Independent · No manufacturer sponsorshipReviews updated weekly
Three letters - SL, AP, ML - and a stack of marketing copy. Here's what each lumbar mechanism is doing for your spine, and which kind you actually need.
"Lumbar support" is shorthand for several different mechanisms doing different jobs. Get the wrong one and the chair will frustrate you regardless of price. Get the right one and a $300 chair can outperform a $1,500 one.
A fixed lumbar curve molded into the backrest. Cheap, simple, fits a narrow band of bodies. Good for users between 5'7" and 5'11" with average spinal curvature.
Slides up and down. The most common adjustable system, and the one most users actually need.
Two-axis adjustment. Worth the upcharge if you're outside the average range — very tall, very short, or have a known spinal curvature.
Written by
Sarah Doan, OTOccupational therapist and ergonomics consultant. Twelve years certifying workstations across hospitals, studios, and remote-first companies.
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