MasterSeat Test Report

Author: Dr. med. Lukas Rehfeld, Specialist in Orthopedics
– Published on May 12, 2025. Advertorial.

Why almost all office chairs are poorly designed - and what that has to do with your back pain

If you regularly wake up with a pulling pain in your lower back, your neck feels rock hard after long workdays - or in the evening you hardly know how to sit anymore..

…then read this article carefully now.

Because what you consider "normal" is often a sign that your body is already overloaded - and the problem usually lies exactly where you spend many hours every day: on your office chair.

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My name is Dr. med. Lukas Rehfeld. I am a specialist in bone and joint medicine with a focus on work-related back strain and posture damage caused by sitting.

For more than 15 years, I have treated people in my practice who suffer from chronic back pain, slipped discs, and tension symptoms—mainly caused by long periods of sitting still at the workplace.

During this time, I have cared for hundreds of patients—from employees working from home to leaders who spend 10 hours a day at their desks.

What I repeatedly observe are typical patterns:

Lack of movement during work
Incorrect chair shape without lower back support
Bad postures that become ingrained over years

And as a result: Chronic overstrain of the spine.

Many of these problems are avoidable—and often even reversible.

But this requires a fundamental understanding of how our body works while sitting and what to really look for when choosing an office chair.
This is exactly what this article is about.

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What sitting really does to your back – and how office chairs often make the problem worse

What many underestimate: It is not sitting itself that is the problem – but how and on what we sit.

Most conventional office chairs are designed to force the body into a rigid, unnatural posture.

They do not support the back – they let it "hang".
The lumbar spine is particularly affected

It bears multiple times the body weight while sitting.

If there is no active support, the back collapses – and with every hour at the desk, the pressure on the intervertebral discs and muscles increases.
Even small poor postures cause the intervertebral discs to be loaded unevenly - silently, gradually, permanently.

The result?

Back pain, tension, reduced concentration - and in the long term often a change in the shape of the spine.

Studies from the University of Regensburg show that the pressure load on the intervertebral discs increases by up to 40% with poor posture while sitting.

The tricky part:

These strains are often only felt when it is already too late.
Many sit for years in a health-damaging posture - without noticeable symptoms.
Or they ignore early signs like pulling in the back or tension in the neck - and attribute the symptoms to stress or lack of movement, not to the chair.
In fact, the cause is often right beneath them:

An office chair that offers too little support, too little consideration, and allows too little movement.
Because that is exactly the case with most standard models:

Backrests that do not adjust
Seats that block movement
Armrests that are rigid and wrongly placed

The spinal discs are only sufficiently supplied when the back remains active through small changes in posture.

These micro-movements are crucial - yet they are systematically suppressed by conventional office chairs.

Conclusion: Many back pains are not a coincidence, but the direct result of incorrect seating furniture. Not because we sit too much – but because we sit on the wrong chairs.

How to recognize a truly ergonomic office chair

Not every chair that calls itself "ergonomic" truly is.

In fact, there is no protected definition for the term - which leads to even simple swivel chairs with minimal adjustment being marketed as ergonomic - although they do not meet important health requirements.

From an orthopedic perspective, office chairs must fulfill certain functions to actively support the body - especially during long hours of sitting at work.

Here are the most important criteria you should pay attention to:

1. Dynamic lumbar support:

Your lower spine needs support – but flexible. A dynamic lumbar support automatically adapts to your sitting posture and supports the back exactly where it would otherwise collapse.

2. Motion-promoting mechanics (synchronous mechanics):

A good chair moves with you. With every slight shift in weight, the seat and backrest follow your movements. This keeps your intervertebral discs active and prevents pressure strain.

3. Adjustable armrests (ideal: 4D):

Inappropriate armrests quickly lead to tension in the shoulders and neck. 4D armrests can be precisely adjusted in height, depth, width, and angle to fit your posture.
This keeps your arms and shoulders in a natural, relaxed position—whether you are typing, talking on the phone, or leaning back.

4. Adjustable headrest (preferably: 3D):

Especially when leaning back, the neck needs reliable support. An adjustable headrest adapts in height and tilt angle and protects against tension – especially during long meetings or intensive screen work. Three-dimensionally adjustable headrests are particularly well suited for this.

5. Adjustable backrest

Depending on your height, the backrest must adapt to your body. The best ergonomic office chairs are therefore equipped with an adjustable backrest that can be adjusted in height, providing maximum support and comfort for the spine.

Only when all these elements are precisely coordinated with each other does a office chair emerge that is not just comfortable – but medically sensible and healthy in the long term.

An office chair that meets all these criteria – and stands out precisely because of that

A model that has been increasingly discussed among ergonomics experts and in professional circles in recent months is the MasterSeat from the manufacturer CLOUVOU.

The reason:

It not only meets the most important ergonomic criteria - it combines them in a way that truly provides relief in everyday use.

What especially convinced me was the combination of intelligent back support and targeted pressure relief: Many chairs offer either one or the other – with the MasterSeat, both aspects work together sensibly.

The result is a sitting experience that is not only comfortable – but actively protects the back without the need for constant readjustment.

The MasterSeat at a glance:

Dynamic backrest that can be adjusted in height - unique among all chairs
All chair adjustments can be operated at the push of a button
4D armrests that relieve shoulders and wrists in every working posture
A synchronous mechanism with a 135° recline function that allows micro-movements and thus protects the spinal discs
A three-dimensionally adjustable headrest that provides real neck protection, especially when leaning back

In addition, the MasterSeat carries the IGR seal and thus meets all quality features of an ergonomic office chair:

A typical case from my practice

A case that has stayed with me particularly well was that of a 39-year-old project manager who came to me with chronic back pain and constant tiredness.

He had been working from home for years – on a designer chair that looked modern but offered no ergonomic support.

The complaints had developed gradually: stiffness in the lower back in the morning, tension in the neck in the afternoon, and in the evening the feeling of being completely worn out.

He had already tried physical therapy but kept falling back into old habits.

After switching to an ergonomically designed office chair - in this case the MasterSeat - his symptoms improved significantly within a few weeks.

The combination of dynamic back support and freedom of movement made the crucial difference.
I see such cases regularly in my practice.

The office chair is no small matter - it is the key lever for back health.

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What other users report

Numerous users report noticeable changes as soon as they have replaced their previous chair:

"I never thought a chair could make such a difference. Since I have been sitting on the MasterSeat, my back pain has almost completely disappeared – and I am much less tired in the afternoon."

Harald S., IT consultant, 45 years old

"Everything is adjustable – backrest, headrest, armrests. The comfort is enormous. I work more focused and at the same time more relaxed."

Wolfgang H., Project Manager, 52 years old

„My old boss chair looked good – but was not good for my back at all. The MasterSeat is a real revelation.“

Sabrina M., Marketing, 36 years old

2000+ purchased last month

The MasterSeat from CLOUVOU

The MasterSeat is currently offered by the manufacturer at a special price of £459.99 ~~(instead of £499.99)~~ – including:

100-day money-back guarantee

Free return shipping

Delivery time of 2–4 working days from German warehouse

The model is currently in high demand. According to the manufacturer's information, availability is limited.

You can check here directly whether the MasterSeat is currently in stock:

CHECK AVAILABILITY

Our recommendation:

The MasterSeat from CLOUVOU

2000+ purchased last month

The model is currently in high demand. According to the manufacturer's information, availability is limited.

You can check here directly whether the MasterSeat is currently in stock:

CHECK AVAILABILITY