Unfortunately, hip pain can affect a lot of office workers and using the wrong office chair might just make your hip pain even worse. Perhaps you’re looking to reduce hip soreness or you’ve been struggling with sciatica or SI joint…either way, a proper ergonomic office chair is what you need.
Of course, many things can cause hip pain, but it’s essential to know how you can manage that pain. We’ve compiled a list of four different ways you can start doing if you want to improve your wellbeing:
- Opt for chairs with outstanding ergonomic features which aim at improving your posture and reducing pain.
- Search for chairs that provide a combination of heat and massage for pain relief.
- Focus on chairs that offer maximum comfort to relieve pain with adjustable features.
- Consider getting a chair that has an ergonomic seat or any chair with cutting-edge alternatives.
Reasons Why Your Hips Hurt When Sitting for Prolonged Hours
It’s quite obvious that there are many reasons as to why your hips and lower back hurt when sitting for extended hours. Sometimes, you might even think ‘’why does lumbar support doesn’t feel right?’’ Ideally, your lumbar support shouldn’t hurt, but there might be reasons as to why you might feel pain in your hip or lower back, such as:
Poor Posture
The most common reason for a hip pain is a poor posture. When you sit in a slouch position, you’re only putting pressure on your hips. As a result, this can lead to back and hip pain.
Sitting On an Overly Soft or Uneven Surface
Most of the time we sit down without minding the surface, but this can be dangerous in the future. If you sit on an overly soft or uneven surface, you might tilt your body to one side which leads to pressure on your hips. Additionally, this extra weight on one hip leads to more pain and a poor posture.
Leg Crossing
Everyone loves to cross their legs when switching positions, but are you aware of the risk that it poses in the long run? When crossing your legs, you are leaning to one side, which means you’re putting pressure on your hips, leading to pain.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
You might have an existing medical condition that makes your hips and lower back hurt. In that case, it’s only natural that you will experience pain when sitting for a long time. Such conditions may include kidney stones, gallbladder issues, abdominal artery tumors, etc.
Muscle Strain
A muscle strain, also known as a lumbar strain, occurs at the lower back when you twist or overstretch your back too much. Straining your muscle leads to pain that goes down your lower back, so your back becomes stiff. If you don’t try to avoid this, it can become a long-term health issue for you.
Pinched Nerves
By sitting for prolonged hours, you can pinch your nerves unconsciously. This can happen because of stretching, compression, or constriction of the nerve, also known as a radiculopathy in the medicine world. Moreover, a pinched nerve adds pain in your hip, thigh, buttocks, and groin area. You might experience numbness, burning sensations, or loss of movement.
Not Being Active
Of course, sitting in an office chair for many hours is not very active. However, if you don’t exercise or you’re not physically active, your muscles become weak, which leads to hip and back pain. You can easily avoid and overcome this issue by stretching often and doing exercises to strengthen the muscles.
Why You Should Buy an Office Chair for Hip Pain
Prioritizing health is the first and most important thing you can do for yourself. If you sit for prolonged periods on a desk, you increase the risk of developing hip, neck, back, and buttock pain. After a while, you can experience worse pain such as sciatica.
As a result of this, it’s important to read carefully and choose an ergonomic office chair that provides maximum support through your working hours. With many ergonomic chairs out there for hip pain, it can be challenging to select the best one. Lucky for you, we’ve included a list of the top 6 best office chairs for hip pain that will help alleviate the pain and minimize the risk of potential injuries.
SIDIZ T50 Home Office Desk Chair
The Sidiz T50 deserves the first place in our list of ‘best of’ chairs because of how adjustable it is. This is a high-quality ergonomic office chair that won’t break your wallet; it will only alleviate your hip pain at a much affordable price point.
Features: Perhaps the most notable feature of this chair is the forward tilting seat which helps to ease hip pain and you can do this by using the lever to angle the seat at around 5 degrees. This feature brings your hips above the knees and opens up the hips. Other adjustable features include seat depth – a very convenient seat that’s comfortable even after 8 hours of sitting. This chair is as customizable as it can be since tilts into 5 lockable positions, up to 125 degrees. To top it all off, the lumbar support is also adjustable to fit your needs.
Design: The Sidiz T50 is quite literally a modern piece and not just because of its features. This chair is carefully designed to help with hip pain because of the pronounced waterfall edge which reduces the contact between the seat and your thighs, minimizing the risk of pressure. Not only that, but the soft fabric upholstery and mesh add an extra comfortable sensation that eliminates back and hip pain.
It’s a modern and sleek design that pairs well with any office setting, especially since it comes in three simplistic colors: blue, black, and grey.
What we like:
- Curved backrest tilts up to 125-degrees
- Comes with 3D armrests
- Forward seat tilt and waterfall edge seat for optimum comfort
- Lumbar support is depth adjustable
- Strong fabric upholstery doesn’t tear over time
- Ventilated mesh back
What we don’t like:
- The backrest doesn’t recline
- The thickness of the cushion might not be the best for heavy people
XUER Ergonomic Office Chair
If you’re one of those people who sweat easily, an office chair with a ventilated mesh back like the XUER is a worthy opponent to consider. Thanks to its mesh cover, lumbar support, and waterfall edge seat, this chair is one of the best office chairs that gets rid of hip pain.
Features: The most prominent feature of the XUER is the lumbar support which automatically adjusts to your body. Many users have claimed this to be even better than the more expensive chairs like the Gesture. Apart from this, the chair has a tilt function, with 4 locking points up and a maximum 119-degrees tilt angle. The seat depth measures around 17.7 inches which is decent for not so tall people.
Design: The cherry on top is the curved sloping seat design and the mesh back that doesn’t let you slip down and it digs right into your thighs to reduce hip pain. As a bonus, the XUER comes with a sliding seat pan that you can use to find the best position while working. It has a straightforward design, but it fits perfect in any office area because it only comes in a black or grey color.
What we like:
- Amazing lumbar support
- Ergonomically shaped mesh seat provides extra comfort
- Wide adjustable headrest
- One of the best mesh options for people with hip pain
- 3D armrests
- Heavy-duty solid base
What we don’t like:
- We’d love to see an improved tilt function
- Seat depth might not be adequate for tall users
2xhome – Ergonomic Adjustable Rolling Saddle Stool Chair
This 2xhome Saddle Chair is not your typical office chair, but we’re positive you’re going to love it. What makes this a great secondary chair for users with hip pain is the forward sloping seat that helps with the lower back, along with its other features.
Features: First things first, a saddle chair provides enough space for your hips when seated, while also minimizing pressure in the lower back. We also chose this chair because of its adjustability. This is both tilt and height adjustable up to 28.25 inches. The ideal open hip angle stands between 120 and 135-degrees which help with the hip pain.
Design: Most people find it difficult to adjust to a saddle chair, but this 2xhome is perfect for beginners because it contours your body exceptionally well. What’s more, the seat is a lot thicker than other saddle chairs, which allows you to sit for longer periods. This is a multi-purpose saddle chair that can be used in many occasions, not just in an office because the PU leather is sturdy and holds up well even in rough conditions and environments.
What we like:
- Adjustable by tilt and height
- Thick seat cushion provides more comfort
- Comes with a backrest for added support
- High-quality PU leather
- Forward sloping seat is beneficial for the lower back
- Comes in a black or beige color to match the interior of any setting
What we don’t like:
- The seat may be too wide for short people
Steelcase Series 2 Office Chair
The Steelcase Series 2 is a must in our list of best office chairs for hip pain because of its advanced mesh and fabric upholstery, and ergonomic features that make this an effective chair for people who suffer from hip pain.
Features: There’s a lot going on when it comes to this chair, but let’s talk about the seat pan first. The seat height can be adjusted up to 21.5 inches, so it’s perfect for short to average people. Additionally, the seat depth is also adjustable up to 3.75 inches. To add to that extra support, the chair includes adjustable lumbar support, responsive backrest, and weight-activated synchro-tilt.
Design: Apart from its unique ergonomic features, the Steelcase Series 2 is designed to make your life a whole lot easier. The upholstered fabric and the cushion provide the best comfort while also being sturdy. Inside the foam, there are air pockets that help distribute the pressure evenly. But wait, there’s more! The seat has a sloping edge design that’s flexible enough to minimize any pressure on your thighs.
You could get this with a pair of hard floor casters or just carpet casters. Either way, the Steelcase comes in a variety of different colors, such as:
- Aubergine
- Graphite
- Jungle
- Lagoon
- Licorice
- Malt
- Merlot
What we like:
- Suitable for most body types
- The seat has a pliable-edged waterfall design
- Available in many different colors and in a dark or light frame
- Responsive backrest
- Adjustable lumbar support
- 4D arms
- It comes with a 12-year warranty
What we don’t like:
- No neck support
- It might be too expensive for some people
Molents High Back Ergonomic Desk Chair
If you want plenty of hip support and comfort, but you’re tight on the money, the Molents high back desk has got your back, literally. This chair is specifically designed to support your spine and take pressure off the hips, resulting in a healthier seating position.
Features: In addition to comfort, the Molents comes with a height-adjustable lumbar support that’s ideal for your lower back, as well as an adjustable backrest that reclines so effortlessly. Other adjustable features include 3D arms, 3 positions recline lock, adjustable seat depth and height to enhance you seating experience.
Design: As mentioned, the S-curve design of the Molents will adjust to your spine’s shape and allow you to sit at an upright position. Speaking of comfort, the chair has a thick seat cushion with a flat and wide shape, perfect for hip pain sufferers. Also, the breathable mesh backrest allows for ventilation and extra support during a hot wave. At last, the chair has a heavy-duty base that ensures longevity in the long run.
What we like:
- Padded seat has a 2.2 inch depth adjustment
- S-curve design and tall mesh backrest provide extra support
- 3D adjustable armrests
- Adjustable lumbar support to support your neck
- Budget-friendly alternative with high-end features
What we don’t like:
- The seat cushion may be too firm for some people (personal preference)
AKRacing Onyx Gaming Chair
If you’re into racing style office chairs, this AKracing executive chair is just what you’re looking for. This may mostly appeal to users who are into gaming, but they also work in an office so they’re trying to fit their gaming and office needs.
Features: Indeed, the AKracing has the best of both worlds. Not only is this extremely durable, but it also has a high back that ensures your back is properly supported while working or gaming. The end result is a pressure-free hip and spine. Additionally, the armrests are adjustable and there’s plenty of room for when sitting down. It also has an adjustable lumbar and headrest support that can be adjusted to your preferences. Do we need to add anything else?
Design: You saw how comfortable this chair can be, but about its design? The racing-style design of this one is so simple yet modern enough that you can use it as an executive chair too, hence the name. It’s covered in PU leather, but you could also opt for real leather which is surprisingly quite affordable. Apart from this, the chair is exceptionally comfortable for long office hours, reducing the pressure on your hips and spine.
What we like:
- You can choose between a PU and real leather option
- Reclines up to 180 degrees
- Comes with a soft lumbar support
- There’s lots of room when sitting down so your hip doesn’t push against the chair
- Works both as a gaming and office chair
- 4D armrests
- Weight capacity is 330 lbs
What we don’t like:
- Not so comfortable for shorter people
Are Office Chairs for Hip Pain Worth It?
Honestly, yes! Since you’re going to use the chair for a long time, might as well invest in a proper office chair that ensures you’ll stay supported at all times. Below, we included three reasons to prove that these chairs are worth buying.
You work at a desk: On average, you work 8 to 9 hours, which rounds up to 40-50 hours a week sitting at a desk. In that case, if you’re not sitting in properly or you’re using a poorly-made chair that isn’t supportive, this could only worsen your situation.
You have hip, neck, or back pain: If you’re reading this, you most probably suffer from hip, neck, or back pain. That’s why prioritizing an ergonomically designed chair is the best thing you can do for your wellbeing. While it’s true that office chairs can’t cure your pain completely, they can help reduce the pain and pressure that comes with it.
You’re pregnant: Of course, pregnancy is a woman’s most beautiful experience, but it also comes with some unexpected pain or aches, such as hip and back pain, or even sciatica. So, if you’re a pregnant woman AND you’re working in an office, what are you still doing not getting a decent ergonomic office chair?
Key Factors When Buying an Office Chair for Hip Pain
As you’ve to come to learn already, it is necessary to do a detailed research about the type of office chair you’re interested in. We’ve compiled a list of factors that are necessary to consider.
- Is the lumbar support adjustable?
Never underestimate the power and importance of lumbar support. If your back is not properly aligned, it can lead to painful pressure points, especially your hips. An office chair with an adjustable lumbar support is the bare minimum feature that you should look for. Built-in lumbar support is also nice, but if you want to personalize your seating experience, an adjustable lumbar support is your go-to feature.
- Is the seat height at the right angle with your desk?
Apart from the lumbar support, if your chair is too high or too low and it’s disproportioned with your desk, it can cause immense pain in your hips. It would be best if you could adjust the height of your office chair so your feet lie flat on the floor, while the hips and knees stand at a 100-110 degree angle (slightly reclined). Additionally, make sure that your arms are parallel to your desk to minimize any potential injury.
- Is the seat angle adjustable?
Another huge cause of hip pain is when your hips are at an improper angle. Being able to adjust the seat angle guarantees that perfect hip alignment. However, it’s also important to note that not every chair includes this feature as this is more on the pricy side, so if you have some money to spend, then go for it.
- Do you want a reclining chair?
Majority of office chairs have some type of rocking or tilt function. Sometimes, you can find chairs that have a recline function and that’s always a bonus. The first thing you should consider is the recline angle you prefer. At a minimum, chairs can recline up to 120 degrees, while other chairs have a deeper recline up to 180 degrees (flat). Also, if your preferred angle is around 150 degrees, it’s best to get an office hair that includes a footrest, so you avoid putting pressure on your hips.
- What design are you opting for?
It goes without saying that office chairs come in a variety of designs; some are simple, and others are unique. Either way, you should go for a chair that complements your office space, no matter the interior. Based on our research, the most common combo is the mesh and upholstered seat cushion because it provides airflow and comfort at the same time.
Or, if you prefer, you could always go for a leather upholstered chair if you’re into executive chairs, though these tend to be less breathable.