Features of Ergonomic Office Chairs

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hubba | May 14, 2010 |

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If you, like many, sit at an office chair for most of the day, then you could benefit from an ergonomic office chair. There are a number of static and adjustable features of ergonomic office chairs, which may provide benefits to your posture and health. Ergonomics is the scientific design of equipment with the intent of lowering fatigue and discomfort, so an ergonomic office chair can help you feel better and be more productive. From an employer perspective the impact that a good office chair can have on productivity certainly shouldn't be underestimated.

Some of the features of ergonomic office chairs include a proper seating position, height adjustment, appropriate back angle, quality adjustable armrests, and other adjustable features. Features that allow you a proper seating position will primarily be the size of the seat, height adjustment, back angle, and back support. All office chairs will now rotate and this has led to them often being called swivel chairs, it has to be said though that all swivel chairs are not the same so do not just limit your search to just a chair that swivels. In your search for a chair you should be looking out for the follwing:

The seat should provide evenly distributed support, plenty of width (at least an inch beyond your hips), and a waterfall or contoured edge to minimize the risk of cutting off circulation. The height of the seat should adjust to the same level as your knees, or slightly above your knees. You should also be able to place your feet firmly on the floor. The back angle is controlled by the tilt mechanism, and you should have a slight recline for optimal comfort.

Many chairs will proudly exclaim their fantastic lumber (lower back) support, but mid- and upper-back support is also important. The armrests are often neglected in chair selection, but they should be comfortable and cushioned, and they should be at a comfortable height that does not interfere with your desk and does provide relief from neck, shoulder, and wrist strain. You do have to consider the fact though that if you primarily intend to work at a computer all day that the arms can actually become more of a hindrance than an aid.

Each of us is unique, and you should choose the chair that adjusts to your unique needs. When choosing one, sit in a variety of ergonomic office chairs and explore the adjustments to meet your comfort. Your back, neck, shoulders, wrists, and knees can all benefit from a properly customized ergonomic chair. Make sure that the swivel chair you choose rotates freely and is not in and way restricted.

For this reasons mentioned in this article if you are looking for a new chair you really should go to a store and test it out. You don't necessarily have to buy it there but it is certainly a good idea to 'try before you buy'.