The Importance of Ergonomic Office Chairs

In the modern workplace, comfort and health and safety are of the utmost importance. Opting for an ergonomic office chair, such as those available from Furniture At Work, is a solution to this requirement.

Ergonomic office chairs offer features such as contoured back rests, adjustable height, movable armrests, and padded headrests.

Supporting Good Posture

Employees often end up seated for eight hours or more a day. In a badly designed chair, employees can end up slouching or sitting in an awkward position. This can lead to the body feeling agitated and pain developing in the lower back. Providing employees with an ergonomic chair that offers good adjustability will allow most users to sit comfortably throughout the day.

Traditional chairs can put pressure on the back, leaving employees feeling uncomfortable during the workday. By contrast, a suitable office chair will support the spine’s natural curve, and should support the whole back.

Getting the height of a chair and the seat’s width and depth right is crucial for comfort. For more information about this, read the embedded PDF.

The Importance of Seat Height, Width and Depth

Reducing Neck Problems

Not only can sitting for long periods affect the back, it can also cause neck complaints. Sitting without any neck support can lead to employees feeling stiff. Many ergonomic office chairs are available that include headrests to support an employee’s head and neck, reducing the chance of injury and stiffness.

Investing in chairs with headrests is particularly helpful for employees who suffer with existing neck or shoulder problems. Offering this support will allow the muscles to relax, increasing blood flow.

The Benefits of Ergonomic Office Chairs

Reducing Arm Strain

Many ergonomic chairs have adjustable armrests, which – when correctly adjusted – can support the arms, reducing muscle strain in the shoulders. Armrests are beneficial when using a keyboard or mouse, but if the height cannot be adjusted they can catch on the desk. This can lead to users sitting on the edge of their seat with little to no back support.

Productivity

Investing in ergonomic office chairs can encourage more effective teamwork and productivity. Employees sitting in comfortable, ergonomic chairs will be able to focus much easier without any distractions from discomfort.

The Mechanics of Office Chairs

 

Ergonomic office chairs are a staple aspect of a modern office space and are necessary for employees to stay comfortable throughout the workday. Most office workers are used to working eight or nine-hour days, and without a suitable office chair, this can start to cause discomfort. Good office chairs are a necessary investment, yet how office chair mechanics work remains a mystery for many people.

A supportive office chair is important, and Furniture At Work offers a range of ergonomic and modern office chairs including leather, mesh, and executive models.

Seat Height

Office chairs are constructed around a single-acting cylinder, which is a spring filled with air. This cylinder is connected to a piston, which moves into the cylinder when the lever is operated. The piston compresses the air to move the seat up, and when the piston is removed, the air decompresses and the seat lowers.

Adjustable seat height is crucial for user comfort, as it encourages proper posture and prevents workers from slouching at their desks. The ideal seat height should allow workers to place both feet on the floor, whilst comfortably resting their hands on the surface of the desk.

Adjustable Tilt and Tilt Lock

The tilt mechanism is the most important aspect of an office chair recline or rock function. A chair’s tilt is usually controlled by a large knob or lever underneath the seat. Operating the lever or knob increases or decreases the amount of force that is required to make a chair recline. Tilt lock uses either a bar or pin to lock the tilt in a certain position, allowing users to adjust the recline depending on the task at hand. For example, an upright position can be helpful for desk work, but reclining can be more comfortable during long meetings.

Lumbar Support and Back Height Adjustment

Any ergonomic office chair that is worthwhile should have adjustable lumbar support. The lower part of the spine naturally curves inwards, and lumbar support is designed to support this area of the back by filling in the gap between the spine and the chair. When correctly positioned, lumbar support should enable users to keep their pelvis, shoulders and ears aligned, whilst supporting the spine’s natural curvature.

Adjustable lumbar support and back height adjustment are commonplace on modern office chairs. A knob on the chair’s frame is a common adjustment method for lumbar support. If a chair does not have built-in lumbar support, this can be added with a curved cushion that simply fits to the back of the seat.

The height of the back of an office chair is usually adjusted with a ratchet method; this simply lifts the backrest up and locks it into position.