Glossary
Lumbar support
Cushioning or a built-in curve that fills the gap between a chair back and the lower spine, often a larger gap for taller sitters with longer torsos.
Lumbar support refers to cushioning or a shaped curve built into a chair back that fills the natural inward curve of the lower spine when sitting. Without it, the lower back tends to round forward over time, which is a common source of lower back discomfort for anyone who sits for long stretches at a desk.
Tall sitters often have a longer torso and a lower back curve positioned higher up the chair than the built-in lumbar support of a standard office chair is designed for, which means the support ends up hitting the mid-back instead of the lower back. This is a common complaint even from chairs that are marketed as ergonomic.
Adjustable lumbar support, either built into the chair or added as a separate cushion, lets the height and depth of the support move to match a taller torso. When shopping, look specifically for adjustable rather than fixed lumbar support, and check whether the chair's overall back height is tall enough to reach a taller sitter's natural lower back curve in the first place.
Where this comes up
- Best Lumbar Support CushionsBuying guide
- Best Office Chairs for Tall PeopleBuying guide
- Best High Back Office ChairsBuying guide