What Is the Best Seat Cushion for Back Pain?

Back pain affects nearly everyone at some point in their life. 

We're serious: the American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that 85% of Americans will experience this problem in their lifetime. That's why we created the best seat cushion for back pain.

Many different conditions cause back pain, from arthritis to simply twisting a muscle. Luckily, there are almost as many treatments designed to help.

Our favorite solution for back pain? We may be biased, but we think choosing a good seat and back cushion to support you while you're sitting is the best way to get rid of back pain for good. 

Think a mere cushion couldn't possibly make a difference for your back pain? Then you better keep reading because we're about to tell you why you're wrong. Check it out!

What Exactly Is Back Pain?

Back pain isn't just common among American adults. It's also one of the top causes of disability around the globe. 

People report experiencing different types of back pain. Some people say it feels like a deep muscle ache, while others describe it as a burning or stabbing sensation. It's common for pain in the back to affect other parts of the body, too, especially the legs. 

Most of the time, back pain isn't serious. Yet, if it's is causing bowel problems or bladder issues or comes along with a fever, see a doctor immediately. Elderly people who experience back pain after a fall should also see a doctor. 

Risk Factors

The more pressure you're putting on your body, the more likely it is for something to go wrong. That's why obesity and improper lifting are both significant risk factors for back pain.

Failing to maintain a strong core can also affect your back. It should be no wonder then that lack of exercise can increase the risk of back pain. 

The older you get, the more your bone and muscle deteriorate. That explains the fact that back pain is more common in people aged 30 or 40 and over.

Two final risk factors of back pain are smoking and mental health conditions.

Researchers aren't sure why yet, but some mental health conditions are correlated with back pain. Specifically, depression and anxiety tend to confer a higher risk of developing pain conditions during a lifetime. 

Studies show that smokers are also more likely to deal with back pain, likely because it increases the risk for herniated disks and osteoporosis. We'll talk more about these two conditions next. 

What's Causing That Pain in Your Back?

Doctors don't consider back pain a medical condition. But they do consider it a symptom of other conditions. 

Here are some of the most common conditions that could be causing that pain in your back.

Arthritis

Arthritis doesn't affect the finger, knee, and elbow joints alone. It can also lead to a condition called spinal osteoarthritis or just spinal arthritis. Spinal arthritis impacts the joints of the spinal cord and is known to cause lower back pain. 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the medical term for loss of bone density. We lose bone mass naturally as we age and through damage or injury.

People with osteoporosis experience tiny fractures to the weakened vertebral column. These are known as compression fractures and back pain is a well-known symptom of compression fractures. 

Hernias

Osteoporosis isn't the only spinal condition that causes back pain. Hernias are structural issues with individual components of the spinal column. With a hernia, vertebral discs get out of wack, often leading to pain in the lower back.

Strained Muscles

Perhaps the most common reason for back pain is a strained muscle. It's easy to get a muscle strain, whether from lifting heavy objects or making sudden jerky movements. Sometimes, doing too much activity can also cause muscle strain.

Muscle strains are more common the older you get. Luckily, muscle strains don't cause permanent damage. But they can cause annoying symptoms like lower back pain.

Other Causes of Back Pain

We've barely scratched the surface of the many conditions that can lead to back pain. But we'll mention one more: bad posture. Not sitting or standing correctly can put pressure on your lower back, leading to pain.

Treatments for Lower Back Pain

So, here's the good news about lower back pain: doctors can treat it. Keep reading to learn about some of the most common treatments for this condition.  

Surgery

Doctors consider surgery a last-resort treatment for people with severe, chronic back pain. People usually don't undergo surgery unless the underlying condition is causing nerve damage.

However, some people do get surgery without nerve damage. This is usually the case when pain doesn't respond to the other treatments on this list.

Medication

Over the counter (OTC) drugs like ibuprofen are the first line of defense against back pain. Most people don't need more than that to feel better.

However, people with chronic pain or pain that doesn't respond to OTC medication are different. For these people, doctors may prescribe:

• Opioids
• Muscle relaxers
• Antidepressants
• Steroid shots

Keep in mind that these medications can have serious side effects. That's why most people choose to try OTC drugs alongside alternative medicine and/or home remedies first.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a growing field of medicine predominately used to treat pain. CAM includes practices like chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and more. 

CAM therapies are designed to help relieve pain with non-invasive measures. Studies show that these non-surgical treatments can be highly effective for many types of pain. Back pain is no exception. 

Home Remedies 

If you need an extra pain-relieving boost in addition to OTC medication, home remedies can help. Look to the following at-home treatments for the most robust results:

• Epsom salt baths to ease aches and pains
• Lavender or capsaicin essential oil ointments to decrease pain
• Exercises to strengthen your core and improve your posture
• Hot and cold therapy to lessen pain and inflammation, respectively

What's the easiest way to alleviate back pain without medication or surgery? Something as simple as changing the way you sit can do the trick. And choosing the best seat and back cushions for back pain will help. 

Preventing Back Pain

Treatments aren't enough on their own to prevent that pain in your back from returning. You need prevention strategies for that. 

Here are our top tips for preventing back pain.

Reduce Your Risk Factors

The first step to prevention is cutting down your back pain risk factors. 

This means smokers should quit smoking, overweight individuals should try to obtain a healthier body size, and sedentary people should exercise more.

Exercise will also build muscle strength. This can help improve posture and reduce pressure on your body. 

Use Your Body the Right Way

Twisting or straining a muscle is a surefire way to irritate that pain in your back. That's why you need to stand, lift, and sit smart.

Standing smart means trying not to slouch. People who have to stand for long periods should also try to take sitting breaks when possible. Another tip is to alternate feet to reduce the load on your lower back.

Lifting smart means trying not to pick up heavy items at all. If you must lift heavy objects, always lift with your legs. Maintain a straight back and don't twist— bend at the knees and keep the heavy object as close to your body as possible.

Finally, how do you sit smart? By choosing the best seat cushions for back pain. We're telling you where to find them next, so keep reading. 

The Best Seat Cushion for Back Pain

Good sitting posture is key to reducing back pain. Even better, this at-home remedy can help keep back pain away in the future.

Experts recommend that a good seat for preventing back pain includes:

• Support for the lower back 
• Support to keep knees and hips level
• Support to help maintain the curve in your lower back

With these tenets in mind, Everlasting Comfort created a whole line of seat and back cushions plus travel accessories ideal for relieving and preventing back pain. Learn more about why we have the best seat cushions for back pain below. 

Memory Foam Materials

When it comes to choosing the right cushions to improve your posture, materials matter. 

Memory foam is the standard material for superior comfort. That's because it's designed to contour to the unique shape of your body. This helps to relieve pressure against your body, alleviating aches and pains. 

For example, our heat-responsive memory foam cushions mold to your body as you sit. That way, you get the support you need where you need it. Yet, you won't feel uncomfortable, even if you're sitting for long periods. 

Gel Infusions

These days, it's common to find memory foam infused with other materials for added benefits.

For example, gel infusions make memory foam more porous. The more porous memory foam is, the less pressure it exerts on your body. The less pressure you feel while sitting, the more comfortable you'll be, and the less stress you'll put on your back.

Our gel-infused memory foam cushions also offer the benefit of regulating your body temperature. That way, you'll have room to breathe and flex, providing the ultimate comfort for all-day sitting.

Seat Cushions

Sitting on a hard surface day in and day out can take a toll on your lower body. It's not just your lower back, either. All-day sitting can also do a number on your legs, tailbone, and hips.

That's why it's so important to choose the right seat cushion. Besides selecting the right materials, you need to pick the shape that will offer the most comfort and support. 

For example, our memory foam seat cushions are u-shaped. They take after orthopedic devices designed to help injured people sit more comfortably.  

Back Cushions

Sometimes, a seat cushion isn't enough to alleviate your back pain on its own. If that sounds like you, it's about time you considered a memory foam back cushion.

Back cushions can help reduce strain against painful lower body regions. For example, place the cushion higher up on your back to improve your posture and minimize muscle strain. Or put it just above your seat cushion to support the curve of your lower back. 

However you choose to arrange your cushion, make sure you don't choose just one! Back and seat cushion sets are vital for keeping you comfortable and pain-free once and for all!

Other Cushion Considerations

Choosing gel-infused memory foam seat and back cushions are all well and good. But the materials and the type of cushion aren't the only factors you need to consider before you buy.

You also need to think about how easy it will be to take care of your cushions.

Usually, you have to pay a lot of money to get an easy to clean cushion. That's not how we do it at Everlasting Comfort.

Our cushions come with machine-washable covers that zip off when they're due for a wash. Plus, they come at a price that won't break your budget.

Our products are also hypoallergenic. You won't have to worry about your new back and seat cushions irritating you, even if you're sitting all day.

Best of all, we offer a lifetime replacement guarantee for our memory foam cushions. That way, you'll never have to go without your seat and back cushions ever again!

Let Everlasting Comfort Change the Way You Sit!

There are many causes of back pain and almost just as many ways to treat it. Sitting in a more comfortable and supportive chair is one of the easiest ways to quickly alleviate pain in your back.

To transform your chair, make sure you choose the best seat cushion for back pain. That means back and seat cushions offering the comfort of memory foam plus the pressure relief of gel infusions. 

Are you ready to say goodbye to your lower back pain forever? Then what are you waiting for? Check out our line of pain relief comfort cushions right now!