Description: Ergonomic chairs tend to have extra support in the lumbar and neck areas as well as many adjustable features (such as height, arm, and back positions) that lend them to custom positions.

Type: Executive (ergonomic office type chairs)

Pros: Proper custom support during working hours.

Cons: Generally very expensive. Many times the lumbar support is extra assessory.

Personal Experience: I have a chair like this where I work that has adjustable everything. It is really geat to have good ergonomics in the workplace since I spend 8-10 hours a day there. The cloth covered types are much less expensive than the leather types and more comfortable in my opinion. Also, I do not find it necessary to have the tall back which can add a lot of cost. The lumbar support is critical as is the adjustable height and arm rest.

Type: Lawn chairs

Pros: Can lounge back in most with knees bent and elevated.

Cons: Cost for what you are getting. A lot of arm strength may be required to get them to lounge back.

Personal Experience: I have used these types of chairs on a number of occasions.

Type: Living room arm chairs

Pros: Many come with heat and vibration as well as elevated knee/leg rests.

Cons: Usually very costly and often not very attractive.

Personal Experience: Some people live in these but I don't find the features particularly useful as the heat and vibration are usually not specific enough or strong enough for my pain control needs. These types of chairs also lend themselves to poor fusion posture in AS.

Type: Non-traditional shape (i.e. Those that have you leaning partially or mostly on the knee).

Pros: The makers of these chairs claim that they properly align the spine and create enormous relief from back pain.

Cons: Generally expensive. Uncomfortable to the knees or other parts that are not accustomed to pressure.

Personal Experience: I have used these chairs a few times and found that they were generally quite uncomfortable after about 10-20 minutes. I have known 3 people who purchased those chairs and all ended up using them as coat racks. My opinion is that they are a cute idea but not practical.