Bar Stools For Bad Backs
FROM AN OSTEOPATHIC PERSPECTIVE
Over 15 years ago, and after a 4 year course I obtained a BSc Hons In osteopathic medicine and qualified as an Osteopath. After a while I chose to leave the profession and stopped practising and follow more of business career. This surprisingly lead me to the bar stool industry and now I work full time as part of Atlantic Shopping Team. As a business we not only import and sell bar stools we actually design stools, and this is where my medical background comes into its own and I am also here to help and advise customers as to which bar stools are more suited for those individuals with bad backs.
Backless Bar Stools
As the name suggests Backless Bar Stools do not support your low back and also within this category I would also include those stools with small lips, as a backrest. However these solely rely upon your posture to sit correctly. The real benefit of these is that they occupy a minimal amount of room and the stool can be tucked under the bar. An example of these, is the Lulu and Arc Bar Stool.
Low Height Backrest
I always consider these to have a backrest height of up to 23cm. We have designed these stools to give good support up to L1 ie the 1st Lumbar vertebra which articulates with T12, the bottom thoracic vertebrae. These stools support the lordosis of your low back. An example being, the Pacific and Lattice Bar Stool.
Mid Height Backrest
These are a relatively new style of stool, which we have developed. They have a backrest height of about 26-28cm. This height of backrest extends up to the mid thoracic spine. The real beauty of these stools is that they provide good support, up to about T6 (the 6th thoracic vertebrae) but the stool is not over large and hence does not visually occupy a huge amount of space. A good example of these is the Plaza brushed steel bar stool.
Highback Backrest
These type of stools provide the best type of support. They tend to have a backrest of more than 30cm. Some stools do actually have higher than this, however due to the natural curvature of the spine the spine actually does not tend to contact the seat past the 30cm height due to the natural kyphosis of the thoracic spine. Two very popular stools are the breakfast bar stool and the lush bar stool. But please remember that when the backrest increases in size you do start to form more of a barrier around your bar.
I do understand that there is a wealth of factors whilst choosing a stool, everything from style through to proportions. Please feel free to call us on 0121 230 1644 and our members of staff will be able to help you and of course you are most welcome to ask for myself, Adrian Higgins I will talk you through it from a more of a medical perspective.
Many Thanks
Adrian Higgins BSc OST MED (hons), DO, DN
