Choosing a pillow for the lower back

With a sedentary lifestyle, a person often has problems with the spine and musculoskeletal system. To eliminate pain, doctors are sent for physiotherapy, prescribe medication, and also recommend purchasing an orthopedic pillow under the lower back. The invention appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already earned the trust of consumers. Most often, such pillows save people from pain who are often forced to be in a sitting position: office workers, drivers, students.

Lumbar pillows, depending on the model, are used both during night rest and during work (solutions for installation on a chair or armchair). Anatomical products intended for fixation on the back of a chair follow the contour of the back and fix the vertebrae in the anatomically correct position. Thanks to this feature, muscle tension in the lower dorsal region is relieved.

Benefits of using a support cushion:

• ensuring the correct posture position;
• filling the void that forms between the seat of the chair and the back;
• unloading muscles;
• prevention of various diseases.

The orthopedic pillow is indicated for:

• working behind an uncomfortable chair (models on the back of a chair);
• back pain;
• excessive physical exertion (for example, loaders or people who work out in the gym and load their backs);
• radiculitis;
• osteochondrosis;
• headaches;
• incorrect posture.

Such products also have some contraindications that need to be considered. They cannot be used with individual intolerance to the materials from which the copy is made. Use should be delayed if there are wounds, burns, allergic diseases, dermatitis on the body.

When choosing pillows for the lumbar region, it should be borne in mind that such products are not universal: models designed for sleeping cannot be used while sitting on a chair and vice versa. Some buyers complain that after applying the doctor's standard, they notice an increase in back pain.

The filling materials for orthopedic pillows vary. We will present the most popular materials.

1. Natural latex. Natural raw materials that are environmentally friendly. It is safe for health, has good elasticity, air permeability. Pillows based on 100% latex are durable: they retain their shape and performance for at least 10 years. This option is easy to clean: it can be washed both by hand and in a typewriter. The disadvantages of latex include its "fear" of UV rays from the sun and oily substances, due to which the structure of the material changes.
2. Synthetic or artificial latex, also known as polyurethane foam. In its manufacture, synthetic substances are used that can give the product an unpleasant odor. The performance and properties of polyurethane foam are close to natural latex. The material has good elasticity, air permeability, wear resistance and noiselessness. The cost of synthetic latex is lower than natural, but it will also last less.
3. Polyester. Material based on small balls treated with silicone. It is affordable, has good elasticity and resilience. Polyester textiles will last at least 10 years. The filler is practical and easy to clean, it can be washed both by hand and in a machine on a delicate cycle.
4. Buckwheat. This filler is 100% natural, which speaks of its environmental friendliness. The buckwheat pillow has a massage effect due to which it normalizes blood circulation. It supports the back well in the correct position, relieves muscle spasms, provides good air ventilation, does not accumulate static electricity. A significant disadvantage of this filler is the impossibility of washing, which makes the textile product short-lived.

Less commonly, lumbar pillows are filled with cooling gel, natural bamboo fibers or memory foam.

Orthopedic effect pillows can be for a bed or an armchair. There are solutions with needles, they must be placed under the lower back for 30-40 minutes. The principle of their action is simple: the needles irritate the epidermis, thereby improving blood circulation and reducing pain. There are models on sale that differ in the length of the needles and their location (the impact not on the skin will depend on the step size), materials of manufacture (metal, plastic). For enhanced therapeutic effect, manufacturers offer heated orthopedic pillows.

Textile products can also differ in shape, size and degree of rigidity.

Lumbar pillows come in a wide range. Form is one of the important criteria to look for when choosing textiles.

• In the form of a crescent moon. These solutions can be used for sleeping on your back or in a recliner. 2 horns securely fix the human body, preventing curvature of the spine.Such products are distinguished by their rigidity: they do not squeeze under the weight of a person.
• Oval. Most of these models have raised edges, due to which the spinal column is slightly extended.
• In the form of a ring. The product is suitable for those who, in addition to problems with the spinal column, suffer from hemorrhoids. Thanks to the hole in the center, the pillow does not press on the tailbone when a person is sitting on it.
• Triangular. These bed models will ensure quality sleep throughout the night. The product will help to take the correct position, relieve the load on the sacral spine. By using the triangular model, it is possible to support the spinal column in the correct position, thereby preventing the formation of clamps between the intervertebral discs.
• Rectangular. Products are practical and versatile. They unload the intervertebral discs, help relieve tension from the lower back and cervical spine.
• Square. Designed for the treatment of osteochondrosis. Their dimensions are selected in accordance with their own dimensions.
• In the form of a roller. It is a compact, rounded product that is versatile: it can be used to “unload” and relieve pain from the lumbar region, as well as the neck and legs.

Orthopedic pillows can be flat, convex, or embossed. For a child, you should select models with a height of no more than 5 cm. Do not choose a large pillow, since this accessory is designed only to support the lumbar spine. For an adult, a product with dimensions of 30x40 cm will be optimal. When choosing a model for a chair, one should take into account the dimensions of the back.

Orthopedic pillows for the lower back are soft, with a medium degree of hardness and hard. It is best to refuse the first models, since during operation they will be strongly pressed and will not provide adequate support for the spine. For sleep, models with an average degree of rigidity are considered optimal, and for a chair it is worth choosing harder options for reliable fixation of the back.

There are many manufacturers who produce high quality and durable orthopedic lumbar pillows. Here are some popular ones.

• Trivers. Domestic manufacturer from St. Petersburg. The company was founded in 1992. Various health products are manufactured under this brand, including orthopedic pillows. The most popular models for the lower back are anatomical T. 727, T. 308, T310.

• Sissel. A Swiss brand that has been supplying goods all over the world for 30 years. It is one of the largest manufacturers in Europe. Among domestic buyers, the Sissel Back 003711 36x31 cm model is in demand - this is an anatomical pillow 36x31 cm, which contributes to the correct distribution of pressure in the thoracic and lumbar spine. The product is equipped with fixing straps, thanks to which it can be easily and securely attached to the back of a chair or chair.

• OrtoCorrect. Russian manufacturer of pillows with orthopedic effect. In the manufacture of copies, he uses high-quality and safe hypoallergenic materials. One of the most popular models is OrtoBack 36x38 cm. A product based on polyurethane foam with an anatomical shape that provides an orthopedic effect. The pillow with a soft, detachable velor cover is comfortable to use and easy to clean.

• ORTO. A domestic manufacturer that has been supplying orthopedic and medical products for over 20 years. Among the anatomical pillows for the lumbar region, the automobile model "Norma-Flex" is popular. It helps to evenly distribute the load on the spine, thereby improving blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs. As a result, the driver does not experience the feeling of fatigue while driving longer.

Doctors recommend not to order a pillow for the lower back on the Internet, but to choose and buy from those models that are presented in a regular store. So it will be possible to test the product: assess the level of rigidity, choose the optimal height in accordance with your height.

It is best to choose products from well-known manufacturers, and not give preference to questionable products. You should always ask sellers for quality certificates and other documentation.

For serious back illnesses and for rehabilitation after injuries, a lumbar pillow should be purchased only after consulting a specialist.