What to look for in an ergonomic office chair?
Sitting all day in the office with a bad chair is no fun at all. In fact, it can even be quite painful!
When it comes to ergonomics, your chair is one of the most important things to keep in mind.
In particular, a bad chair may result in:
- Poor posture
- Fatigue
- Back pain
This is why an ergonomic desk chair is so important!
With the vast majority of us working in jobs that see us stay seated for much of the day, it’s no wonder that so much attention has shifted towards finding ways to make that work as ergonomic as possible.
In particular, office chairs have made leaps and bounds in ergonomics over the years!
Office chairs? For a standing desk company?
You might be wondering why we’re concentrating on office chairs in this blog post when standing desks are our main product. But the truth is, prolonged standing is just as bad as prolonged sitting.
Let us explain…
The key is consistently switching between sitting and standing throughout your workday. And each time you switch back to sitting, you’ll want to ensure that you’re sitting pretty in a comfortable, high quality, and supportive office chair.
The reasoning behind an ergonomic office chairs
You might be surprised to learn the impact that ergonomic office furniture like chairs can have on productivity and concentration.
Take our word for it however, seating is one of the most important considerations when it comes to ergonomics!
An ergonomic office chair can help reduce:
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Shoulder pain
- Long-term injuries and pain
- Wrist injuries
Not to mention, ergonomic office chairs also help you maintain healthy posture and support your body while you’re at work, which further insulates you against injury and pain.
So if you’re still using run-of-the-mill office furniture, we strongly advise setting aside some money in the budget to upgrade to a more ergonomic solution!
What to look for in an ergonomic office chair
Adjustable height
The size and height of ergonomic office chairs should fit your body. In particular, it should ensure that your back, knee and feet receive appropriate amounts of support, and aren’t under unnecessary strain.
The right ergonomic chair should place your thighs and forearms parallel to the ground, with your feet resting flat on the floor.
In particular, your knees should be at a 90-degree angle, while your elbows should rest comfortably on the desk, also at a right angle.
This gives your arms and legs the support they need, while also minimising the amount of tensing you’ll need to do (which can lead to muscle pain).
Luckily, ergonomic office chairs are designed with a wide range of different heights and bodies in mind, allowing you to enjoy the most ergonomic seat.
Material
The best ergonomic chairs should be comfortable – in addition to physical support, material is an important consideration.
Ideally, you’ll find a chair built with soft, breathable material.
That’s because you’re (probably) going to be seated for extended periods of time.
Even if you use a standing desk in the office, you’ll still find yourself seated for at least half the workday (that is, if you want to maximise the benefits of standing desks).
Soft chairs, while comfortable, aren’t firm enough to offer you with real support. Conversely, a chair that’s too hard forces your body to adopt awkward posture and can impact blood flow – not to mention, it’s plain uncomfortable!
Essentially, you want to Goldilocks of chairs – not soft, but not too hard either!
Lumbar support
Put your back into it – and by “it”, we mean your chair!
When choosing the best ergonomic desk chair, it’s important that you look for one that provides an appropriate level of support for your spine.
In particular, you’ll want a chair that naturally follows the contour of your spine (or can be adjusted to do so). This minimises the amount of pressure you may feel in your spine.
Not to mention, it also force you to maintain a healthier posture. This is important, as poor posture affects how much weight is placed on your spine, which can in turn lead to back pain.
Foot support
Say your office desk is higher than most – you need a taller chair to go with it.
The problem is that in most cases, your options are limited to uncomfortable stool-type seats which lack back and arm support.
Worst of all, they also lack foot support too!
Like we mentioned before, foot support is a must-have – ideally, your feet should have something to rest on, particularly if your feet are dangling above the ground.
Solve that awkward gap between your feet and the floor with an adjustable footrest.
Armrest
The goal of ergonomic office chairs is to lessen pain and provide your body with support.
That doesn’t just mean your back, either – it also includes your neck, shoulders, and in particular, arms.
Like we mentioned above, your arms should (ideally) sit at a 90-degree angle. This position ensures you don’t have to actively hold your arms up, minimising muscle strain.
In particular, this can reduce the likelihood of shoulder tension and pain.
Like many of the features that comes with ergonomic desk chairs, you may want to consider adjustable arms, so that your arms can be perfectly positioned at the right angle when sitting.
Get the best ergonomic desk chair for you
You office chair should be one of several tools used to create a safe, comfortable, and ergonomic workplace!
At Ergomotion, we do more than manufacture standing desks.
We’re ergonomics experts: we know what’s needed to create a truly safe and comfortable office, including an ergonomic office chair.
In particular, we appreciate that each client has unique requirements, and thus may need a unique ergonomic solution!
That’s why our range of ergonomic desk chairs are offered with a huge range of features and options, as well as a high degree of adjustability.
If you need, we can even custom-make a chair specifically for your unique requirements!
Get in touch with Ergomotion’s ergonomics experts today – contact us on 03 9579 1454 or send us an email at this link to start telling us about how we can make your workplace healthier and more comfortable!
