Most jobs today require employees to spend a good deal of time sitting in a chair. Sitting for long hours at a stretch puts stress on the spine and other parts of the body, including the shoulders and neck. If not addressed, this stress can aggravate and lead to various work-related musculoskeletal disorders, impairing one's ability to work at their full potential.
Most work-related health risks stem from sitting in an incorrect posture for too long. If only you could ensure you're sitting in the correct posture and in the right chair, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing the consequences of prolonged sitting at work.
Not all office chairs are equal, and not office chairs are suitable for everyone. This is where the problem lies; people sit in chairs that don't suit them for long hours and end up developing different health conditions that often affect their overall health and well-being.
You need an ergonomic chair, not just any ergonomic chair, but one that suits your comfort needs to perfection to reap maximum benefits.
This blog post will help you understand the importance of choosing the right office chair and will also help you in choosing the perfect ergonomic chair.
How Important is it to Choose the Right Ergonomic Chair?
An ergonomic chair is distinctly apart from regular chairs. These chairs have unique adjustable features that enable the users to adjust various factors as per their preferences to ensure they're sitting in the correct posture comfortably.
Choosing the right ergonomic chair is very important. Our emphasis isn't on whether an ergonomic chair is important (it's a basic necessity and not even a question today), but we're more focused on choosing the right ergonomic chair. You'll benefit from an ergonomic chair only if you choose the right one.
Below are the many reasons why choosing the right ergonomic chair is so crucial.
Superior Posture Support
One of the biggest reasons you should only choose an ergonomic chair that suits you is that the right chair will offer superior posture support. Different ergonomic chairs come with different backrests. Some chairs feature a more contoured backrest, while others have a more reclined one. If you're more comfortable sitting in a reclined posture, you'll be more comfortable using an ergonomic chair with a flexible, reclinable backrest rather than a stiffer one.
Some ergonomic chairs have lumbar support, and others don't. Not all people prefer their chairs to have lumbar support. If you're suffering from chronic lower back pain, an ergonomic chair with lumbar support is highly recommended for you.
Do you understand now what we mean when we say that the right ergonomic chair will offer superior posture support?
Reduced Pressure on the Hips
When you're sitting in an incorrect posture on the wrong chair, the pressure on the lower back and hips is increased significantly. This puts you at a higher risk of developing chronic back pain, making sitting painful and extremely uncomfortable. This is another reason why you should invest in the right ergonomic chair. A chair whose seat depth is adjusted just right for you and your spine is adequately supported, the pressure on the hips is reduced significantly, making a job that requires you to sit for long hours very comfortable.
Enhanced Productivity
When you're comfortable at work, you'll be able to concentrate on work better. The right ergonomic chair will offer you better comfort and posture support, so your body won't get fatigued. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of poor productivity in employees.
Lower Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders
The risk of posture-related musculoskeletal disorders is greatly reduced with superior posture support. The major cause of musculoskeletal disorders is a strain on the muscles, tendons, and spine, and with strain reduced to nearly zero, you'll be at a much lower risk of developing posture-related health conditions.
How to Choose the Right Ergonomic Chair
We've said this before, and we're saying it again; not all ergonomic chairs are the same. Just because a chair has ergonomic features doesn't necessarily mean it'll suit you. When choosing an ergonomic chair, you must consider certain factors to be absolutely sure that you're getting the right chair.
This section will help you choose the right ergonomic chair, like the Back Support Ergonomic Office Chair OC13, so that you can reap the maximum benefit of this ergonomic product.
Seat Height
One of the first features to look for in an ergonomic chair is seat height. According to ergonomic standards, your feet should be placed flat on the floor. If the chair is too high for you, you may have to sit with your feet dangling or resting on your toes. You'll have to sit with your knees bent if the chair is too low. In both these cases, you're putting yourself at risk of muscle fatigue and straining.
An ergonomic chair with a height of 166 to 21 inches from the floor suits most people. When choosing an ergonomic chair, sit on the chair and see if the height adjustability range is sufficient for you. You should be able to adjust the height of the ergonomic chair high enough that your feet are placed comfortably flat on the floor.
Seat Depth and Width
The ergonomic chair that you choose should have sufficient depth and width. If the seat is too wide and too deep, you may not be able to sit with your back resting at the backrest. If you do, the edge of the seat will rub against the back of the knees, and you may not be able to reach the table's surface comfortably. To be able to use your computer comfortably, you'll have to sit further away from the backrest and that leaves your back without support. You should choose an ergonomic chair that allows you to adjust the depth and width of the seat according to your preferences. A seat that's 17 to 20 inches wide usually suits most people. With this width, the user can sit with their back against the backrest and their knees 2 to 4 inches away from the edge.
Backrest
You should choose an ergonomic chair that has a 12 to 19 inches wide backrest. There are two types of backrests; one that's attached to the seat and one that's separate. If the backrest is separate, you should be able to adjust the height. If it's attached to the seat, you should be able to move it forward and backward so that your back is adequately supported. A backrest with lumbar support offers the best support to the spine and supports the natural curvature.
Material of the Seat
The material of the seat should be breathable and the seat should be padded so that you're comfortable sitting in the chair at work. Make sure that the ergonomic chair that you're choosing doesn't feel too hot against your body because if it does, you won't be comfortable.
Armrests
It would be best if you choose an ergonomic chair with adjustable armrests. You should be able to adjust the height of the armrests so that when your arms are placed on them, your shoulders are in a neutral position. The armrests must be at a height that allows you to rest your elbow lightly while you're typing so that your arms don't get fatigued due to lack of support.
Swivel
Not all ergonomic chairs have a swiveling feature. If you've got to move around your workstation often to get things from the shelves and drawers beside or behind you, the swiveling chair will suit you better. You'll be able to reach different areas around you without having to get up from your seat or straining your back.
Base
Just like the swivel is an important feature if you've got to move around your workstation a lot, you should also look for a 5-pedestal base. A 5-pedestal base allows for increased mobility. You can push your seat around your office without having to get up from your chair frequently, which adds to mobility and comfort.
Closing Word
Most ergonomic chairs have basic adjustable features like adjustable height and adjustable seat depth and width. However, like a swivel, you'll have to look for additional features depending on your needs and preferences. The ergonomic chair shouldn't strain your body even if you sit on it the chair for an hour or two at a stretch. You should be comfortable and at ease while you're seated. If your body starts to hurt after a while, know that the ergonomic chair isn't right for you.
