the build quality will be strongly related to the price, so don’t expect the world if you’re looking for something on the lower end of the price range, but do your best to find a nice build.
The frame is a strong indicator of construction quality to look at. Metal, mainly robust steel, will be used to make high-quality frames. Frames made of wood or plastic are less likely to survive a long period.
Another thing to think about is the foundation. Look for metal bases that are broad. Nylon bases are less durable since they are narrower.
Your casters should also be as broad as feasible. The more casters there are, the more durable the construction is. 3″ or more is excellent, whereas 2″ or less is not.
It’s also crucial to consider the cushioning’s filling. If you want a high-quality gaming chair with padding that won’t go flat after a few months, search for mold shaping or cold foam.
Upholstery
PU leather will be used to cover the majority of gaming seats. Real leather is extremely costly, and even if you can afford it, it will most certainly kill your pocketbook.
Most people’s demands are generally met by PU leather, therefore I’d recommend staying with it because it offers the most value for money. Some chairs have synthetic webbing or microfiber upholstery.
Another factor to consider while choosing upholstery is breathability. To help with heat dissipation, some chairs include breathable mesh upholstery.
The more breathable the upholstery, the more comfortable and less sweaty you’ll be, so if this is a priority for you, seek a chair made of mesh.
Armrests
For gaming chairs, 4D armrests are very essential. This is because the 4D armrests will give you a wide range of adjustments. You can totally control the armrests until you feel comfortable, which can fit your position.
We highly recommend that you should choose the gaming chair that has flexible and naturally adjustable armrests. In that way, your armrests will move on with you whenever you want to change your sitting postures.
Best gaming chairs for back pain
Here is our recommendation for the best gaming chairs for back pain. Don’t worry about the price because the gaming chairs in our top pick have various price ranges for you to choose from.
GTRACING Gaming Chair
This is the most reasonable price in our top pick of best gaming chairs for back pain with useful adjustments.
GTRACING Gaming Chair
Featuring in race-inspired shape, ergonomic adjustable features, pillow headrest, and red leather upholstery, the GTRacing gaming chair will provide you with an immersive gaming experience.
The GT505 is a GTRacing gaming chair that is wrapped in mesh fabric, which is extremely soft but also difficult to clean and more prone to stains.
“That includes pillows for lumbar support and headrest, each of which – and the chair itself are packed with high-density foam for a supe rior seating experience”
-Forbes-
Due to all the key elements of the GTRacing gaming chair that we have already given above, this chair can not only be the gaming chair, but also an ideal office chair.
RESPAWN RSP-400 Gaming Chair
The most outstanding of RESPAWN RSP gaming chair is their weight capacity of up to 400lbs. Now, your heavyweight is not a bid deal anymore.
The GT505 is a GTRacing gaming chair that is made of mesh fabric, which is extremely soft but also difficult to clean and more prone to stains.
This gaming chair is not rated highly in terms of reclining function because it allows you to take a backrest position just up to 130 degrees.
With 400lbs weight capacity, this chair is also highly suitable for big and tall people.
However, the redeeming feature of this chair is its high-quality material. Being made from padding foam material, this chair will assure your sitting experience for long hours without any discomfort.
Logitech G x Herman Miller Embody
This is the only high-end gaming chair that we take in our topic. Because we know that you just want to invest your money into worth gaming chair and this gaming chair from Herman Miller will not make you disappointed.
Logitech G x Herman Miller EmbodyLogitech G x Herman Miller Embody
With the human-oriented design, this chair will take care of your back all the time you sit on it. All the parts of this gaming chair can be adjusted freely until you a comfortable feeling.
More specially, this chair has been currently used by the TimTheTatman – one of the most well-known streamers in youTube and Twitch communities. To learn more about how TimTheTatman enjoys this chair, check out our article of TimTheTatman chair right now!
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Now, you may get the answer to are gaming chair bad for your back. We also hope this article can help you understand what you should expect from a gaming chair based on how much you spend.
