[wasdfff]

Speaking as someone who goes from bed to couch to bed during this pandemic due to a lack of desk space in my crampt apartment, I would murder someone if it meant I could claim their chair and desk and have actual lumbar support again.

[tartoran]

Lumbar support is a false friend. I used to rely on this until I learned proper posture and did exercises to strenghten and relearn to use skeletal musculature correctly. I need not rest my back on anything now and my general health couldn’t be better.

Unless you had a recent surgery and the body is weakened or you have a serious condition (torn discs, etc) I’d advise to try to ditch all these crutches which end up weakening us up in the long term. However, I admit they could be very useful and help with back pain. I used to not be able to concentrate because of backpain and lumbar support did help at the time.

[c0nsumer]

I recently was shopping for a new chair for home, and realized that... I don't actually need anything special because I habitually sit on the front half of the chair and don't rest my back against the back. So I just got one of the low-tier Steelcase chairs we have at the office and it's great! It'll last, and it's just... fine.

I tried sitting on a yoga ball for a while, but realized that it's not doing anything more for my back (because of how I already sit), but it's difficult to turn between my three laptops because the ball sticks to the floor and my clothes. So I went back to the chair. <shrug>

[tartoran]

Yes, the yoga ball helps somewhat but it is a training tool not a permanent solution as it is quite awkward to sit on. I've been there long time ago, it was recommended by a chiropractor. I used to have bad issues and was seeing a chiropractor 20 years ago but am doing really well now. As a matter of fact I'm in much better shape in my 40s than I was in my 20s and I don't work out like crazy. It was all about fixing sitting/standing and walking postures then the benefits became apparent. You seem like you're on the right path or even are in good shape yourself. Leaning on the back of the chair or supporting on the armrests teaches us to sit wrong and while maybe comfortable at the time it will soon start to mess up with the sitting posture. And sitting on the front side of the chair is a good way to sit. Also I find that bringing the keyboard as close as possible to the lap and the body (desk or keyboard extender) promotes good posture. (elbows close to the torso and body straight, head above torso not sticking out front, adjusting the screen at eye level helps with that).

[c0nsumer]

That's honestly pretty much how I sit, so it's good to hear. I've got a very particular setup that's comfortable to be at and work at for a while, and then I can raise the desk (standing position) because that makes me feel good too.

I do a fair bit of cycling and every-other-day core workouts that are kinda needed because cycling makes my hamstrings and lower back tight. It all happens to come together and I feel the same as you, much better shape in my 40s than my 20s.

I might dare to say I feel pretty darn good physically, most of the time. And can even push myself to pretty hard points (where things hurt, but not in an injury type of way) when I want. I hope I can keep this up, but sort of feel like a bunch of good practices that already are in place can lead to that.

[fastball]

Link?

[tartoran]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25634546

[fastball]

I kinda meant a link to information about the proper posture and exercises you mention.

[aicioara]

Also curious

[tartoran]

Curious about what? Proper posture?

[jolmg]

There are sit-up pillows[1] that can provide this support, if you're interested. Personally speaking, I think lumbar support from my sit-up pillow is better than that of my office chair at work. YMMV. You may want to look for one that's of a good size and firm. Not all are.

[1] https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=sit-up+pillow&iax=images&ia...

[tzs]

Have you considered the floor? When I was young (late teens to early 30s) I found that laying on the carpeted floor on my stomach, with a pillow under my chest, and my head tilted back (think of Superman flying and you'll get the picture) with my computer in front of me worked great.

This probably wouldn't work out well nowadays with a desktop computer because desktop monitor sizes are usually way bigger than they were back then so you would have tilt your head too far, but it might still be fine with a laptop.

[soared]

I sit on my floor, back up against the wall/bed, for like 6 hours a day. Big fan.

[derekp7]

Have you considered (or able to install) an adult loft bed so you can put an office underneath?