You’ve seen every streamer in one. Your gamer friends all have one. So, what’s with all the hype around ergonomic gaming chairs?
Gaming chairs are among various gaming accessories flooding the market, including specialized headsets, gaming VPN, and curved monitors.
For all those curious gamers out there, we’ve compiled all the essential knowledge about gaming chairs into one article.
Today, we’ll differentiate the three main types of gaming chairs out there and how poor back health can impact you in the future.
Let’s take a closer look…
The vast world of gaming chairs: finding the one
If you don’t know much about gaming chairs, you could be shocked by the options thrown at you. To make things easy, let’s summarize gaming chairs by three main styles.
PC gaming chairs
Do you spend hours a day in front of your PC? A “PC gaming chair” is the ideal choice for you. Prioritizing comfort, these chairs resemble office chairs but bring a whole lot more to the table. Common characteristics of a PC gaming chair are:
- Caster wheels for easy swiveling and moving;
- Lumbar and headrest cushions;
- Padded adjustable armrests;
- Customizations like speakers, massagers, etc.
PC gaming chairs are for gamers who also use their desks for multiple purposes like work or school.
Platform gaming chairs
What about the hardcore console gamers out there? For those who want to be closer to the ground for heavy console sessions, platform gaming chairs are your savior. With a platform chair, you can expect:
- A grounded yet reclined seating style;
- Built-in audio jacks and speakers;
- Charging ports for controllers and phones;
- Extras like controllers and cup holders.
Platform gaming chairs are perfect if you’re less serious about back support but crave the comfiest gaming setup for consoles.
Hybrid gaming chairs
As you can imagine, a hybrid gaming chair is a Frankenstein of the two previous chair types. Retaining a recliner shape similar to the platform chair, the hybrid adds a swivel base and headrest to resemble an office-style chair.
While the hybrid gaming chair lacks the lumbar support and adjustability of the PC chair, some options include comforts like reclining leg rests and massagers. Those looking for the comfiest work-gaming hybrid chair, you’ve found your match.
The life-changing health benefits of a gaming chair
“I get it, it supports your back…so what?” What most people don’t realize is the spine plays one of the most crucial roles in human health. Let’s explore good and bad back health over the short and long term.
In the short term…
Your spine is the load-bearing structure that protects your nervous system. The longer you abuse it, the worse your quality of life may become. But what about right now? Here’s how poor back health may be affecting your life in the short term:
- Acute back pain (short-term) causes short bursts of sharp pain.
- Poor posture leads to further spine and neck pain.
- Degrading back health can lead to easier injury.
- Back discomfort often causes sleep problems.
As bad as this sounds, it only gets worse with age and poor habits. If you’re feeling any of these symptoms, contact a local chiropractor to get ahead of the problem.
In the long term…
Due to the availability of strong pharmaceutical painkillers, many gamers ignore their acute back pain. As the issue continues, the stress on your spine causes lingering health problems. If ignored, poor back health leads to a range of issues:
- Chronic back pain (long-term) causes a dull ache and can spread throughout the body, lasting for months.
- Muscle deconditioning happens when your back muscles lose the strength to support you over time.
- Various back problems like herniated discs, compression fractures, and more.
- Your only option remaining may be invasive spine surgery.
Scary, right? Well, luckily, it’s all up to you — none of the short or long-term issues listed here come without a warning. It sounds like it’s time to invest in an ergonomic gaming chair.
Those that feel better, play better
So we’ve covered back health, but let’s be serious here: all you really want to know is how it will affect your gameplay. While pillows, massagers, and speakers massively increase enjoyment, it’s the ergonomics that make the biggest difference.
Comfort and support take away that irritating back and neck pain. In your new ergonomic gaming chair, there are no distractions — you can completely immerse yourself in the gameplay and become a better gamer for it.
Happy back = happy life
So whether you’ve been convinced or not, the proof is crystal clear. Take a little care of your spine with an ergonomic gaming chair, and become the pro gamer you know you can be.
