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Three essential features of an office chair

hubba | Jan 29, 2010 |

1 Comments | Rating: 1

As a product designer I spend a lot of time sat down – it's just part of the job, but over the years I have learnt that getting the right chair is essential to your health and well being at work. My knowledge of ergonomics has also taught me that it would be difficult to make a fixed chair that was suitable for everybody. Therefore office chairs have been made adjustable in many different ways. Some adjustable features are more important than others and this guide will help you decide which features are important when choosing an office chair.

Adjustable Height

This is without a doubt THE most important feature in any chair that you will be working at for a long time. You need to be able to adjust the height of the seat of your chair from the floor. Getting the chair at the correct height to suit the desk and monitor you are working at is essential for your well being. Not being able to adjust the height could result in back ache, neck ache and even your knees and hips hurting. Swivel chairs without height adjustment should be avoided at all costs.

Adjustable Recline/Tilt

This may sound extravagant and some may say what are you doing reclining at work! However being able to adjust the angle of you seat to the floor really does increase the comfort of your chair. Despite what you were told about sitting up straight it is actually better to sit tilted backwards slightly. Having this and reduce a significant amount of pressure of your lower back and will give you a much comfier seating position. As a bare minimum make sure that the chair you are getting has a back that reclines, better than this though is the type of chair where you can tilt the actual seat of the chair to allowing you to vary the angle between your legs and torso.

Height Adjustable Lumbar Support

When seated the natural curve in your back become flattened, to maintain a healthy lower back it is very important to maintain this curve. Having a chair with a lumbar support (lower back) is much better than having a pillow stuffed down the back of your chair. It is better still if the chair you have allows the height of that lumbar support to be adjusted so that it comfortable fits in to where the curve in your lower back should be.

If you get an office chair that has these features, you are on track for sitting comfortably for a long time to come. Even if you chair has thin padding, no wheels and looks nasty as long as it is adjustable height, has some way that you can change the angle of your back rest and has some form of support for your lower back you will be able to sit comfortable without causing your self harm.