Why You Need a Foam Seat Cushion

Medically reviewed by
 Dr. Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT: Expert Physical Therapist and Pelvic Health Specialist

Dr. Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT: Expert Physical Therapist and Pelvic Health Specialist

Dr. Jennifer Miller is a compassionate and skilled outpatient physical therapist with nine years of experience in the field. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Elon University and…

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Last Updated On August 29th, 2023
Why You Need a Foam Seat Cushion

Sitting for long periods of time has consequences, Verified Source Harvard Health Blog run by Harvard Medical School offering in-depth guides to better health and articles on medical breakthroughs. View source such as chronic pain, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or varicose veins. Plus, it leaves you at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Not all of us can help how much we sit, especially with long work and school hours. However, using a foam seat cushion can maximize your comfort and reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting. Foam seat cushions have an ergonomic design to keep you comfortable and supported, so you can work efficiently.

All-Day Comfort

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Better Posture

When you’re sitting for long periods with poor posture, you can develop chronic spinal health conditions. A foam seat cushion makes it easier to sit and helps you naturally develop a good posture.

With better posture, you are more likely to stay focused and feel energized while working. Also, good posture improves your mood, confidence, and decreases signs of aging.

“Posture is a big focus of mine when I see my patients, as this impacts muscle length, strain and ability to contract effectively,” says Dr. Jennifer Miller.

Reduces Stress on Hips, Spine, and Tailbone

One of the most important reasons to use a foam seat cushion is to ease the pressure on the coccyx (tailbone) and relieve lower back pain. When sitting down, your upper body puts pressure on your buttocks, hips, tailbone, and spine, causing tension and leaving them stiff by the end of the day.

Along with better overall posture,” says Dr. Miller, “I have my patients practice pelvic tilts (forward and backwards) to obtain a neutral pelvis and spine and good support helps obtain that neutral pelvis.”

Extended pressure on your lower body also causes fatigue and may eventually develop into joint and spine conditions, such as herniated discs. These conditions negatively impact your quality of life. A foam seat cushion properly distributes your body weight, preventing pressure build-up and pain in the hips, lumbar region, and tailbone.

Improves Circulation

Sitting for extending periods slows down blood flow and can result in reduced metabolic function and limited oxygen transfer to the tissues and muscles. Also, with less oxygen, your heart has to work harder to pump blood to your body, so you’re left feeling fatigued and in pain.

Using a foam seat cushion minimizes the pressure on your lower body, increasing the blood circulation to the pelvis, lower back, and legs.

Supports Digestive System

Sitting all day compresses the abdominal cavity and negatively impacts your digestive system, leading to constipation, heartburn, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). While a healthy diet and exercise can improve symptoms of IBS and heartburn, reducing the pressure on your abdomen minimizes the stress on your body and properly supports your body weight.

Increases Comfort

If you’re sitting all day, using a foam seat cushion prevents leg, back, and neck stiffness and discomfort from being seated. Memory foam seat cushions cradle your body and provide healthy weight distribution for extra comfort and minimal pressure build-up.

Plus, many ergonomic seat cushions have a non-slip rubber bottom, so you won’t have to deal with the annoyance of constantly moving the cushion back into place.

Raises Energy Levels

With better posture, blood circulation, and minimal bodily pain, you’ll feel more energized throughout the day. Also, when you’re less distracted by discomfort, it’s easier to focus on the tasks at hand and be productive.

What to Look For in A Foam Seat Cushion

Not all foam seat cushions are made equally, so look at the cushion’s qualities, such as the type of foam used, supportiveness, breathability, and cover.

Types of Foam

There are many types of foams used in seat cushions. We recommend a high-density foam since it’s long-lasting, breathable, and will support you throughout the day.

Some high-quality foams include latex, memory foam, plant-based foam, and gel-infused foam. Each of these foams is excellent for relieving pressure and conforming to the body while also being comfortable to sit on for hours at a time.

Ergonomic Support

An ergonomic seat cushion maximizes comfort and minimizes negative health effects when seated. A supportive foam cushion should provide healthy back support without being too firm or soft.

Some foam seat cushions have laser cut-outs and shapes to further reduce pressure points and lumbar spine pain. Other cushions have a U-shape to support your body without aggravating your tailbone and also ease any pain if you have a specific medical condition—namely a herniated disc or sciatica.

“I also see patients with pudendal neuralgia and proper cushioning can help decrease their pain while in a seated position,” says Dr. Miller.

Durability

Since you may be using your seat cushion for 8 or more hours a day, be sure to choose one capable of withstanding extended use. High-density foams are highly durable and won’t get squished under your weight, so they’ll provide the proper support for your body throughout the day.

Breathability

A breathable seat cushion keeps your buttocks cool, soothes pain, and is more comfortable overall. Cushions with materials such as cool gel inserts and gel-infused foam are especially good for extra breathability and to prevent you from getting hot. Honeycomb or waffle-shaped foam is another good choice since the cut-outs allow for extra airflow, keeping you cool while seated.

Cover Material

Your seat cushion’s cover material affects its breathability and maintenance needs. Look for a removable cover so you can easily toss it in the washing machine. Seat covers with a non-slip bottom are especially useful so you don’t have to worry about the cushion moving around and distracting you while you’re working.

Foam Seat Cushion

Our Amerisleep Seat Cushion

best seat cushion for back pain We strive to help our customers feel their best day and night, which is why we’ve expanded our line of products beyond mattresses and bedding and now offer a seat cushion to improve daytime comfort. Our seat cushion is more than just a comfy foam pad for your chair, it’s actually designed to promote better posture, relieve pressure while sitting, and prevent pain.

Let’s talk about how it’s made.

Our Amerisleep Seat Cushion features responsive, soft foam and has an ergonomic design to give it an edge over other seat cushion options. Instead of using regular memory foam in our seat cushion, we use a more buoyant high-density foam blend. That way, our cushion stays nice and squishy and never feels flat (even after hours of sitting).

Plus, our seat cushion’s tapered edges provide different levels of support for your buttocks and legs so you sit up straighter and don’t experience back pains from slouching. We also wrap our entire seat cushion in a light, breathable fabric cover to prevent your cushion from becoming a heat trap.

Another great thing about our seat cushion? It works anywhere. It’s light enough to travel with and has a sleek, modern look that blends with almost any chair or office decor.

We offer a 100-day risk-free trial with every seat cushion so our customers can try it for themselves and see if it fits their needs. Our Amerisleep Seat Cushion also comes with a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.

Save with Free Shipping on the Amerisleep Seat Cushion with our discount code
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FAQs

Should your knees be above or below your hips when sitting?

When seated, your knees should be level with your hips at a 90-degree angle, if not slightly below. This way, there’s minimal stress on the hips and lower back while you’re sitting down and proper posture is supported.

Sitting with your knees above your hips can lead to an imbalance in your spinal alignment and increase the risk of slouching, which may contribute to back pain and other discomfort over time. To maintain good posture while sitting, ensure that your feet are flat on the floor or supported by a footrest and that your back is straight with your shoulders relaxed.

Can you use a pillow as a seat cushion?

It’s not a good idea to use a pillow as a seat cushion since pillows and cushions work differently. Sitting on soft pillows, in particular, causes your buttocks to sink and tilts your pelvis improperly. When your pelvis isn’t neutral, it’s difficult for your body to sit upright and be comfortable, leading to lumbar spine pain and achiness.

Is it okay to sit cross-legged on a chair?

Sitting cross-legged puts extra weight and pressure on your intervertebral discs and spine. Also, people usually have worsened posture when cross-legged, aggravating the lower back and spinal discs. It’s best to sit upright on a chair with your feet flat on the floor instead of sitting cross-legged.

“In order to help my patients adjust to sitting with feet flat versus legs crossed,” says Dr. Miller. “I have them practice a hip rotation stretch by placing their ankle on the opposite lower thigh and holding for 30 seconds, then switching it to the other side.”

Is lying down healthier than sitting?

Prolonged periods of both sitting and lying down aren’t good for your health since staying in one position reduces your range of movement, flexibility, and strength. Lying down might be slightly better for your back than sitting, but it’s better to move around as much as possible rather than sitting or lying down.

Also, you can’t lie down at work or school, so it’s not a good alternative to sitting anyway.

How can I sit less at work?

Although a foam seat cushion minimizes some of the side effects of sitting, reducing your seated time can further prevent pain and discomfort. Sit less at work by setting an alarm for every hour or so to get up, stretch, and walk around the office.

Also, drink plenty of water, as it forces you to get up frequently to refill your bottle and use the restroom. During breaks and lunch, take a short walk and don’t eat at your desk. You can also stand during team meetings or walk with coworkers during one-on-one meetings.

Upgrade to a Foam Seat Cushion

Although foam seat cushions won’t suddenly fix bad posture and chronic pain, they put you in a better position to improve your health issues. Also, since foam seat cushions are easily transportable, you can use them everywhere, such as when you’re sitting in a car, airplane, couch, or dining chair.

Even with a seat cushion, do your best not to sit for too long. Ideally, stand up every 20 to 30 minutes, stretch, and walk around, to further improve your health.

“I encourage my patients to get up and move around every hour, or at least perform arm and trunk rotation stretches if they are unable to stand and walk around.”

You might also consider upgrading to a height-adjustable desk or desk converter so you can easily switch between sitting and standing.


About the author

Mitchell Tollsen is a graduate student and a freelance writer who’s contributed to the Early Bird blog for three years. Mitchell’s always been fascinated by the science of sleep and the restorative processes our bodies undergo when at rest. The self-titled “Sleep Expert” is always looking for ways to improve his shut-eye, and throughout the years has implemented numerous lifestyle changes and tried dozens of sleep-promoting gadgets to determine the best ways to truly get better rest.

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