Back pain can be a real, well, pain in the back. Check out our latest gift list designed specifically with low back pain in mind, and give your friends or family the gift of comfort and wellness.
The Burden Of Back Pain
Back pain is a debilitating condition that affects around 80% of the population at any given time. It is not surprising that back pain also seriously impacts the quality of life of those struggling with it, leading to decreased social interactions, missed work days, and less engagement in activities.
So, while it might not sound like the most exciting gift to give, when you get your friend or loved one something practical for their back pain you might actually be giving them something more meaningful than you realize.
With that in mind we have scoured the internet to find you 30 of the most popular and highly-reviewed products for low back pain. We found products with a variety of prices and categories in mind. We are not affiliated with any of these products, or any of the reviewers, but have simply curated a list of tried and tested products to inspire you and save you time on your shopping.
Cooling/Heating Pads
Warmth and heat have long been associated with comfort and relaxation but when it comes to treating low back pain, heat therapy actually goes a step further and can provide both pain relief and healing benefits. Ice and cold packs can relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation from injuries and other conditions. Here is a list of some of the top heating and cooling treatments available on Amazon.
Easy to use with convenient features. The easy to operate digital LED controller lets you switch between 6 personalized heat settings. The Select-hour auto-shutoff feature helps you conserve energy and prevents excessive heating. This product gets 4.5 stars from almost 28,000 reviews on Amazon. Over 80% of users gave this heating pad 4 stars or above and there is a 5 year limited warranty.
This product has 5,356 reviews with a 4.5 average. The heating pad offers full and snug coverage all the way down your neck, along your back and shoulders, and delivers penetrating and soothing heat to warm your body. This heating pad stays in place for hands-free convenience.
Ease everyday muscle aches and pains with this super soft, customizable electric hot pad. The easy to operate digital LED controller lets you switch between 4 personalized heat settings while the 2 hour auto shutoff feature helps you conserve energy and prevents excessive heating.
This popular item has almost 70,000 reviews and scores a 4 star rating average.
With 6 heat settings and fast heat up, this pad heats up in seconds. The smart temperature control feature means that the pad will automatically discontinue heating when it reaches the target temperature for the evening. This heating pad is even machine washable!
This pad has over 1000 ratings with a 4.5 star average.
With a whopping 18,000 reviews and a 4.5 star average, this product promises hassle-free, lifetime replacement, and the sellers claim to have a perfect customer service record on Amazon. This product features an ETL Certification for safety and also features a 2 hour shut off feature. Customers cannot rave enough about this pad!
For some, cold can be soothing and can help to reduce inflammation. Cold packs are used by thousands of physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to relieve acute & chronic pain, muscle pain, arthritis, menopause, inflammation, and swelling. They can also help with injury recovery.
Back Braces
Back braces are an increasingly popular way to prevent pain and improve posture.
A recent study evaluated the effect of adding back bracing to exercise programs the researchers found that "bracing helps to increase trunk stiffness and augments muscle contractions, which may remind the patients to better comply with exercise instructions".
While back braces are not meant to be worn all day, they can support you while sitting or standing at work, while performing yard work or doing household chores. They can also be helpful when you are driving.
Check out these popular back braces.
Sparthos medical brace uses an adjustable lumbar pad to provide extra compression for your lower back. Vertical support stays stabilize your back and prevents rolling.
With almost 50,000 reviews this product seems to be highly rated with one user writing that it is "really nice to have found something that helps right away and has helped me enjoy my hobbies more".
This product has more than 17,000 reviews on Amazon. One reviewer spent a day at an amusement park and said it helped her immensely. She claims that she has also started to “use it to be able to go on walks, go shopping even just go to the grocery store." According to her, she can finally "enjoy/tolerate even the little things".
This brace looks a little strange, but more than 76,000 people gave it an average of 4 stars for its design and effectiveness. The Posture Corrector helps you regain proper posture which can help to prevent the onset of back, neck and shoulder pain.
The Posture Corrector helps provide alignment while sitting, standing, lying down, or during your other daily activities. Proper posture is important for all ages and is essential for living a productive life.
This one also looks a little odd but it is Shark Tank approved. BetterBack is the product that appeared on Shark Tank, where 3 sharks wanted in!
The makers of the BetterBack claim that “you’re going to feel honest to goodness support & relief! This back posture trainer allows you to sit ergonomically in any chair.” Perfect seated posture in 5 seconds flat and you can "completely change your posture by wearing Better Back for just 15 minutes a day".
Pillows
We all know how important sleep is for our bodies, but low back pain can really interfere with getting some much needed rest.
What's more, research has shown that not getting good sleep can actually decrease our pain thresholds making our back pain worse!
According to the National Sleep Foundation, using a pillow under the lumbar region can reduce pressure on the spine and help alleviate lower back pain. Here are some of the top recommended pillows to help you get the best night’s sleep possible.
11. Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow – 1 Pack Standard Size – Ventilated - Washable Cover White: $31.99
If your spine isn’t properly aligned throughout the night, then your weight isn’t distributed evenly, which can result in back pain or more serious spinal ailments.
Contour pillows allow you to sleep in the healthiest spinal position and help to promote long term spinal health.
At almost 33,000 ratings and a 4.5 star overall review, this one definitely seems like a popular choice.
If you are a side sleeper then this might be the perfect pillow for you!
This ergonomically designed knee pillow fits comfortably between your knees and provides maximum support and comfort at night, helping to relieve sciatica pain and pressure on the lower back.
Made with 100% premium quality durable cut memory foam it provides long lasting comfort for hours, and it won’t go flat over time. The ergonomic contoured design keeps your legs, hip and spine in ideal alignment while sleeping and improves circulation.
The lifetime guarantee makes this a winner and with almost 30,000 reviews it certainly is popular.
Remember the water beds that were so popular in the ’70s and ‘80s? Well this is a water pillow!
Unlike their ill-fated cousins, these pillows have actual science behind them to make them a real contender on the market. The water base technology has been clinically proven by an independent Johns Hopkins study to reduce neck pain and improve overall quality of sleep, bringing you the best night’s sleep you have ever experienced.
If you are a side, back or stomach sleeper, or switch in between — the water will move with your head, so you will never have to adjust or fluff this pillow. It is also customizable for soft, firm or medium-firm water levels.
The company offers a risk-free 30 day return if it turns out that water-based sleeping isn’t your thing, but more than 7,000 people seem to have agreed with this intriguing type of pillow.
This product has almost 27,000 reviews with a 4 star average.
One enthusiastic purchaser described their experience in the following way: “The first night I used it, I slept through the night for the first time in I don’t know how long and woke up with zero neck pain. This is worth every penny”.
It may not be the most comfortable pillow but the reviewers love the support that this pillow provides.
This pillow may look a little unusual but it’s unique design offers comfort while supporting your head, neck, arms and body. This 7-in-1 Ergonomic Comfort Pillow helps spine alignment for full body support & pressure. If you are a side sleeper then check out nearly 500 reviews to see if this might be the solution for you.
With more than 200,000 reviews the Beckham Luxury Linens Gel-Filled Fiber Pillows are crafted in super plush gel fiber that claims to put all other standard pillows to shame!
They are expertly tailored to ensure maximum comfort for any and all sleeping positions. With their no-shift construction, these pillows are a fantastic place to rest your head. They’re stylish, luxurious, and incredibly comfortable. We think we might have to try this one ourselves!
Cushions
With so many people still working from home (at least part of the time), this could be the perfect gift for someone special in your life. Not everyone can afford an ergonomically designed office chair, but using one of these cushions could turn your ordinary chair into a back pain winner.
Designed to promote comfort by alleviating pressure on the lower back, waist, hips, and thighs, this office chair cushion also helps relieve sciatica symptoms, allowing you to power through your day.
Its unique design minimizes the pressure that other chair pillows can cause to improve blood circulation. This chair cushion combines pure memory foam and heat-responsive technology to improve your posture and keeps you supported while sitting for long periods.
Soft, yet firm, this office chair cushion adapts to the contours of your body to create a truly customized fit. This product gets an average of 4.4 stars out of almost 100,000 reviews.
This seat cushion claims to be the best gel memory foam cushion on the market!
It features a non-slip rubber bottom, built in handle for easy transport, and a machine-washable, zippered velour cover for easy cleaning. It is made of premium quality durable memory foam with a cool-off gel layer on top for superior comfort.
The product's 89,000 plus reviews include reviews such as this one, “I have already recommended this to all my office mates that sit all day, as well. I love it, and some advice…Lock it up after you use it, or I guarantee one of your sneaky cube mates will swipe it!”.
This lumbar cushion for office chairs is built to support the spinal curvature of your lower back, providing you with optimal comfort.
Proper sitting posture allows you to work more efficiently by reducing fatigue and strain on the body’s muscles. This chair cushion will adapt to you and upgrade your current office chair back support.
This lumbar support pillow also includes a hypoallergenic, breathable mesh cover that keeps you cool and eliminates back sweats.
20. SOFTaCARE Seat Cushion Coccyx Orthopedic Memory Foam and Lumbar Support Pillow, Set of 2: $39.91 *
With so many people opting to travel by car these days, why not give the gift of travel comfort to someone with this comfy memory foam support pillow?
The seat cushion reduces pressure on the coccyx and the lumbar support pillow helps relieve lower back pain and pressure.
This set also works for air travel and can help you arrive at your holiday destination with less pain and discomfort.
* Please note that this product is currently out of stock on Amazon but will hopefully be back soon.
Back Massagers
Currently there is not a lot of research on the benefits of massage therapy for low back pain but more studies are underway to review this treatment. The evidence that does exist seems to support the effectiveness of massage therapy for the treatment of non-specific low back pain, at least for short term use.
This ergonomic and compact pillow massager fits perfectly behind neck and body contours of the lower and upper-back, abdomen, calf, and thigh area.
The massager features powerful 3-dimensional deep-kneading shiatsu massage nodes that relax overused and tight muscles. The advanced heating function soothes aching muscles and can be turned on & off with ease.
Even though the device needs to be plugged into a wall plug for it to work, it does get a 4.5 average star rating out of 48,000 reviews.
This product features 8 deep-kneading Shiatsu massage nodes to soothe tired muscles and relieve muscle tightness. It offers 3 different speeds, from low to medium and high, depending on your preference.
The product has 3D-Rotation kneading massage rollers that are placed in an ergonomic U-design for maximum massage.
This product is perfect to be used at work or at home, with an added bonus being a car adapter so that you can even massage while you are sitting in traffic or going on long distance journeys.
This deep tissue massager features Unique Quiet Glide technology and is ergonomic and easy-to-use for self-myofascial release. This massager gives a very relaxing and deep massage and works like a physiotherapy massage.
A handy carrying case means that you can take the device anywhere you go during the holidays and it will leave you refreshed and ready to deal with any travel/family/holiday stress. Treat yourself or your loved one to a deep tissue massage wherever you are.
If you don’t know what this is, you are not alone. At first we weren’t sure what this was either, but almost 17,000 people have purchased one and buyers seem to be highly satisfied.
This trigger point back massager is designed to be the only massage tool you need to achieve fast, simple relief for your whole body. It is made in the USA and the original 2 hook design from 1995 reaches every trigger point from head to toe. It features 11 knobs in 3 shapes to soothe painful muscle knots in your back, neck, & shoulders, and speed recovery from back pain.
This high-density foam roller from Amazon features molded edges and is ideal for balance, strengthening, flexibility, and rehab exercises. It is also lightweight and easy to clean and transport. Another great option for stretching out your lower back from the comfort of your own home.
Books
This 90 Day Pain Tracker will help you understand and manage your pain. This book includes pain and mood tracker pages where you can create weekly graphs, along with morning/afternoon/evening pain scales to see if certain times of the day are triggers.
Research has found that pain scales, like the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to be helpful in tracking progress when doing a back pain relief program.
Dr. Vijay Vad’s Back Rx program has helped readers with back pain, joint pain, arthritis, and related conditions for decades, using a clinically proven mind-body regimen to reduce pain and painkiller usage.
In this expanded edition, Dr. Vad explores the extraordinary innovations in managing pain to restore health and wellness not only to your back, but to your entire body.
28. 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot: $20.99
Nearly 90% of American adults suffer from back pain, and the numbers continue to climb. In a quest to find the root cause of back pain, Esther Gokhale studied at the Aplomb Institute in Paris and traveled to parts of the world where back pain is virtually unknown.
Her research took her to remote Burkina Faso, rural Portugal, and fishing villages in Brazil. What she learned in each of these places has changed the lives of thousands of people. For the first time, these insights have been brought together in a step-by-step guide designed to help those suffering from back pain re-educate their bodies and regain the posture for which our bodies evolved.
Fitness
International guidelines from around the world have unanimously recognized the benefits of exercise for the management of lower back pain. Staying active has been shown to help speed up recovery from back pain strains, sprains, and injuries.
29. A Mind Body App Gift Card: $10 — $100
The Mindbody app is your source for fitness memberships, workout classes, wellness services, beauty appointments and more, no matter where you are in the world. Explore and book live, and on-demand Yoga, Pilates, Barre, HIIT, and meditation classes across the globe, without leaving your living room.
With a Peloton Digital Membership you can transform any space into your own fitness studio with this single-user Membership for your phone, tablet, TV or web browser.
Discover new class types from cycling to strength, running, yoga and meditation, all included in the Peloton App class library. Take Peloton classes anywhere, anytime, on any equipment (or none at all) with weekly live classes and thousands on demand.
Conclusions
We hope that you found this list of back pain busting gifts helpful. Our goal was to give you some gift ideas, give you a place to start and provide you with some inspiration on what to get for that special someone in your life who struggles with low back pain.
Giving a thoughtful back pain gift can really bring comfort and relief for the loved ones suffering from back pain.
Happy shopping!