Anyone who does a fair amount of commercial flying knows how uncomfortable airline seating can be. If you’re lucky enough to fly on a newer jet there’s quite a difference in the support you feel to your lower back. Older seats just don’t do the job. The materials break down with all the bodies they carry. The airlines have been contacted on this repeatedly but they claim their seating is just fine (you can imagine the expense of changing or remodeling all of the offending seats). Travelers would say otherwise. The problem is that the seats lose the ability to support the lumbar spine, or low back. The low back should have a forward curve under normal circumstances. This is called a lordosis. The curve helps to act as a shock absorber for daily activities and stresses. It should always be there when we are standing and gets straighter once the knees come up in front, as when we sit. So for humans, its even more tiring on the muscles of the low back when we sit than when we stand. The answer is to have a seat that is designed to support the natural curve of the low back even when we are sitting. It helps the muscles relax. We see many interesting designs for office chairs that will do this. Older airline seats can no longer provide enough support and the low back begins to ache before long into a flight.
The answer is to try to book a flight on a newer airline if possible. Jet Blue is usually pretty good about having new planes and the seating is rather firm and supportive. The next best suggestion is to try to procure a pillow or two and/or a blanket to fill in the space between your low back and the seat. Pillows and blankets on airplanes are pretty small these days, at least in the section I sit, or there may be a charge for such items. See what you have handy. A sweater, casual jacket, something stuff-able will work. You should feel a mild forward push on your back. It’s a simple way to make a long flight more comfortable. This will have a positive effect on the upper back and neck as well. You may want to try this in your car as well, if it doesn’t have an adjustable lumbar support. Maybe we’ll see them in planes one day.
