If you live with chronic low back pain, you know how difficult it can be to find a comfortable position - and even harder to stay there.
For me, work became one of the biggest challenges.
Like many people, I spent much of my day at a computer. But even the most "comfortable" ergonomic office chairs left me in significant pain. Sitting concentrated too much pressure in my lumbar area, and simply standing up from my chair would be excruciating.
Following another period of sick leave, I was on a gradual return-to-work plan. To help make that transition possible my doctor prescribed a chair designed specifically to encourage movement throughout the day and reduce prolonged pressure while sitting: the HÅG Capisco.
The first time you see it, it doesn't look like a typical office chair. The seat and backrest have unusual cutouts, and I'll admit I wondered how something that looked so different could possibly be comfortable.
Then I sat in it.
The seat was firm without feeling unforgiving, and the cutouts allowed me to shift positions throughout the day instead of remaining fixed in one posture. More importantly, I noticed that my weight no longer felt concentrated in my lower back. Instead, it was distributed more evenly, making the time spent at my desk far more manageable.
Before using this chair, sitting had become something I dreaded. Whenever I could, I chose to stand instead. During pain flares, I even found myself kneeling at my desk because sitting had become so difficult and kneeling for me is comfortable. Looking back, I realize I wasn't trying to be productive - I was simply trying to get through the workday.
The HÅG Capisco didn't take my pain away.
What it did was allow me to work without making it worse.
That was life-changing.
When I eventually left the institution where I worked, I asked if I could purchase the chair from them. Unfortunately, they declined.
I don't have one in my workspace today. The only reason is practical - I work with nail polish and other products that could easily damage the fabric, and I'd hate to ruin a chair I value so highly.
But I still think about it.
I miss it that much.
If you've struggled to stay comfortable while sitting, the HÅG Capisco may be worth trying for yourself. Every body is different, but for me, it remains one of the few pieces of equipment that genuinely changed how I experienced my workday.
Mentioned in this article
HÅG Capisco 8106 Chair