These Lumbar Support Pillows Might Be Just What Your Achy Back Needs

Whether you can’t help the aches and pains you feel, or the chair you sit in is the likely culprit, you don’t have to suffer through it. Lumbar support pillows are designed to provide the stability that most regular seats just don’t offer, along with some extra padded comfort.

The lumbar section of the spine is located at the small of your lower back, above your tailbone. Using a lumbar support pillow in this area can help to support the lower back and keep the spine in a more neutral alignment so that you are not in a slouched posture for a prolonged period of time. A 2013 study even found that lumbar support pillows greatly improve the pressure on the spine, as opposed to sitting in a non-ergonomic chair.

You don't have to have a medical condition to use one, although you should always follow your healthcare provider's recommendation if they've given one to you.

The Best Lumbar Support Pillows

• Covers the Entire Back: Niceeday Lumbar Support Pillow
• Firm Roll Shape: OPTP Original McKenzie Lumbar Roll
• Makes Any Chair Better: LOVEHOME Memory Foam Lumbar Support Back Cushion
• Cutest Colors: Cushion Lab Back Relief Lumbar Pillow
  
• Springy and Supportive: The Purple Back Cushion
• Comfy All-Day Sitting: McCarty Premium Sacro-Ease Back Support
• For the ZZZ's: Coop Home Goods Four-Position Support Pillow
  
• Massages and Soothes: Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager

What to Consider

Lumbar support pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the key to finding the best one for you depends on how and when you plan to use them.

If you sit for long stretches at an office chair, in your car, or in a wheelchair, you may want to get a pillow that's designed for permanent placement in those spots. Other types are designed to be used in bed, on the couch, or even while traveling, and these may be smaller and lighter.

The pillow will be much more supportive than soft, so don't expect the feeling to be cozy necessarily. Depending on your condition and level of pain, a lumbar support pillow may not be able to eliminate your body pain. But for most, it will help provide a more stable place for your back to rest so that you're not feeling any unnecessary strain.

Check out our guide to learn more about the best lumbar support pillows.