For back pain relief, is it better to sit on an ergonomic office chair or a fitness ball?

Answer From Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.

If long periods seated at a desk are giving you a sore back, your office chair may need adjusting to give you better back support — or you may even need a new chair designed to reduce back pain. Sitting on a fitness ball for office work is not recommended.

To stay upright on a fitness ball, you have to make constant, small adjustments in muscle tension and weight distribution. This effort helps you achieve the benefits of core-strengthening exercises performed with a fitness ball. Prolonged balancing on a fitness ball during a full day of work, however, may lead to increased fatigue and discomfort in your back.

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May 11, 2021 See more Expert Answers

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  8. Back surgery: When is it a good idea?
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  10. Bone scan
  11. Chiropractic adjustment
  12. Chronic pain: Medication decisions
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  15. Electromyography (EMG)
  16. Exercise and chronic disease
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  19. Leg pain
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  21. MRI
  22. Muscle pain
  23. Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?
  24. Office ergonomics
  25. Prolotherapy: Back pain solution?
  26. Radiofrequency neurotomy
  27. Seeing inside the heart with MRI
  28. Good posture tips
  29. Sleeping positions that reduce back pain
  30. Causes of back pain
  31. Back exercises
  32. Proper lifting techniques
  33. Spinal fusion
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  35. Stress symptoms
  36. Symptom Checker
  37. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  38. Nutrition and pain
  39. Pain rehabilitation
  40. Self-care approaches to treating pain
  41. Urinalysis
  42. MRI
  43. X-ray