Benefits Of Ergonomic Chairs

Benefits Of Ergonomic Chairs

In today's office setting, ergonomic office chairs are very important.  At work, many office employees are sitting more than eight hours per day.  During this time, it's important that ergonomic chairs be used, as they will help reduce shoulder, back, and neck strain.  Even though they may cost more than the standard office chair, they are a wise investment simply because they increase productivity and can help prevent serious injury.

When you select the proper ergonomic offer chair, there are several factors you should consider.  You'll want chairs with an adjustable seat, the proper lumbar support, backrest, adequate seat depth and width, arm rests, and the ability to swivel.  You should also read the instruction manual as well and ensure that all of the adjustment mechanisms function properly.  If you find a chair to be defective in any way, it should be returned immediately.

Keep in mind when selecting your chairs that there is really no "one size fits all" for every body type.  What is best for one individual may not be the best choice for another.  Before buying a chair you should give it a try and see what you think.  If it isn't possible to test out the chair, you should make sure that you can get a refund if something goes wrong.

Understanding benefit of ergonomic chairs

Before you purchase or use an ergonomic chair it's best to fully understand proper posture and ergonomics while at work or at home.  One of the basics to ergonomics is making sure that a chair's seat height will allow the user's feet to stay firmly planted on the floor.  It's also good if the chair provides a lumbar support, which will fit the inward curve of the lower back area. 

With the traditional ergonomic office chair, there are a lot of new and emerging alternatives.  Depending on the chair, you may find yourself in new positions.  Even though they may take a bit of getting used to, these chairs are great for someone who experiences a bit of discomfort or chronic back pain.

Those who sit at their desks for extended periods of time would greatly benefit from ergonomic chairs.  While sitting at a desk, you put your back and upper torso in a cramped position, making yourself a target for back pain later on in life.  With ergonmic chairs, your back gets the support it needs.  This way you can sit at your desk all day long and know that your back and the rest of your body is very comfortable.

Office Chair Anatomy

Office Chair Anatomy

The office chair is something you see in every part of the office - cubicles, CEO's room, conference rooms, even in the cafeteria.  Wherever the area may be, an office chair has one purpose - to allow you to sit down in a comfortable and healthy manner.

Contrary to what many may think, the office chair is no longer a piece of furniture.  Behind each and every office chair, there are a lot of thought and science being implemented.  The reason for this, is because an office chair can be harmful to your health and also your body.

The principles of ergonomics are used with office chairs to give you comfort and safety.  Below, you'll find some key points to look for in an office chair.

1.  Chair height
The height of an office chair should always be easy to adjust.  In order to do this, the chair must be equipped with a pneumatic adjustment lever.  This lever should be able to move your chair between 16 and 21 inches off the floor.

This is important simply because the person sitting in the chair needs to sit according to the height of the table or desk.  The chair shouldn't be too high or too low, so the user doesn't slouch or strain at their desk.

The important thing to remember is that the knees should be at a lower height than your hips.  This will encourage the natural "double C" of the spine and help to provide upright support for your body.

2.  Chair width and depth
An office chair should always be wide enough to support users of all shapes and sizes.  Normally, the width will vary between 17 and 20 inches.  The chair depth area is the area found from the front of the seat to the back of the chair.

The depth of the office chair should be big enough for you to lean back against the backrest with 2 to 4 inches difference between your knees and the seat of the chair.

3.  Armrests
Armrests are adjustable and will allow you to rest your elbows, arms, and shoulders in a comfortable manner.

4.  Backrest
The backrest on an office chair will vary from 12 to 19 inches.  Like all other parts of office chairs, the backrest should be adjustable enough to move either forwards of backwards. 

5.  Swivel
Working in an office requires you moving about, from one computer to another or even to a file cabinet.  Therefore, an office chair should provide a swivel at the bottom to allow you to move around your area freely.

How To Buy An Office Chair

How To Buy An Office Chair

Everyone knows that people come in many different shapesand sizes.  Before buying an office chair, there are afew questions that you should ask yourself.  You should decide how you plan to use the chair, as this will bethe determining factor for true comfort.  Almost alloffice ahirs come with a variety of mechanisms that willcontrol the tilting angle, tension tightness, and amixture of other controls as well.

Heavy use chair

These types of office chairs are for those who plan to sitting at their desk for long periods of time.  If this is your profession, you should look for a chair with a tilting mechanism and also a fatigue reducing device on the bottom of the chair seat.  Because of this device, moving forward or backward will enable the chair move with you in order to provide support.  This will help to support your back at all times.

Moderate use chair

If you are a typical assistant manager or run back and forth between your desk and other areas throughout the day, you should consider getting an office chair with a knee-tilt mechanism.  This allows you to lean back in the chair, yet still keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.  Chairs that don't have this will typically lift
your feet when you lean back and fort, which can ultimately lead to discomfort over time.  Best of all, these office chair are normally more stylish than the average task chair.

Executive office chair

These types of office chairs normally have the same types of mechanical features as moderate use chairs, although they are normally larger, more comfortable, and offer more style for the executive.  They are designed for the average executive who is busy running about and spends a good deal of time either on the phone or on a computer.  Comfort, style, and status are the key features when buying one of these types of office chairs.

For the average security, an office chair that offers the ultimate in comfort is an ideal purchase.  You can purchase a heavy use chair, as you'll probably spend a good amount of time at a desk.  If you move around a bit, you may want to go with a moderate use chair, as it will provide the comfort you need when you return back to your desk.

General rules of the office chair.
1.  You should make sure your feet rest comfortably on the floor, and your thighs should be fully supported and placed square on the floor.
2.  Your back should be supported comfortably.  The angle that's formed by your upper legs and torso should be between 90 and 105 degrees.
3.  When you tilt back it should be easy, although it shouldn't be too easy.
4.  The desk chair should be customized to permit frequent changes in posture.