Desk Chair, IT band, knees, and riding

[Sunflower]

Hi
I am looking for some insight and suggestions on desk chairs (work) and ways to find one that is not going to contribute to IT band tightness and pain.

I have a lumbar support chair with adjustable this and that. I am not in it throughout the day, as I teach at a university, so I am up and down, on my feet, in a chair, walking around through a regular day. What I have noticed is on the days in the past few weeks, grading exams, where I am in the chair, I am having a huge IT band flare up. I am very stiff when I get out of the chair, my IT band hurts, and my back hurts. I try to get up every hour or so to move around, but it does not help. My IT band was so bad it was catching on my knee and causing sudden sharp pain when walking.

Stretching and foam rolling helps and I am getting the IT band under control.(The IT band is a cycling overuse injury from about 3 years ago, have been to treatment for it, have exercises, etc).

My question: what kind of chair should I look for that will not result in IT band soreness and tightness? Clearly the lumbar support chair is the culprit behind the IT band flaring up, for whatever reason, and I need something that is going to be IT band friendly. What in sitting posture might contribute to the IT band problem, and what should I look for in a chair?

[Sunflower]

ugh… cannot edit post, so sorry for another post…
This is not aggravated by riding, but having the tight and sore IT band does affect my riding. I have limited riding or not done it at all on days when the IT band is really flaring.

[HungarianHippo]

I’m not a physio, and probably they’d be the best resource for you.
But here’s my experience from when I’m in the thick of marathon training and EVERYTHING in my legs hurts and IT band is stressed. I’ve gotten great relief from a “saddle stool”.

The stool naturally gets you to keep your heels under your hips and shoulders – basically riding position. It’s the way you’re supposed to be aligned, as opposed to sitting on our butts with knees out in front and lots of pressure along the bottom of our thighs. It does require you to be a little more active when you sit because it engages your core and back just a little. So it’s not a chair for someone who likes to sit with muscles totally relaxed.

It’s so compact that I kept both my real chair and the stool in my office, and could switch if I felt like it. I wouldn’t bother with a super expensive one. I got one for like $75 and it’s held up just fine.

[RRB]

Is a standing desk an option?

Also, what kind of car do you drive? I had great improvement in my IT band/hips when I put a folded towel on the seat of my car so that my hips are slightly above my knees when I drive. I went from PT and chiro to perfectly fine in about a week.

–R

[BuddyRoo]

Exercise ball as a chair. I SWEAR by it. I can totally tell when i’ve spent too much time in a regular chair as I get the hip flexor and IT band issues as well.

Also, I stretch throughout the day. Helps a ton.

[Sunflower]

Thanks, both, for the suggestions. The saddle stool looks like a real possibility. A standing desk is not an option… although it sounds like it would be a nice thing to have.

I do not have a car-- walk to work ( how lucky am I?) and live in an area with great public transportation, so have not driven in years.

[digihorse]

I second the saddle chair. The only thing that doesn’t create issues. I love mine. Ergonomic chairs just kill my hips and my back. Go figure.

[Magicboy]

I’ve had relief from IT band issues with a KNEELING chair. Works much the same way but is usually made of wood and often very portable. I used to fold mine up and take it to class to lecture .sort of like using a stool. But very good on lower hips and bac

Easy to find on Amazon

[Magicboy]

I’ve had relief from IT band issues with a KNEELING chair. Works much the same way but is usually made of wood and often very portable. I used to fold mine up and take it to class to lecture .sort of like using a stool. But very good on lower hips and bac

Easy to find on Amazon

[Scribbler]

A friend took a busted English saddle to work, put in on sturdy a saddle rack, and has found it helps her hip pain and stiffness. An actual saddle stool!