The Main Types of Orthopedic Seat Cushions

If you think that you are comfortably seated, you might want to think again. Research indicates that an average person sits at least 8 hours a day. In the United States of America, an average man weighs 86.6 kilograms while an average woman weighs 74.4 kilograms. When one sits down, he or she carries this weight on his or her pelvis. Imagine bearing this weight in the same position for 8 hours. Surely, it will cause muscle strains and pressures on one’s pelvic region, most especially on one’s tailbone. As a result, persons who are seated too long in an improper posture tend to experience lower backache and coccyx pain.

To prevent these pains from happening and relieve these throbbing symptoms, an orthopedic seat cushion can be the best solution. These orthopedic pillows provide good support to the back and the tailbone. Once a person sits on this cushion, the weight is evenly distributed to the muscles in the pelvic region. In this way, the pressure is not focused on one area alone.

Kinds of Orthopedic Seat Cushion Materials

There are different types of orthopedic seat cushions that you can find on the market. If you want to determine which one is most appropriate for you, you may start making your decision by getting to know the basics: the materials from which these pillows are made.

There are three basic orthopedic seat cushion materials: foam, memory foam and gel. Among the three, the least expensive is the foam seat cushion. This is firmer than the other materials, and some people find this more comfortable to use.  Pillows made of foam usually have curves to adapt to the contours of the user’s pelvic region. The memory foam pillow, on the other hand, is more expensive. This foam technology, developed by NASA, conforms to the shape of the pelvis in a precise manner. The temperature of the pillow also changes depending on the degree of the warmth or coolness of the person sitting on it. Among the three, the gel seat cushion could be the most expensive (although the price still depends on the brand and on the features of the pillow). Gel seat pillows make advantage of the wonderful benefits of the visco-elastic gel polymers that eliminate pressure on the coccyx while still supporting the spine to relieve pain.

Different Types of Orthopedic Seat Cushions Based on Functions

From the materials described above, different kinds of orthopedic pillows are made. One of them is the orthopedic wedge seat cushion. This pillow, shaped like a triangle (a wedge) offers the right support to the back and the coccyx area. This cushion is a general orthopedic pillow that may be used by anyone in different situations. It is perfect for people who like to sit slumped forward, like those who are working in the office or are using computers all the time.

Wheelchair users can also now feel comfortable in their mobility aid. More often than not, wheelchairs do not have a cushion for sitting. This makes wheelchair-users uncomfortable. It even leads to sores that result from prolonged cramped postures. But through an orthopedic seat cushion for wheelchairs, handicapped and disabled persons can relax in whatever sitting position they want. This pillow, made of resilient, flame-retardant foam, provides seat stabilization and pressure reduction.

Driving could also be a source of back discomfort. When one is driving, the lumbar region of the spine is subjected to pressure and it has no way of stretching or relaxing since the car space is very limited. At the same time, body motion should be kept at minimum while driving to avoid accidents. For this reason, a special driving pillow technology was developed: the orthopedic car seat cushions. Not only do these pillows make one comfortably seated while driving, they also elevate the height of the driver, being very useful for people who are vertically-challenged and those who find it hard to see completely through the windshield.

Office workers can also now find comfort through orthopedic cushions for office chairs. Such pillows are ergonomically and orthopedically designed to provide support not only to the user’s pelvis region but also to the lower back. They correct the posture of the user and reduce the pressure on the tailbone. In any sitting position, whether it is upright, slumped forward or backward, this pillow is proven effective to offer optimum comfort.

Besides the models mentioned above, you can find a lot of other orthopedic seat pillows on the market. There are orthopedic seat cushions for pews, school chairs, among others. There are also therapeutic coccyx pillows that offer relief to people who are experiencing tailbone pain or hemorrhoids.

How Much Do They Cost?

The prices of these pillows vary. Of course, their cost depends on different factors: the manufacturer, the features and the materials they are made of.

Orthopedic wedge seat cushions normally cost $24 in the average. Seat cushions for wheelchairs are a little expensive because they sometimes come with a backrest support. These pillows are normally sold at the price of $144. The size and the features of the product, on the other hand, determine the price of the car seat cushion. The typical price range for this pillow is from $15 to $30. Lastly, orthopedic seat pillows for office chairs are generally more affordable than seat cushions for wheelchairs but are more expensive than seat pillows for cars. This is because these pillows are usually made of gel for superior comfort. They cost from $29 to $60.

The market for orthopedic seat cushions is large. This means that you can still find cheap but usable seat pillows if you look closely and exhaust all the possible places to purchase – both in real stores and on online shopping websites.