How to Select the Best Ergonomic Work Chair
Thanks to the busy lifestyle most of us lead today, we spend most time in our office chairs than resting in our beds. Since office chairs take up such a big part in our lives, it’s more than important to choose ones that provide us with the ultimate comfort.
Here are some of the ways you can determine a good ergonomic chair:
Seat height
It is important for the seat height to be adjusted from 38 to 55 centimeters off the floor, this is suitable for people that are between 152 to 195 cm tall. The chair should be set in a position where your feet should be flat on the floor, with your knees at a 90-degree angle. This will reduce stress on your knees and lumbar region. A chair with a pneumatic adjustment is ideal as you can correct the height sitting in the chair, but a chair with a spinning mechanism will work.
Seat width
An ideal seat width is between 43 and 50 centimeters wide, for you to be sitting comfortably there needs to be at least 2.5 centimeters on either side but not so side that your arms need to stretch to touch the armrests.
Lumbar support
The presence of lumbar support, and its adjustability, is a critical criterion. The lumbar spine supports and stabilizes the upper body, including the neck and head. It allows for truncal movement, protects the spinal cord, and controls leg movements. Its concave curve helps to distribute the weight, which reduces the concentration of stress. Sitting in a chair without lumbar support tends to flatten that curve, which leads to lower back pain.
Backrest
A typical backrest is between 30 and 48 centimeters wide. It needs to support the natural curve of the spine. An ergonomic office chair should promote dynamic sitting rather than static posture to increase blood flow. It should, therefore, allow its user to recline to relieve some weight from their lower backs. Pressure on the lumbar discs and muscle activity are at their lowest with a reclining degree that is between 110 and 130, depending on the body type.
Seat and backrest materials
Look for materials that are comfortable for extended periods.
- Make sure the seat padding is made of high-quality foam. Insufficient padding and low-quality foam can lead to misalignment in the hips, imbalance, back pain, fatigue, and discomfort.
- Avoid unbreathable synthetic materials. Cloth fabric on the seat is comfortable and breathable, and leather is easy to clean
- A mesh backrest keeps its users cool by keeping the air flowing, and comfortably contours the body while spreading the weight across a large area.
Armrests
The armrests need to be adjustable and even removable if possible. The ideal height of armrests is from 18 to 25 cm above the seat height. They should be broad and comfortable so that the elbows and forearms can rest lightly on them while typing.
Movement and stability
The chair needs to move and rotate easily so that its user can reach anything on their desk without straining. A chair that allows for movement also promotes a dynamic position and increases blood flow. Additionally, it needs to be stable. For this, an ergonomic office chair needs to have at least 5 spokes. And make sure the wheels are of high quality, so no damage is done to the floors. Also, check its weight capacity to validate it’s appropriate for its user.
Tivoli furniture has a wide range of ergonomic chairs that check all the boxes for you to have the utmost comfortable while working.
Visit our showroom to browse through seating options and pick your perfect match!
REFERENCES
Ehs.pitt.edu. 2021. How to Choose an Ergonomic Chair | Environmental Health and Safety | University of Pittsburgh. [online] Available at: <https://www.ehs.pitt.edu/workplace/ergonomics/chair>
ergonofis. 2021. Ergonomic office chair - How to choose the best one for you?. [online] Available at: <https://ergonofis.com/blogs/news/ergonomic-office-chair-choose-best>
