Navigating the world of ergonomic furniture, whether you’re setting up a home office or remodelling an office space for your staff, may be intimidating. The growing quantity of items on the market makes it difficult to limit down your purchasing selections. We make a living at ergonofis by ensuring that you get the greatest ergonomic furniture possible. Choosing the correct ergonomic office chair is an important part of creating an ergonomic workstation. In this article, we’ll explain what an ergonomic office chair is, why it’s worthwhile to invest in one, and what to look for when buying for one. Not to boast, but we believe we’ve discovered the perfect inexpensive ergonomic office chair after much study!
What is an ergonomic office chair?
To begin, let’s define ergonomics as the “science of matching workplace circumstances and task demands to the capabilities of the working population,” as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Organization. In other words, ergonomics studies how furniture and items may be built to operate in harmony with the human body, resulting in good working conditions.
An ergonomic chair, then, is one that seeks to alleviate the bodily aches and strains caused by sitting in a normal chair for lengthy periods of time. It is a chair that is meant to provide the best possible support for the body when sitting at a desk. It takes into account posture, back support, load distribution, comfort, and mobility. An ergonomic office chair will have several adjustable pieces so that it fits each individual user perfectly and allows them to sit nicely at work.
What is the purpose of an ergonomic office chair? Is it a good investment?
Ergonomic office chairs are more costly than regular office chairs, we understand. Consider it an investment in your or your workers’ health and performance, rather than a cost.
The most important, and not insignificant, reason to purchase an ergonomic desk chair is for your health. Spending too much time at your desk has been linked to an increased risk of getting a variety of dangerous illnesses. Because of the absence of upper back support, sitting on a non-ergonomic chair can lead to the development of musculoskeletal problems, which impact your musculature, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. It can cause back discomfort by affecting your posture and putting strain on your spine and backbone. It can also reduce blood flow, resulting in deep vein thrombosis and consequences such as cervical spondylosis. The ideal ergonomic chair will fit your body shape, promote good posture, maintain your joints and tissues in a neutral position, and allow optimal hip and pelvic alignment. This reduces your chance of injury and strain, gives you more energy, and allows you to focus without being distracted or in pain.
Ultimately, the benefits of investing in an ergonomic chair will be reflected in your work. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries completed a persuasive research if you are a company considering giving ergonomic seats to your employees. They looked at 4000 users who moved to ergonomic office furniture and discovered that absenteeism was decreased by 75%, mistake rate was lowered by 56%, and time on task was enhanced by 40%. By keeping your employees’ workplaces safer, you’re enhancing their engagement and offering a more flexible atmosphere that can adapt to each individual employee. And, if our forecasts are correct, workers seeking for jobs will favour workplaces that appreciate their employees’ well-being. Furthermore, ergonomic chairs are frequently high-quality furniture that will endure a long time and survive years of use.
What should you look for in an ergonomic office chair?
Many chairs on the market label themselves as ergonomic, yet they don’t meet all of the requirements. If you’re planning to buy an ergonomic office chair, keep the following ideas in mind to get the most out of your investment:
Adjustability
What distinguishes a good ergonomic office chair is its ability to effortlessly adjust to your needs. Because everyone is different, each chair must be able to adapt to its individual user. Consider who will be using the chair and in what setting, and ensure that it is flexible to all of the functions it will do. The adjustability of a chair’s numerous sections is included in the majority of the following criteria.
Height of the seat
The seat height of a decent ergonomic chair may be changed from 15 to 22 inches from the floor. This size range is appropriate for those who are 5′ to 6’4″ tall. Your feet should be flat on the floor and your knees should be at a 90-degree angle at the right height. Your knees and lumbar region will be less stressed as a result of this. A chair with a pneumatic adjustment is preferable since you can modify the height while sitting in it, but a chair with a rotating mechanism will also function.
Width of the seat
To give enough area for thigh support, the normal seat size is between 17 and 20 inches broad. Each user should be seated comfortably on a high-quality seat pan with at least 1 inch of space on either side of their hips, but not so far apart that their arms must extend to reach the armrests.
Seat depth
Seat depth The seat should support at least 34% of the thighs. Look for chairs with a sliding seat, which allows the user to slide the seat in and out while seated.
Support for the lower back
The existence of adequate lumbar support, as well as the capacity to alter it, is an important factor. The upper body, including the neck and head, is supported and stabilised by the lumbar spine. The backrest of the chair allows for truncal mobility while also protecting the spinal cord and controlling leg motions. Its concave curvature helps to distribute weight evenly, reducing stress concentration. Sitting in a chair without lumbar support causes that curvature to flatten, resulting in lower back discomfort.
Backrest
The average backrest is 12 to 19 inches broad. It must accommodate the spine’s natural bend. To improve blood flow, an ergonomic office chair should encourage active sitting rather than static posture. As a result, it should allow the user to experiment with different reclining postures in order to ease some of the strain on their lower backs. With a reclining degree of 110 to 130, depending on the body type, pressure on the lumbar discs and muscular activity are at their lowest.
Materials for the seat and backrest
- Look for fabrics that will keep you comfy for long periods of time.
- Check to see if the seat pan padding is composed of good foam. Inadequate cushioning and low-quality foam can cause hip misalignment, imbalance, back pain, weariness, and suffering in most ergonomic seats.
- Avoid synthetic fabrics that aren’t breathable. The seat fabric is soft and breathable, and the leather is simple to clean.
- A mesh backrest keeps users cool by allowing air to circulate and moulds the body while distributing weight over a vast area.
Armrests
The armrests should be adjustable and, if feasible, detachable. Armrests should be between 7″ and 10″ above the seat pan height. It must be wide and comfy enough for the elbows and forearms to rest gently when typing.
Both movement and stability are important
The chair should be able to swivel and spin freely so that the user can easily access everything on their desk. A chair that allows for mobility encourages a dynamic posture and improves blood circulation. Furthermore, it must be stable. An ergonomic office chair with at least 5 spokes is required for this. Also, ensure sure the wheels are of good quality so the floor doesn’t get damaged. Check the weight capacity to make sure it’s suitable for the user.
Warranty and manufacturing
Make sure an ergonomic office chair has a decent guarantee because it will be subjected to years of use. You should also look into where it is manufactured (the closer the better! ), how sustainable it is, and any certifications it may have.
Price
The cost of an ergonomic office chair ranges from $200 to $2,000.
