I waited for over a month before deciding to write my review. First of all I experienced none of the problems that a few others have mentioned regarding having to gradually ease myself into getting used to my new Backjoy. From the first moment that I properly sat in it I only experienced the relieved "Aaaaaahhhhhh!" feeling. While I cannot honestly say that all the pain was immediately gone, I can say it was an immediate relief of the worst of the pain. I use my Backjoy primarily in the car where I have a long commute to and from work. I have tried other pillows and seats but they all seemed to be too thick because they changed the height of my seat. No matter how much I tried to adjust my car seat to accommodate the new cushion, I could not get the correct driving angle back. I was very pleased to find that the Backjoy was so thin that it did not add any noticeable seat height change to my car seat. Also prior to Backjoy, I would find that my tailbone would become very sore as I rode or drove in a car. The more it hurt, the more I would squirm around trying to relieve pressure, thus really causing it to hurt even more. I was caught in a vicious cycle; one that Backjoy thankfully broke within a couple of days.
I will add that it took some time to figure out how to sit in my new Backjoy. The first time I sat in it I felt unstable as it rocked around. It was then that I figured out that I was sitting in it wrong and that it needed to be pulled forward cupping and firmly supporting the back of each cheek. Once I had the position correct, I was extremely stable and I may add, very comfortable. The instructions that come with the Backjoy are very helpful in explaining how to get it set in the right position. But it is worth it to take a moment to work with it until it is comfortable for you. Once you hit that “right position” you will know it. Your whole body will tell you.
I have not taken my Backjoy on a long flight with me, but today I did take it with me to church and carried it into the sanctuary with me. While I would say that the Backjoy is very light and easy to carry, I would not say that it is inconspicuous and easy to hide. It does not in any way fold up so it would have to fit in a pretty big bag. I however just grabbed it out of my car seat by the handle and carried it straight in. While at church, I had several people ask me about it and two people even borrowed it to try out for themselves; one even took it out to her car with her. They both said that they were going to immediately go home and order one. I told them that their backs will thank them if they do so. For the first time, I was able to sit and listen to the service without pain. It will go with me every Sunday from now on.
The only place that I have found where Backjoy does not really help me is when I am sitting in an overly soft squishy chair such as a thick stuffed recliner or couch. There I think the Backjoy just sinks down into the stuffing and it loses its effectiveness. However, since getting Backjoy and using it regularly, my back has not been hurting as much, so my time sitting in these softer chairs no longer bothers me like it used to.
Before ordering I waffled about which Backjoy to order. I debated several days over getting the posture plus or the slightly more expensive Backjoy sit smart relief with the memory foam. I opted for the slightly cheaper model of the posture plus without the memory foam and I am glad I did. This Backjoy is made out of something similar to Crock shoes. It is a hard rubbery material that has been molded into its unique shape. With that said, this one won't tear or appear to wear out easily and it is easy to slide into place to ensure that I am sitting correctly but rubbery enough that it stays where I put it. I am afraid that had I bought the memory foam one that the foam would quickly mash down to be ineffective, it would be thicker thus defeating the thinness that I wanted for driving, and that the material may eventually tear. I am not sorry for my decision. If my Backjoy gets dirty, it is easy to wipe or hose off and I’m ready to go.
I hope that you too decide to treat yourself or a loved one with their very own Backjoy. If you have any back issues, you too will thank yourself.
Update: It is now 2018 and it has been 4 years since I wrote the first review of the Backjoy seat cushion. In re-reading what I wrote 4 years ago, I still completely agree with everything that I wrote before. I use my seat every single day. I have used it in the car, in airplanes, at church services, Dr. offices, restaurants....anywhere where I have to sit. That seat goes everywhere with me. I was correct that the rubber that this thing is made of is almost indestructible. There have been times where it has been dropped into water and mud; simple, I hosed it right off. My husband has dubbed it my tractor seat. I think of it more as my black shadow. Thank you Backjoy for making such an awesome, useful, life-changing, product!
This simple little piece of plastic is literally a life saver. I have bad posture, and sitting in an office chair for 10+ hours a day does not help. I also have sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and after sitting all day every day, often times I can barely move. I've been living with this pain for over 20 years. Doctors have been useless. I was willing to try anything, and boy am I glad that I took a chance on this backjoy seat "cushion". I feel the word "cushion" may not be the best to describe this item as "cushion" generally implies something soft. So if you're basically looking for a pillow to sit on, this is not it. This is hard-ish plastic with little bend or flex. I use this on my office chair and it supports the back of my hips and sets my SI joints into their proper position instead of letting them sag, causing unbearable pain. That is why the firmer plastic is needed to provide appropriate support. I will continue using this product for the rest of my working life.
Why 4 stars:
*after 1 month, it's apparently durable
*comfortable after 1-2 week adjustment period
*extraordinarily light and so portable
*no thermoplastic (out-gassing odor)
*breathable--it's outfitted with a bunch of holes
*you can get creative and tie this to your backpack for portability
Most people find it comfortable after a few minutes. It took me awhile, but this really helps my lower back pain.
Could you tote this back and forth to work every day on a 1-hour commute? Yes, yes you can.
**Update 3/12/18: 1.5 years in, still looks and functions the same as the day I bought it.
I was having issues with a tingling sensation in my legs and my feet feeling numb. I tried a lot of different cushions, chairs, etc, but nothing worked. I bought this on a whim, hoping it would work and it did. It helped beyond my expectations. I started to use it just at home, but noticed when I went to work the same symptoms came back. I bought a second one for work. Great product.
I have a chronic back issue with my L5 and have tried lots of things to better support my back. Sitting in the office all day is no fun. This is the only solution I've found other than standing (laying on the floor at work is not very practical but I've tried that too!). It helps to watch the video on their website on how to use, need to sit completely on top of it not on the front of it.
Feature Product
- BackJoy SitSmart Posture Plus is an innovative, proven back pain cushion that provides natural, safe and effective back pain relief by optimizing your posture.
- Perfect as a coccyx seat cushion, office chair cushion, and for tailbone relief.
- Different than our SitSmart Relief and Tractions! BackJoy SitSmart Posture Plus features a comfortable, waterproof EVA foam covering for indoor or outdoor use.
- Portable Cushion: Easy for travel. Works for car seats, office chairs, hard surface chairs, desk chairs, outdoor surfaces, and driving.
- Please note: changing your sitting posture can cause temporary discomfort. Your body may need time to adjust and relax into the new posture that your BackJoy provides. Please reference the manual for additional information. Measures 13" x 15.5".
Description
BackJoy SitSmart is an innovative back support cushion that provides natural, safe and effective back pain relief by optimizing your posture - anytime and anywhere you sit. Provides lumbar support, lower back pain relief, and corrects spine posture in cars, office environments and any surface. BackJoy SitSmart Posture Plus features a comfortable, waterproof EVA foam covering for indoor or outdoor use. This coccyx cushion works on any type of seat, including office chairs, car seats, and hard or soft surfaces. The waterproof base and covering provide long-term use. These models help relieve back, posture, spinal, sciatia, lumbar, and lower neck pain.
- BackJoy SitSmart Pro Gel style features a soothing layer of gel-infused memory foam beneath the surface for extra pressure relief when sitting for long periods of time.
- The SitSmart Relief style features a soft black fabric covering that's great for everyday use at the office, at home or in the car.
- To enjoy the benefits of SitSmart, make sure you review the information packet included inside the product packaging. It is important to note that changing your sitting posture can cause temporary discomfort, such as going to the gym for the first time. Your muscles, joints and ligaments may need time to adjust and relax into the new posture that your BackJoy provides. If this is the cause of your discomfort, limit usage to 15 minutes and increase usage over the course of a few days or a week. Go slow and listen to what your body needs. If there is an increase in pain, stop using your BackJoy and consult a medical professional.
I switched over to a stool at work years ago. Sitting in a regular desk chair all day made my back weak. A stool helps me keep my core muscles in shape. Despite that, I found myself slumping at the end of the day. I kept scooting around, trying to find just the right angle to keep my back straight without feeling like I was doing situps all day.
I bought the BackJoy because the author of Crooked recommended it in passing. It has helped me. I sit straighter with a lot less squirming and no slumping at the end of the day. It provides just enough support to keep me upright. Much better than the wedge cushions I'd been trying. But it's also got enough flexibility that my core muscles still get a workout.
My one complaint is that I still haven't found a good way to attach this to the bar stool. It slides around and falls off whenever I get up. I tried lashing it down with fishing line but 1) that looks a little stupid at work and 2) there just aren't good attachment points. I can keep it from falling off but it still slides around. Maybe I should just epoxy it in place.
I love this BackJoy! I have always had poor posture and, because of it, chronic back pain. First time I used it was a 2.5 hour drive each way for Thanksgiving Day 2017. A trip we take each year. This year I was comfortable through the entire trip. I am now carrying it around and using it everywhere. I should get a sales commission from BackJoy as, after trying mine, my nephew was going out on Black Friday to purchase one for his trip home. His mother and his fiance both said they were going to purchase one, and a co-worker said he is purchasing two - one for his wife and one for himself. I am also purchasing another for my significant other. I highly recommend this for anyone with back pain or poor posture.
For me it works. Most of the time I use it in my office's chair, so for that application it is a good product. For some kind of hard surfaces it could be tricky to fix, but if you have some sort of foam or fabric to put under it, then it works better.
If you buy this product and you thing it's going to automatically adjust to your problems that is the wrong way to deal with it. It only works when you find the wright position for your body.
It doesn't have sensors to determine when you are filling good or bad, you have to move it backward, forward, to the right, to the left and, maybe at some point you are going to find where is the perfect position for you to get the most of it.
I bought one of these about 9 or 10 years ago when I was having a painful lower back problem, buying it on the chance that it would do what the makers said it would do and I could get some relief. I was pleasantly surprised because it did offer great relief for sitting, either in a chair or long periods in the car. (But, of course, I did my PT stretches and exercises, too. Important if you want to get better!) Now my son, who's about 22, has developed some lower back problems of his own. His job requires him to drive around a lot. So I lent him my BackJoy to use in his truck. ( I still use it at home after all these years on a chair at the kitchen table because it just feels more comfortable to sit in than the flat surface of the chair or on a pillow because it kind of cradles your butt.)
And it turns out, he loves it! It has really, really helped ease his back pain and he says he wouldn't go anywhere in his truck without it.
I let him keep my old BackJoy, so I needed to buy another one, so I did.
I've had this for close to a month now. First, I would say, that attracted me to this option was affordability. It's reasonably priced considering the claims and overwhelmingly positive reviews. In the first couple of weeks, I couldn't tell for certain if the seat was making much of a difference, as I was partially convinced that it was a "placebo" like effect due to the seat making me notice my posture more often. I do not think that is the case now. I have since caught myself slouching at times & not sitting with very good posture, but the seat still seems to be insulating my back against the crushing pressure of sitting too long, too often. I think this item is worth every penny.
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