#back-pain

#back-pain

The self-inflating Therm-a-Rest lumbar pillow that takes up almost no space in your carry-on and saves you from an achey, sore back after spending hours up in the air. One pilot called it a "lifesaver" for long-haul flights, while other frequent fliers claim to use theirs every single day, regardless of their travel plans-and you can buy their favorite travel hack on Amazon for under $50.

When we started the company, a big chunk of our staffers were in their 20s, bestowing large portions of our editorial output with the imprimatur of youth, but it turns out that every 28-year-old becomes 33 five years later, like clockwork. While we've frequently hired early-career writers in their twenties, our overall average age continues to inch upward, as everyone progresses interminably towards unc status.

The WIRED Reviews team has crowned the Bear Elite Hybrid as the best mattress for back pain we've tested to date. It comes in three firmness options, including Soft, Medium, and Firm. WIRED testers have found Firm helpful for spinal alignment, and you can also add a Celliant cover for a fee, designed to help with muscle recovery. In addition to the sale, Bear is also throwing in a free accessories bundle (two pillows, a sheet set, and a mattress protector).

It's rare for an ergonomic office chair to score perfectly in design, comfort, build quality and features. I've only found five chairs that manage to nail all areas - and that's out of the 30+ chairs I've personally reviewed over the last five years. Branch's Ergonomic Chair Pro is one of them, and it's my top pick of the best office chairs for back pain.

Long-term back pain is unlikely to be cured by upgrading your mattress, and a doctor or physiotherapist should be your first port of call if pain is affecting your quality of life. But studies suggest that switching to the best mattress for your body type and sleeping position can genuinely help. I'm lucky to not experience chronic pain, but in years of testing mattresses, I've often suffered temporary backache after sleeping on a surface that doesn't suit me.

Most ergonomic chairs promise to solve your back pain, then force you into rigid positions that feel more like punishment than comfort. You spend your day constantly adjusting lumbar support, repositioning armrests, and shifting around, trying to find that perfect spot that never quite exists. The average American now sits 9.5 hours daily, yet traditional "ergonomic" solutions still treat our bodies like they're designed to stay perfectly still.

If you have back pain, then you already know that shopping for a mattress is hard work. No matter how much research you do before you shop, you can never be 100% sure that a mattress will work for you until you've slept on it for a few nights. There are a few brands that dependably offer advanced pressure relief and comfort, though, and should be at the top of your list.

I can't remember exactly what I was doing when it happened. The morning had started normally enough. It was a Tuesday and I'd woken up before my alarm-this part was not normal, and the subsequent consequences almost certainly ensure it will never happen again. I fed my cat and watered my plants. I made a cup of coffee. I washed the dishes I'd left in the sink overnight.