What to Look For From Ergonomic Office Chairs

Ergonomics, or how to go about making work more comfortable for your body and your job, is a hot topic these days. Many people are learning how to improve their job performance by using ergonomic office chairs. One of the main things to look for in the best ergonomic office chairs is how well the chair can handle your body. This is what will make you sit, stand or walk in the chair for long periods of time. Here are some tips for finding the right ergonomic office chairs:

What are ergonomic office chairs?

These particular chairs were designed to help alleviate many common aches and pains that occur when sitting at one’s desk or any furniture in general.  They work to help you keep your body in proper alignment when you sit down. In the long term, this can benefit your posture, as well as your overall health and wellbeing. If you work in the office a lot, then having these types of chairs is almost a necessity. Not only will they help keep your body comfortable, but they will also allow you to be more productive when it comes to your work. What this means is that if you have poor posture, you may have a hard time getting the job done because your body is not in the right position.

When looking at what to look for from Ergonomic Office Chairs, there are three main factors to consider. These are the seat tilt, the lumbar depth and the backrest. These features can vary greatly from one chair to another. Some may have higher back support, while others may have a lower backrest. All chairs offer varying levels of back support, so it’s a good idea to try several chairs to see which offers your desired level of back support.

Seat tilt

Seat tilt is very important for those of us who spend a lot of time sitting at a desk. Chairs that offer tilt are usually positioned so that the bottom of the user’s feet are resting on the floor. This keeps your heels flat on the floor and keeps your centre of gravity low. Because most ergonomic office chairs do not have seat tilt, your feet must rest on the chair and then you must lift your leg to get to the front of the chair.

Lumbar depth

Lumbar depth is also important. Most ergonomic office chairs are designed to be adjustable in this area, but not all of them. It is important to read the documentation that comes with the chair and to try several models to make sure that this feature works for you. If it doesn’t, you may want to consider purchasing a different ergonomic office chairs model.

Backrest

Another important factor is the backrest. Many people find that having a backrest forces their hips to rotate slightly inward. Because this movement occurs naturally while sitting, it can be an important feature to look for.

While most ergonomic office chairs come with a seat that locks into place with a frame, you should also look for a locking mechanism for the backrest. Many people find that when the backrest is locked, the spine does not feel locked into place. You should know that there is a mechanical way to lock the backrest in place, and that is by hitting a key on the locking mechanism. This is a very small detail that can make a big difference in how comfortable you are when using your new ergonomic office chairs.

Height adjustable features

Another thing to look for in ergonomic office chairs is adjustable height features. This is particularly important for those who spend a good deal of time in front of the computer. Most of the ergonomic office chairs on the market today have built-in adjustable height mechanisms. If you are tall or short, you will appreciate the added height that these office chairs provide. If you are not tall or short and simply want some additional lumbar support, then it is important to specify this when checking out the options.

Padding on the chair

Finally, check out the padding on the chair. While most of us spend a fair amount of time in our chairs, our bodies do not come with extra padding built-in. Most ergonomic office chairs offer some padding that will either sit behind your seat or under your seat. This extra padding is what you are going to be looking for as you are trying to figure out what to look for from ergonomic office chairs. Some additional padding will help to reduce any chafing and rubbing that might take place during your workday.