Are Gaming Chairs Bad for Your Back? What You Need to Know

F5 Home Center is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Without a doubt, gaming chairs are comfortable and stylish. However, there's a lot of buzz around them, including gaming chairs that are bad for your back. So it is true, are gaming chairs bad for you back?

While gaming chairs ensure support on the spine and body while sitting, the main point still lies to whether they improve posture, boost health, and increase productivity.

In this post, we will discuss how it's like to have a better posture and how these flamboyant looking chairs help in overall wellbeing.

Continue reading as we explore the important questions surrounding gaming chairs.

More...

Bad Posture and Health

Sitting improperly on a chair for a prolonged period can lead to poor posture. This affects the position of the bones, muscles, and internal organs due to the increased pressure exerted.

Also, a sedentary lifestyle is bad for the back as it decreases mobility and lowers the limb strength.

Poor posture brought about by slouching can strain the back of the neck leading to migraines. It can also cause breathing problems, poor blood circulation, and stiffness of the joints.

Moreover, studies show a possible link between bad posture and depression. Since body language is related to energy levels and thought processes, people who have better posture tend to be more energetic and alert.

Good thing! Gaming chairs offer an effective solution to keep the body parts aligned and in a better position when sitting. It can reduce stress, which translates to higher energy levels and allows you to sit for long hours.

Gaming Chairs vs. Office Chairs

are gaming chairs bad for your back reddit

Like any other thing, the definition is constantly evolving, depending on expectations and tastes. Let's try to compare the key differences between gaming chairs and regular office chairs

Gaming Chair

  • Fixed headrest
  • Winged backrest
  • Bucket seat pan
  • Raised seat edge
  • Detachable pillows (for lumbar support)
  • 3D or higher armrests

Office Chair

  • Adjustable headrest
  • Wingless backrest
  • Flat seat pan
  • Waterfall shape seat edge
  • Fixed or adjustable lumbar support
  • 2D or higher armrests

How Do Gaming Chairs Work?

Besides providing a comfortable sitting experience, gaming chairs also give support to the back, neck, shoulders, arms, and hips. Unlike the office chairs, the gaming chairs are ergonomically designed while keeping in mind the sedentary lifestyle.

These chairs aim to maintain the correct posture among its users. When the head is positioned correctly, a lesser strain is experienced by the neck. Also, the correctly aligned spine helps reduce back pain while the right posture of the hips allows sitting comfortably even for an extended time. 

Benefits of Gaming Chairs

As long as you are sitting correctly on a gaming chair, you'll enjoy a wide range of benefits. 

1. Promotes Better Posture

best gaming chairs for bad backs

The ergonomic design of gaming chairs tends to reduce back pain. This can also support the natural posture while minimizing the force exerted by the body.

Gaming chairs often come with extendable and adjustable parts to support the lumbar spine and ensure less fatigue on the arms, shoulders, and feet. 


2. Improves Comfort

Most gaming chairs offer adjustment of all components to fit different body shapes and sizes with ease. 


3. Increases Blood Flow

Gaming chairs are designed to get the blood flow to the legs, thus preventing foot or leg problems, especially when sitting for a long time. 


4. Enhances Game Play

Using a gaming chair helps reduce stress and allows you to spend more time while having fun. This prevents you from being distracted by back pains and needles in the feet, which also tends to cause anger and frustrations.


5. Offers Proper Pelvis and Hip Alignment

When seated properly in gaming chairs, the pelvic bony structures prevent spilling backward and forward, causing you to experience less strain, especially on the lower back. 

What to Check in a Gaming Chair?

gaming chair bad back

Choosing a good quality gaming chair can take your experience to a higher level. The best chairs usually come with smart features such as

1. Price

Invest in a chair that perfectly suits your budget. More expensive chairs are good choices, but not always a must!

There are affordable chairs that can also give optimum results. Do a little research and check reviews of a particular product before buying.


2. Seat

The seating area is vital to ensure a more relaxed and comfortable experience, even with prolonged sitting. Keep in mind that sitting for a longer period can hinder blood circulation on the legs, resulting in needles and pins.

Also, there are other long-term issues related to prolonged and improper sitting. 


3. Backrest

A chair that can improve spine alignment is an amazing option. This should also come with removable or adjustable parts, such as lumbar pillows and headrests, that can support three important points: lumbar, middle of the back, and head


4. Foam

A chair made with high-density foam can offer great support to the back. This tends to relax the muscles while giving extra support and firmness. 

Are Gaming Chairs Bad for Your Back?

good gaming chairs for bad backs

Gaming chairs, just like any other item, can be bad for your back when misused. So, the primary key to eliminate back pain is to sit correctly at all times.

To gain the optimal posture benefits of a gaming chair, awareness and discipline are necessary. Be wary of how you hold your body when sitting and ensure discipline to reap its benefits. 

How to Properly Use a Gaming Chair?

  1. 1
    Sit evenly across the seat to distribute bodyweight properly.
  2. 2
    Adjust the chair's height to ensure knees at a right angle.
  3. 3
    Keep your feet flat on the ground. Avoid crossing your legs.
  4. 4
    Adjust the monitor level and keep your chair closer to the desk. 
  5. 5
    Let your elbows rest on the armrest while allowing your shoulders to relax.

Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, gaming chairs clearly make a difference when it comes to supporting proper posture and movement while sitting. They are a perfect solution for any sitting problems, whether working or playing for a longer period.

These chairs help strengthen the core muscles, giving more energy, increasing productivity, and contributing to overall well being.

So are gaming chairs bad for your back? They can, when used incorrectly! However, when appropriately used, gaming chairs offer more comfort and support for your gaming sessions and working experiences.

Leave a Comment