Sitting comfortably with Hypermobility
My first hypermobility symptoms were pain in my back when sitting. I am susceptible to this if I sit for any length of time in a chair that doesn't support the natural S shape of my spine. These recommendations related mainly to sitting either on a sofa, driving a car or when travelling. I have a dedicated page for desk/office/work set-up and recommendations.
D shape Lumbar Roll
I find most chairs, sofas and seats don't support the curve in my lumbar area and after a period of sitting I experience pain in my lower back. I've tried a few different shape cushions to provide extra support, and a D Shape Lumbar Roll has provided me with the best support. I take this with me anytime I'm going on a train journey or flight, and they work well on dining chairs or those uncomfortable ones you often find in office meeting rooms.
J pillow
I find it really difficult to get comfortable airplanes, let alone sleep! Those doughnut pillows don't work for me. If I did miraculously fall asleep, my chin would fall forward and I'd wake up. The J pillow fills the gap between your neck and shoulders, and prevents your chin from falling forward. It's covered in a soft fleece material, so it feels nice on your face and is supportive enough to hold your head in place. I don't take a flight that I'm planning to sleep on without it. It's also useful for train journeys, or a nap on the sofa.
Memory Foam Seat
On long haul flights, I have sometimes suffered from pain in my buttocks from sitting for so long. In addition to this, I find that the height of the airplane seat is too high for me to stretch my legs out and have them feel supported. A memory foam seat can resolve both issues. You can sit on it for a softer surface to sit on, or you can fold it and rest your feet on it on the floor to elevate them. The one I have is made by Go Travel, which seems to be discontinued but you can find similar ones such as the one below which will do the job.
Neck Support Cushion
When driving, I've found most car headrests don't support the nape of my neck or the weight of my head. I feel like I need something between my neck and the car seat. The Neck Support Cushion solved the issue for me. I put the car headrest high so this can sit between the headrest and the top of the seat. The cushion is quite firm, which is what I feel I need to support the weight of my head. You may wish to find something similar that is softer, depending on your preferences.
Wheat cushion
I'm a big fan of heated wheat cushions to soothe my body when I'm sitting. This one fits perfectly in the lumbar region of my spine and provides support plus a warming sensation when I'm sitting on the sofa or in a car seat. Simply put it in the microwave for 60-90 seconds. The heat lasts up to an hour.
Neck and Joint Wrap
Another wheat cushion that I use all the time is the Zhu-Zhu Soothing Neck & Joint Wrap. You can heat it in the microwave for 90-120 seconds and use it to ease any neck pain as pictured. I use it as a heated neck support, either flat or folded, depending on how much support I want, when I'm sitting on the sofa or in a car. The heat lasts for up to an hour.
Office & Desk Setup
As mentioned, these recommendations are for travel, sofa and other types of chairs. For office and work related recommendations please visit my dedicated page.
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