Eight or nine hours in a chair loads the lower back in one fixed position, and the ache usually turns up in the evening rather than at the desk. These are the things our customers buy for it.
What actually helps a desk worker's back?
Two different jobs. During the day, support — keeping the lumbar curve where it should be. Afterwards, release — heat and kneading to undo what the sitting did. Most people need the second more than they expect.
Should I use a massager while I'm working?
Some are made for it and some are not. Anything that straps on, like a shiatsu neck and shoulder unit, works while you are at the desk. A lying-down device such as the CerviLux Thera Back is for afterwards — you lie back on it for fifteen minutes and let your own bodyweight do the work. Each product page says which it is.
Is heat or massage better for lower-back tension?
Together, usually. Heat relaxes the muscle so the massage can reach it. That is why most of the devices here do both.
