Best Office Chair for Neck Pain

Having neck pain, is well . . . a pain in the neck. The best office chair for neck pain is a vital investment that can help. Besides having to suffer through a stiff neck and walking around like a robot, the worst part of having neck pain is explaining to your coworkers how your neck got out of whack in the first place. You would like to tell them that you were injured rock climbing or skydiving, but instead, you have to tell the truth – that you got hurt by taking a nap on the couch, or rather because you didn’t invest in the best office chair for neck pain.

Related: Best Executive Office Chair

The other bad thing about having neck pain is that you’re hurt, but you aren’t sick enough to stay home from work. You may be miserable, but you still have to bring home the bacon. If you suffer from reoccurring back pain, you may want to invest in a new office chair. Read on to discover today’s best office chair for neck pain. All seven chairs featured in this article or ergonomically designed, and they all feature support for your head and neck. Some are designed specifically for gaming, but most are made as an alternative to traditional executive chairs.

Best Office Chair for Neck Pain? Here Our 7 of Our Favorites

1. Komene Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair

Komene makes the first chair, and it is called the ergonomic mesh office chair. This is by far the most expensive chair on the list. The Komene chair has many features worth mentioning. First, the makers of this chair claim that using this chair reduces the chances of developing a neck problem because the chair offers your head and neck proper support. Not only is the chair supposedly comfortable, but it also prevents complicated problems like cervical spondylosis. Learn more about this condition later in this article.

This chair is comfortable on the back because it supports your spine as well. Those sitting in this chair can stretch their backs 135 degrees. You only have to look at the chair to see that it is made to support the spine. It also offers lumbar support as well as a large headrest. The soft material from which this chair is made reduces the amount of pressure on the hips and rear end. This chair was made to minimize sedentary fatigue.

Related: The Best Ergonomic Office Chair: Here are 7 of Our Favorites

The chair is made of technical, breathable mesh on the seat and the back of the chair. The benefit of having a mesh chair is that it is breathable and washable. The mesh increases the air flow and keeps the person sitting cool and refreshed all day. This is the best office chair for neck pain for someone who is always hot or someone who works in a stifling environment.

The armrests are padded and can move in all directions and heights to make sure your body fits perfectly in the chair.

The Komene chair is perfectly adjustable in all other areas as well. The user can adjust the tilt tension to make it easier or harder to lean back in the chair. The height of the chair can be pneumatically adjusted 10 centimeters as well. As mentioned earlier, the chair can lean back 135 degrees. Nap in the chair with ease as the tilt can be locked into place and the head and neck will be supported.

Komene understands that people have different body types and sizes. They accommodate this by allowing customers to rotate the headrest to fit around the head and neck of customers of any height ranges. The backrest can be adjusted to accommodate any height as well. A chair is only as good as how much it can be adjusted. If the chair is unable to adjust to different body types and sizes, it will only be good for a limited number of users.

The chair sits on silent casters that allow you to glide smoothly around your workspace.

The chair has a 275-pound load capacity. The chair weighs 47.5 pounds. The chair is 26.6 inches wide and 50.4 inches tall. The seat can be adjusted between 18.1 and 21.9 inches, and the distance from the front to the back of the seat is 17 inches.

Amazon customers can purchase a three or five-year protection plan for this Komene product. Also pay attention to the warranty and guarantee the company offers their customers as well.

Komene makes a wide variety of office chairs and stand up desks. Most of their products are available on Amazon.

2. Homall Gaming Chair

The next two chairs on our list of the best office chair for neck pain look more like gaming chairs than traditional office chairs. Homall makes the first of the two. Homall’s gaming chair is described as having the shape of a racing car seat. It has less adjustability than the previous chair, but it is about a third of the cost.

The chair comes in black and blue, black and red, or black and white. There are two pillows built into the chair. The first is located behind the head, and the next is in the lumbar region.

The frame of the chair is made from a 1.8 mm thick steel frame that supports up to 300 pounds.

The chair is made of PU leather or bicast leather. Bicast leather is split leather that is covered with a layer of polyurethane. The surface is embossed to give it the look of real leather. The material is described as “skin friendly” and “wear-resisting.”

The PU leather covers a high-density shaping foam. The foam has elasticity resilience, which means that even if a large person sits in the chair for a long time, the cushion will still spring up when the chair is vacated. The armrests are padded as well.

The cushion is not the only part of this chair that is designed to support a lot of weight. SGS verifies the gas lift. For those of you not in the know, SGS is a company located in Switzerland, which provides inspection, verification, testing, and certification services. SGS also tested the chair’s rubber casters, which were rolled for 1,000 miles. Are you envisioning someone getting pushed down the highway while sitting in an office chair holding a clipboard? No, me neither.

The back of the chair measures 22.5 x 30.5 inches. The seat measures 19.8 by 20.5 inches. The height of the seat can be adjusted between 17.3 inches and 21.5 inches.

Customers using this chair can sit straight up at 90 degrees and lean back 180 degrees. This is the perfect chair to nap in as well! The chair can rock back and forth when you adjust the knob beneath the seat.

The company provides a warranty for their product. Customers can receive a free exchange for installation problems, damage, and missing parts within one year of purchase. You can receive a refund or replacement of your chair for any reason within one month of purchase. Amazon also allows customers to purchase either a three-year or five-year warranty on the chair as well.

Homell is a division of Newegg Inc. It has a presence in more than 50 other countries in Europe, the Asian Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. It is headquartered in Industry, California. They offer a wide variety of computers, electronics, networking, office solutions, home and tools, and software and services.

3. Furmax Gaming/Office Chair

Furmax makes the next gaming/office chair on the list. It looks somewhat similar to the last product, but it does not have the same built-in cushions or pillows at the back and lumbar region. The back of the chair is tall though, and because of that, it does provide head and neck support. The chair is described as having a bucket seat, and the arms are padded.

The chair sits on five legs, like most chairs of this style. The casters move smoothly over most surfaces. The distance between the casters if 14.56 inches.

The bulk of the chair is made of PU leather, but the back and a small portion of the seat is made of a mesh material that is supposedly more breathable than the other portions of the chair. There are two cutouts designed in the back of the chair to promote airflow while still maintaining support, which is part of the reason it is on the list for the best office chair for neck pain.

The seating area dimensions are 20 inches by 20 inches. The backrest measures 20 inches by 28.3 inches. The height can be adjusted between 20 inches and 24.4 inches. The chair is designed to hold 280 pounds.

The chair can be rocked back and forth. The chair is described as having a conventional tilt mechanism, but it does not say how far the chair tilts back. It also has a reclining lock mechanism, which makes it easier to nap in the chair.

The company offers a free replacement or money back guarantee for any problem with the quality of the chair for thirty days. They also replace parts for free if there was an assembly problem. If you have a damaged or missing part when you open the box, Furmax will replace it for six months after purchase.

Amazon customers can purchase a three-year accident protection plan for this chair as well.  

If you would rather not assemble this product yourself, you can purchase the chair already put together. The assembly cost is almost equivalent to the cost of the item itself.

There are five different designs for this Furmax chair. Customers can purchase a black and blue version, a solid black version, or a black and gray version. If red matches your color scheme, you can buy the black chair with a lot of red or a little bit of red.

4. BestMassage Office Chair for Neck Pain

BestMassage makes the next chair on our list, and you would think that with a name like that, the best office chair for neck pain would come complete with some magic fingers built inside. It doesn’t.

The chair has a high back and offers an attached pillow at both the head and lumbar regions. It is built to fit the curvature of the human spine. In fact, the text in the Amazon listing says that is was designed with “human-oriented ergonomic construction” in case there’s any doubt that this chair wasn’t designed for people.

The pillow that attaches to the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate people of varying heights.

The armrests are padded and can flip up to get out of the way if necessary.

The casters at the base of the chair swivel 360 degrees, making it easy to maneuver around your office.

The chair allows the user to tilt back 130 degrees or sit straight up at 90 degrees. The chair comes equipped with a handle that can be pushed to keep it from tilting.

It does not seem as if you can purchase the BestMassage chair already assembled, but the company information states that it can be put together in 15 minutes. The tools you would need to assemble the chair come with the product.

Related: Today’s Best Office Chair Under $100

It seems as if every office chair is certified by a different organization. BIFMA certifies the BestMassage chair. BIFMA is an organization that works with the office furniture industry. There really is an organization for everything! Apparently, this industry and the company say the chair will support a weight limit of 250 pounds.

Another organization, the SGS, certifies that the height adjuster on this chair uses high-purity nitrogen injection, a thick pipe wall that offers a good feeling and smooth lifting. Apparently, SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. This was the same company previously mentioned that tested the casters for 1,000 miles.

The chair comes with a one-year warranty that includes a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Customers purchasing this chair through Amazon can also buy a three-year extended warranty for the product.

There does not seem to be any measurements available for this chair, and the upholstery material is not listed also. It is probably made with PU leather.

Customers can choose between black and white, black and blue, or black and red upholstery.

Not surprisingly, BestMassage also sells massage tables, massage tools, and other wellness products. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

5. MBOO Office Chair with Head & Neck Support

MBOO makes the next office chair. While some chairs that offer head and neck support have a tall back, this one has a separate headrest that looks as if it is attached to the back of the chair. This best office chair for neck pain can also be purchased pre-assembled. Although, the assembly cost is about half of the price of the chair itself.

The MBOO chair is made of a black mesh material. This is perfect for those of you who get hot easily or work in a warm environment.

The seat is padded, and there is adjustable lumbar support included to relieve the tension in your lower back.

The chair has been designed to include a knee-tilt function. This function allows you to keep your feet on the floor while reclining.

The armrests and headrest are adjustable and padded. The armrest can move up and down as well as in and out. The seat is described as a waterfall front seat, which means that its design removes the pressure from the lower legs and improves circulation.

The chair rocks back and forth and can recline from 90 degrees to 110 degrees. The chair offers a tilt lock mechanism as well as a tilt tension adjustment knob.

The chair can be adjusted between 45.7 inches tall to 49.2 inches. The chair is 24.88 inches at its widest point. The headrest measures 7.1 inches by 10.24 inches. The gas lift on the chair can lift up to 330 pounds.

The chair itself weighs 45.7 pounds.

MBOO offers a free replacement or money back guarantee for any problem with the quality of the chair within thirty days of purchase. They also provide free part replacements if you have a difficult time assembling the product, and they will replace any damaged or missing parts within six months.

The chair only comes in one color and style. The chair is black.

6. Sleekform Wall Street Office Chair

Sleekform makes the next product, and it looks very similar to the previous chair made by MBOO. Sleekform calls this chair the Wall Street. They also make another traditional office chair called the New York. The San Diego and The Atlanta chairs have an alternative design as most of the pressure while using those chairs incurs on the bottom of the legs. These chairs as described as kneeling chairs are another contender for best office chair for neck pain.

This chair is also made of black mesh, except for the seat and padded lumbar and head/neck support. The headrest can be adjusted by its height and angle. The lumbar support can be adjusted by its height and depth. The armrests can be adjusted by their height and distance between each other. The seat height can be adjusted, as well as the tilt and the tilt tension.

The assembly can be completed in eight simple steps. It does not look as if this product can be purchased already assembled.

The Wall Street has a weight capacity of 330 pounds. The rollerblade casters allow you to move effortlessly across any office floor, whether it is covered with carpet, hardwood, concrete, or tile.

The backrest can be tilted between 90 degrees and 120 degrees.

The mesh back of the Wall Street will allow maximum airflow to keep you cool when stock prices drop.

Customers can return this chair after the first 90 days with no questions asked. Amazon customers can also purchase either a three-year or five-year warranty for this Wall Street chair.

Sleekform’s CEO and founder lives in Austin, Texas. It is not clear where the company is located.

7. Longem Mesh Chair with Attached Headrest

Longem makes the last chair on the list. It is also is a mesh chair with an attached headrest.

The Longem chair can be purchased assembled or not assembled. Assembly costs $66.13 per chair. Assembly instructions can be found online. Search YouTube for LONGEM 125 to find a video detailing the assembly process.

This chair has a built-in lumbar support system. It is not clear if this support system is adjustable or not.

The pneumatic controls allow you to raise or lower your seat with ease. It comes with a tilt lock and a tilt tension knob that allows you to control the ease of reclining, which is important on the best office chair for neck pain.

The armrests can be adjusted by height and are padded with PU leather.

The nylon base is supported by smooth-rolling casters that offer a 360-degree swivel. The people of BIFMA certified this chair as being able to support 250 pounds.

The company offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a one-year warranty against any defects with the product.

The back size is 19.69 inches by 29.13 inches. The seat size is 19.69 inches by 17.72 inches. The seat height is 16.93 inches by 20.67 inches. The overall dimensions of this chair are 24.4 inches by 24.8 inches by 43.19 to 49.61 inches. The chair weighs 29.7 pounds.

Which chair is the best? Honestly, many of the products on the list are similar in design. It would be difficult to choose. Four of the chairs are made of mostly mesh and have an attached headrest. The other three look more like gaming chairs. The gaming chairs may not breathe as much because they are made of some sort of PU leather or similar product.

Most of the products are adjustable. Since they are similar, you may need to decide based on the size and price of the product.

As always, check out each product’s customer reviews before making a decision. Amazon does a good job ensuring their reviews come from certified purchasers.

Why is the Best Office Chair for Neck Pain so Important?

Whatever chair you choose, all of these are designed with the neck and head in mind. Why is this a big deal? Why should you purchase the best office chair for neck pain? There are a variety of reasons this is important.

Rid Yourself of Desk Fatigue

Don’t come home from work feeling as if you have just run a marathon. Sitting at a desk all day shouldn’t make you feel sore and exhausted. Feeling physically exhausted from sitting is not normal, so if you are hurting at the end of a day of sitting in your office chair, consider purchasing the best office chair for neck pain that comes with a headrest.

Improve Your Posture

Well-designed chairs should improve your posture, not hurt it. You should not be sitting for an extended period of time hunched forward, with your shoulders scrunched forward and your body tensed. Instead, purchase an ergonomically designed chair that naturally positions your body. Don’t allow your body to compensate for a poor chair design by sitting awkwardly.

Related: Best Lumbar Support Cushion For Office Chairs

Use the Headrest to Take a Nap

Everyone loves a nap, and sleep is essential to remain productive throughout the day. It’s downright impossible to have a rest in an office chair that does not have a headrest, and if the chair doesn’t recline. Try it once, and you will be at the chiropractor’s office the next day complaining of an aching neck. Read more later in this article concerning naps.

Now let’s talk about other strategies to keep your back and body from hurting, in addition to getting the best office chair for neck pain.

Get up Every Twenty Minutes

Not only will getting up every so often allow you to stretch your back, but it will also give your eyes a break as well. Eyestrain and eye fatigue can cause you to feel exhausted at the end of the day as well. Every twenty minutes, you should stare at a spot twenty feet ahead of you for at least twenty seconds. Do this as you are taking a break from your chair. Repeat this periodically throughout the day to keep yourself from feeling tired and exhausted at the end of a workday.

Buy an Adjustable Chair

While we know the importance of purchasing the best office chair for neck pain that has a headrest, it is also essential to buy a chair that can be adjusted to fit your body type. Look for chairs that have adjustable headrests, lumbar supports, and arm heights. Make sure the height of your chair can be adjusted to keep your knees lower than your hips while seated. Look for chairs that have backs that curve naturally to support your spine.

Consider Standing

One way to keep your body refreshed and your mind on target is to stand as you work. While this may not be something you want to do all day, standing does have benefits. It keeps your blood flowing throughout your body and allows you to get “more steps in” as you move your body more during the workday. Take a look at adjustable work surfaces that will enable you to stand and sit for periods of time throughout the day. Read more about the benefits of standing later on in this article.

Set up Your Desk Properly

If your desk is too high, you will sit with your shoulders raised slightly while typing on the keyboard. Not only will you have to sit with your shoulders continuously shrugged, but your forearms, wrists, and hands will not be placed at the right level. Sitting in this position may cause your neck muscles to spasm, and this may cause your head to ache as well.

Having a desk that is too low is not a good idea either. A desk that is too low will cause you to bend at the waist and extend your neck to see the keyboard. This posture shortens the suboccipital muscles at the base of your skull, which leads to all sorts of discomfort.

The best height for a desk will allow the user to sit with his or her arms bent at 90 degrees.

Pay Attention to Your Monitor

Your computer’s monitor should be about 20 inches from your eyes and slightly below your eye level. Monitors that are too short can be propped up to reach the correct height. You can also use a monitor mount to make sure the height is proper for your body.

Relax

Sometimes your back and neck hurt more because of stress instead of an improper workstation. One of the ways to relieve stress is to take periodic breaks throughout the day. Read more about relaxation techniques later in this article.

What are the results of sitting in a lousy chair?

Buying the best office chair for neck pain can make a big difference to your everyday life. Sitting in a bad, old, or poorly designed office chair has many drawbacks.

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis can result after a period of time from sitting in a bad chair. This is a very common condition and occurs when disks in the spine dehydrate and shrink. As this happens, signs of osteoarthritis and bone spurs also develop.

There are several possible symptoms for this condition that occurs in over 85 percent of people 65 and older. Cervical spondylosis causes pain and neck stiffness. It also causes your arms, hands, legs, and feet to feel tingly, numb, or weak. It can cause a lack of coordination and a difficult time walking, and in some cases, it can cause a loss of bladder or bowel control.

There are several causes for this condition. Most of the causes are from wear and tear on the body. As we age, our spinal disks begin drying out and shrinking. When this happens, the bones come in contact with other bones, which causes a lot of discomfort.

Herniated disks may cause cervical spondylosis too. Your spinal disks may develop cracks in them, which lead to bulging disks.

Bone spurs may cause pain as well. If your disks in your spine are degenerating, the body produces extra amounts of bones to try to strengthen the spine. The extra bone causes bone spurs, and these sometimes pinch the spinal cord and nerves.

Stiff ligaments also cause cervical spondylosis too. Ligaments connect bone to bone, and as we age, our ligaments begin to stiffen. This can lead to pain in your back, arms, legs, and arms as well.

What are risk factors for cervical spondylosis?

While age is a factor in developing this condition, growing old does not mean that it will inevitably happen. This is why it is critical to work in the best conditions possible as you sit at your desk. Cervical spondylosis doesn’t happen overnight. It is a result of working in poor positions over a period of time.

Other risk factors of incurring cervical spondylosis include previous neck injuries and smoking.

Napping in the Workplace

We know that one reason to purchase a chair with proper neck support is to reduce the chance of pain later on in life. Another reason to have the best office chair for neck pain with a great back and neck rest is to make it easier for you to take a nap. What are the benefits of naps in the workplace? There are many.

Benefits of Naps at Work

Instead of reaching for another Coke or cup of coffee to fight off that mid-afternoon slump at work, research shows that it may be a better idea to take a quick nap. Other cultures have realized this for generations. A siesta can prevent stress, boost your mood and creativity, and allow you to be more productive and energetic at work.

Stages of Sleep

Before you stretch out on the couch or recline in your office chair that has neck support, it is vital that you first understand the stages of sleep. If you don’t nap properly and awaken during the wrong sleep stage, your nap may be more harmful than beneficial.

Stage one of sleep is similar to a light rest. Your eyes are closed, but you still may be somewhat aware of your surroundings.

During stage two, you begin to drift off into a deeper sleep. You become unaware of surroundings. Your body slumps as your breathing and heart rate slow.

Stage three and four are also called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Most of the time when we dream, it occurs during this sleep state. This usually happens 90 minutes after the first sleep stage.

So, which of the stages do you need to hit before receiving the benefit of taking a nap?

It is best to nap for 30 minutes or 90 minutes, but anywhere in between may hurt more than help. You need to either stay in sleep stages one or two or get into the REM sleep to receive the benefits of napping. Since most of us only have a maximum, thirty minutes of time available during work to nap, it makes sense that you set your alarm on your phone for that amount of time.

If you ignore your alarm and sleep an hour, it may take a longer time for you to wake up, and you will feel groggy and unenergetic. This type of nap does little to help your productivity.

When not to nap

Everyone has a different schedule, but if you are an average person working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., having a nap past 3 p.m. may not be a great idea. Later afternoon naps could keep you from falling asleep at night.

Who has time for a nap?

Granted, some jobs do not allow the luxury of a nap. If you are a school teacher, nurse, or work around customers, you probably can’t take time out of your day for thirty winks. If you work at home or have a private office, you may be able to set the timer, lock your tilt position in your office chair, and enjoy a few moments of quiet. Even if you never actually fall asleep, just resting with your eyes closed in the best office chair for neck pain for a few minutes can help you feel more energetic and ready to face the rest of your day.

Where is the best place to nap?

Some say that a reclining chair is a better place to nap than an actual bed. Here’s why.

Elevating your feet can reduce inflammation caused from standing or sitting in a traditional office chair all day. It is even better if you can raise your feet above your heart. A conventional bed doesn’t allow you to maintain that position easier, that’s why a reclining office chair may be better for a nap. There are even some office chairs that rotate and have a footrest at the same time. In this way, the chair mimics a traditional recliner.

Another benefit of a recliner is that it allows blood to settle in the lower back. This increased blood circulation enables your body to rejuvenate after suffering stress from traditional sitting or standing.

If you nap after lunch and often suffer from digestive issues, sleeping in a reclining office chair may enable you to keep your stomach acid down and reduce the amount of heartburn you suffer.

We have all had colds in our life that make breathing difficult, especially if you are lying on your back. Sleeping in a recliner or reclining office chair allows us to breath better, stuffy nose or not.

Reducing Stress to Decrease Neck Pain

Another way to reduce neck pain is by reducing the amount of stress you have in your life. Life is full of stressful situations. They are literally unavoidable. How you choose to respond to the stressful situations may determine whether you suffer from neck and head pain or you don’t. If you feel pain at the end of the day, and you think it could be caused by your emotions, consider these responses. All the chairs in the world won’t help relieve your neck pain if you continue to work in a stressful environment.

Figure Out What is Causing the Stress

Keep a journal at work or just be more mindful for a week and really try to analyze which situations or people cause you the most stress. Maybe you can’t identify this on your own. Pay attention to when you find yourself leaving your desk or getting another cup of coffee. When do you crave junk food? These actions could be the result of a stressor that you may have been unable to identify beforehand. Are your hands sweating as the result of interacting with a specific individual?

Perhaps your stress is caused by a particular task. Maybe you tense up when you have to do anything involving budgets or money at work. For some people, looking at spreadsheets full of figures or balance sheets with bottom lines can cause anxiety. If this is part of your job periodically at work, try to figure out how to schedule this task to give you the least amount of stress. Perhaps you can do all these tasks when you are freshly-arrived at work. Probably a well-rested mind is just the trick to make this task less stressful to you. Maybe you can delegate this task to a subordinate who likes working with numbers.

What if your stress seems to be caused by another person? Usually, we can’t pick our co-workers. There are always people in the workplace who are less pleasant than others, but there are some who have toxic personalities that cause a severe amount of stress. How do you avoid the stress associated with your coworkers? Ask your boss if you are able to physically move your workplace to avoid the toxic employee. Ask if you can perhaps work from home a few days a week. You may want to have a blunt but civil discussion with the disruptive person. Say that you have been suffering from stress at work and ask if he or she can quit doing the behavior that makes you feel snappish. Only have this interaction if you really think that the problem can be resolved by honest discussion.

Fight Stress Appropriately

If work is extremely stressful, make sure you leave it periodically throughout the day and take appropriate breaks. Take a walk during lunch. Close your eyes for thirty minutes at some point during the day. Take a yoga break and do a few poses before returning to work. Schedule activities for your off time that you enjoy and can look forward to. Try your best to get an appropriate amount of quality sleep at night.

Do not turn to alcohol, drugs, garbage food, or other harmful behaviors to fight stress.

Turn Off Your Phone and Computer at Night

One way to eliminate neck and back pain is to reserve time throughout the day just for you. Establish some work-life boundaries for yourself and stick with them. There’s always more work you could be doing, but you should establish rules for yourself regarding when is work time and when is time for yourself and your family. Maybe establishing boundaries for you means that you won’t do work or check your email after office hours. Perhaps an appropriate limit for you means not checking your phone for work updates during dinner. Whatever is appropriate for your situation and job, remember that life is short. A disease can strike. Accidents can happen, and lives can be cut short. Take time to stop and smell the roses every once in a while. Look at the stars. Color with your kids. Go fishing. Call your mother.

Take true vacations from work.

Learn Mindfulness Activities

Learn how to meditate. Learn how breathing and thought allow us to obtain more focus and energy. Start small. It will feel unnatural at first, but this might be just the trick to help you alleviate your neck pain and headaches.

Spend more time in prayer. Give over the control of your life to a higher power. Know that you aren’t and can’t always be in control of every situation in your life. Let it go.

Talk to Your Supervisor

Hopefully, your supervisor is committed to helping you be the best employee you can be for your company. If this is the case, talk with your supervisor about how work is causing you physical discomfort. Ask what support the company may have available to help you eliminate some of your stress. Ask for advice on time management or how to complete tasks more efficiently. Brainstorm how you can cut the number of processes you must go through to function at work. Hopefully, your supervisor can offer support and is not the cause of the stress.

Get Professional Help

Talk with your friends and family members to determine how to reduce the stress in your life. If they aren’t able to help, consider seeking a therapist, doctor, minister, or social worker to get through any issues you may be having.

Maybe your stiff neck is caused by physical issues more than mental problems. Know that you are not alone. The Center for Disease Control reports that nearly 20 percent of Americans have experienced neck pain within the last three months. While you are waiting for your best office for neck pain to arrive from Amazon, try these simple remedies to eliminate your stiff neck.

Build Your Muscles

When you neck muscles become weak, even just turning your head can cause pain. The joints in your neck no longer move freely because they may be out of place. The joint may catch on something or hit a nerve irregularly. Your body may clench to avoid that movement. Consider talking with a physical therapist or kinesiologist to learn some exercises you can complete to help build up your muscles around your shoulders and neck.  

Think about it. You need muscles to hold up that big ol’ noggin of yours. The average head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds, and it takes work to hold it up all day. If you’re holding your head in the same position for a long time, the muscles will eventually start to fatigue. If they are in a constant state of exhaustion, the force will be transferred more to your tendons and ligaments to hold your head in place. If you stress our tendons, they can tear or become inflamed, causing additional pain.

Stretch

You don’t have to go to a gym or a yoga class to do some simples stretches to help alleviate your neck pain. Try these while you sit behind your desk at work.

Roll your shoulders backward ten times.

Squeeze your shoulder blades together ten times.

Push your head backward and hold it for thirty seconds.

Bring your ear to your shoulder and hold it there for thirty seconds on each side.

Do shoulder shrugs with free weights.

Hold a lightweight dumbbell and bend forward. Pull the weight back and raise your arms up to your sides.

Do neck plate curls.

Before you practice any of these exercises, remember to avoid any sudden jerks or jarring motions that may cause additional strain on your back or neck. You are trying to increase your strength, not add to your pain.

Refrain from any and all physical movements where the load is distanced from the body. This is an improper weightlifting technique. Learn proper weight training from a certified exercise coach. Of course, avoid any of these exercises for neck pain that hurt you more. Only use the appropriate exercise for your body needs. Perform all activities non-aggressively. Use a slow and steady weight lifting techniques.

Sleep Well

Neck issues can be aggravated by how we sleep. If you wake up with an aching neck, it doesn’t matter what kind of desk chair you use during the day. The discomfort may be from how you are sleeping. If you suffer from a stiff neck, avoid sleeping on your stomach. Instead, sleep on your side or your back.

When we sleep on our stomachs, we often turn our head this way and that for hours. Sleeping on your stomach can also cause your back to ache because your belly sinks into the bed and doesn’t have enough support.

Instead, sleep on your back and use a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck. Use a feather pillow, which readily conforms to the shape of your neck. Some like using memory-foam pillows because it keeps your spine in alignment, but others complain that memory-foam pillows are too stiff.  

As careful as we may be, you may encounter moments when your neck pain has gotten the best of you. What do you do? While most of the techniques given in this article are used to prevent neck pain, what do you do if you already are suffering from it? Consider these remedies to alleviate some of your sore neck pain.

Apply ice to the aching area for the first 48 to 72 hours. After applying ice, place heat on your aching neck. Consider using a heating pad, warm compresses, or hot showers or baths.

Use topical pain relievers. Ice bags are a pain to use. They lose their coolness quickly and often become drippy messes. It is also difficult to leave the ice bag on the affected place.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Apply kinesiology tape to your neck. Search for YouTube videos to discover the correct method to use the tape to help neck pain.

Keep on moving. Staying sedentary may not help your sore neck. Keep moving but avoid jerking motions.

Get a massage. Tell your masseuse the areas on which to focus.

Have a partner gently massage the sore or painful areas of your back.

Purchase a firm mattress and pillow. Mattresses that are too soft do not always follow the natural curvature of your body.

If none of these stretches or other tips helps relieve your neck pain, call your doctor. Perhaps he or she will suggest that you get an MRI to really figure out what is causing the pain. Also go to the doctor if you have a loss of bowel or bladder control, if the pain is so severe it keeps you up at night if you lose a lot of weight without understanding how it has happened, or if nothing you do helps eliminate your pain.

How to Pick Out the Best Office Chair for Neck Pain

Whether or not you suffer from neck pain, how do you pick out the best office chair for neck pain? There are so many on the market. How do we make the correct decision? After all, we may spend almost as many hours in our office chairs as we do in bed.

Pay attention to what parts of the chair can be adjusted.

Do you have backaches or neck pain? Do your legs and rear end become numb often? Do you have mobility issues? Appropriate lumbar support may alleviate some of those issues. Look for chairs where the lumbar support can raise or lower to fit your body type. Look for a chair that increases and decreases pressure on the lower back. Make sure you can adjust the chair’s height as well. Your chair needs to be high enough to allow your knees to bend at a 90-degree angle.

Pay attention to the surface where your chair will sit.

Will your office chair sit on the carpet? Read the chair reviews to determine if the rollers can move over carpeting. Will your chair sit on hardwood, and you are concerned that it may damage your floor? Spend time researching which types of wheels are the gentlest for this situation. Are you purchasing this chair for an individual who has mobility issues? Make sure the wheels do not move so easily that the chair may become hazardous to the user. Do you work in a quiet environment and would prefer a chair that quietly rolls? Check out customer reviews to see if your chair has the appropriate amount of rolling capability.

Upholstery

Do you work in a warm environment? Are you always hot even when no one else is?

Are you sweaty? Many of the chairs on our list are made of a mesh material. Consider purchasing one of these chairs if you are warm or work in a warm environment. No one wants to be around a cranky co-worker who is hot all the time.

Even though most office chairs are easy to clean, make sure that the one you choose has upholstery that would be appropriate for your work environment.

How much space do you have?

Nothing is more frustrating for people with Type A personalities to not be able to store their chairs under their desk when not in use. If you are one of those people, measure your workspace before purchasing a chair. Make sure the chair’s arms do not block your ability to push the chair in under the desk. You may also need to get as close to your work as possible. If you need to complete any sort of detail work, and your chair arms get in the way, you may have to lean forward to compensate.

Style

Does the media ever interview you as a part of your job? How your chair looks says a lot about your professional outlook. If you are sitting in a squeaky chair covered with duct tape, you may not be putting your best image forward. If you are an executive, you need to look and dress like one. Consider purchasing a traditional executive chair if you know you are going to be on camera.

Your Work Habits

How often are you sitting at your desk? Do you type or talk on the phone most of the day? Do you do detail work? Do you spend most of your time talking with others in meetings? All of these different types of work habits may determine what is the best office chair for neck pain for you.

If you need to get close to your desk, consider purchasing a chair that allows you to adjust or remove the arms. A chair’s arms can keep you from getting close to the item you are working on and may cause you to lean forward instead, putting unnecessary pressure on your back and neck.

Your Body Type

If you are larger than average, make sure you purchase a chair that can accommodate your body weight. Almost every chair company makes this information available. Also, pay attention to whether or not the armrests move on the chair. Some chairs allow the armrests to swivel out of the way entirely, and other chairs will enable the user to widen the seat area.

Maybe instead of finding the perfect chair in which to sit, you should consider spending a portion of your work day standing. Studies show that a sedentary lifestyle leads to all sorts of health issues. Read on to discover what could be happening to your body the more you sit.

Weight Gain

It shouldn’t have to take a study to discover that an inactive lifestyle can cause you to gain weight. The more you sit, there is a decrease in lipoprotein lipase activity, which has a negative impact on the body’s ability to burn fat. To put it simply, this means that even if you eat a low-calorie diet, if you have a sedentary lifestyle, you will gain weight.

Even if you exercise, but still spend a lot of time sitting, especially If you’re not in the best office chair for neck pain, you are risking health problems such as metabolic syndrome. You need 60 to 75 minutes of moderate activity per day to combat the dangers of sitting excessively.

Poor Blood Circulation

Sitting for an extended period can cause blood to pool in the legs and feet. This can lead to varicose veins, swollen ankles, and blood clots. While varicose veins aren’t usually dangerous in themselves, they can lead to blood clots, which can cause such things as deep vein thrombosis. A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of your legs. These blood clots can travel to other parts of your body and can cause a medical emergency.

Heart Disease

A sedentary lifestyle may cause higher cholesterol levels, higher blood pressure, and an increased chance that fatty acids are blocking our arteries. This means that sitting for extended periods of time can lead to heart disease and strokes. Sitting in an office chair doesn’t always cause this. Sitting on the couch watching TV can be harmful as well. Men who watch more than 23 hours of TV a week have a 64 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease than men who watch only 11 hours a week. Some experts say that people who are inactive have 147 percent higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Weakened Muscles

Sitting a lot loosens and weakens the abs and muscles of the lower body. Weakened muscles and increased weight is a dangerous combination. These muscles are essential to walking and stabilizing you. If your muscles are weak, then you will likely injure yourself from falls.

Poor Posture

Sitting with poor posture or in a poor chair will cause your neck, shoulders, and back to stiffen. Your spine will lose its flexibility, and you will begin to hunch more. So if you have to sit, make sure you are using a quality chair and following the best practices.

Diabetes

There is a higher risk of diabetes in people who sit more than those who have a more active lifestyle. In fact, some studies show that people who spend more time sitting have a 112 percent more likelihood to develop diabetes. The scientific reason for this is that it takes cells a long time to respond to insulin. The lower the body’s sensitivity to insulin, the higher the incidence of diabetes is in that person.

Pain

Bad posture and lousy blood circulation increase the amount of pain people experience on their neck, shoulders, backs, hips, and legs. Sitting causes your hip flexor muscles to shorten. This can lead to problems with your hip joints. Poor posture can lead to compression in the discs in your spine. This leads to premature degeneration. Having chronic pain lowers your quality of life and causes you to have to take prescription and over the counter medicines. The side effects of these medicines can be harmful as well.

Anxiety and Depression

Exercise boosts your energy and your mood. If you are spending a lot of time indoors sitting, you are limited the amount of exercise and also limited the amount of vitamin D your body absorbs.

The Big C

Scientists aren’t sure why, but a sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of a person getting lung, colon, breast, uterine, and endometrial cancers. Physical activity has an antioxidant effect on the body due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress.

Yes, you get it. If you have to sit, you should sit in the best office chair for neck pain. If you are able to avoid sitting, do so. How do you add more activity into your day?

Walk or cycle to work if possible. If your commute is too far, walk to the grocery store or library.

Use the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

Park on the other side of the parking lot and walk to your destination to get more steps.

Take a walk during your lunch break or organize walking meetings.

What about at home? How do you become more active while at home?

Set the timer on your television and have it turn off every hour. Do something active for ten to twenty minutes for every hour. Or do something productive while watching TV. Stretch. Iron your clothes. Do sit-ups. Dust. Wash your walls.

Walk around while you are talking on your phone.

Clean with vigor. Push hard while cleaning the mirrors. Run from one floor to the other. Vigorously scrub the shower and bathroom floors. Cleaning as your exercise is the perfect way to multitask. Plus, you will feel less stressed knowing that your toilets are clean, and the oven is sparkling.

Play with your pets. Run with your dog. Throw a ball until your dog tires of the activity. See if he ever tires from the activity.

Start a sports team with your friends. Don’t just use it as an excuse to drink beer. Look at it as a form of social exercise.

Play sports with your kids. Practice basketball with your son in your driveway. Kick the ball with your soccer-playing daughter. It’s an excellent way to exercise, and it models great behavior for your children.

Stretch at the end of each day. Stretching not only feels good, but it also can allow you to prepare your body for sleep.

Take classes at the gym. Meet friends in your classes who will hold you accountable if you don’t show up for class.

Use a basket instead of a shopping cart. That five-pound bag of flour and the laundry detergent act as weights. Exercising while shopping kills two birds with one stone. You could also do lunges as you walk to the checkout, but that might embarrass your kids.

Listen to audio books instead of sitting to read a book. Audio books are becoming  widely available for free through most libraries. All it takes to get started is to download an app, and the world of audiobooks is literally at your fingertips.

Neck pain can cause a lot of discomfort. You can do very little without having to move your neck. Treat your neck and body well. Use correct posture and sit in the best office chair for neck pain Move periodically from the seated position. Do stretching to reduce the amount of neck pain. Exercise your body to minimize the lousy health results that can happen from sitting too much. Take naps and relieve your stress. Pretty soon, your aching neck will be a thing of the past