When we think of comfort, most of us will think of lying in a very soft and luxurious place and feeling it massaging our bodies. Soft chairs feel great the first time you sit on them, but they are not the best for long-term sitting health and comfort. As time goes by, you will feel aches and pains begin to creep in. You may even have started slouching in your chair. Contrary to popular wisdom, a firmer chair is more comfortable for hours on end and is kinder to your back.

The sturdiness of the chair is usually associated with the comfort of sitting. However, it is important to distinguish between comfort and support, as they are not the same thing. Support refers to how well your chair can support your spine and maintain your healthy posture. The soft chair may feel like a giant, swanky marshmallow, but you probably won’t feel so comfortable after a while. In short, the soft chair actually promotes worse posture.

The chair doesn’t have the structure needed to support the curve of your back, which means you’ll almost always slouch, bending your spine into a C (like S) shape. What’s more, a soft chair makes it harder for your body to relax, as you will be tensing your muscles in a subconscious attempt to hold back. After hours, this will cause stiff neck and shoulders and other discomfort.

However, if you are accustomed to using a softer chair with insufficient support, it may take you some time to adjust to a firmer chair that encourages better sitting habits. But once your body gets used to the correct toning and posture, you’ll start to feel better and reap the health benefits.

In order for you to sit for hours without feeling uncomfortable in your seat, you need a chair that supports well and follows the natural curve of your spine. Only a sturdy chair can do this, so you won’t suffer from back pain in the long run.

–sh