Features of right office chairs

Most of the chairs that are out there in the market are bad at helping to reduce back pain.

Yet, countless companies still buy them as chairs for their employees.

Why?

Several reasons:

1. They are too poor to afford an expensive chair for everyone in the office.
2. They are not educated on ergonomics and do not think ergonomics are important.
3. They are not concerned about office-related back pain or they do not think that it is a problem (unfortunately true for many companies.)
4. They indulge in the same kind of sedentary lifestyle and do not see why something needs to change.
5. They simply do not care.

For you, my guess is that you are likely to fall into this category.

And the chair you’re sitting on to work for long hours is one that is probably cheap and unergonomic.

Couple that with the 7–8 hours you’re “immobile” in that chair…

You’re basically asking for back pain 5 years down the road (or maybe even sooner.)

However…

If you’re looking for an ergonomic chair that can and should replace the one you’re sitting on in the office, here’s the 7-point checklist you can refer to to help your buying decision.

#1: Comfort

• Your chair can possess all the important features stated below but if you’re feeling like you’re sitting on a rock then it’s probably not the chair for you.
• Get a chair you feel comfortable in, preferably with cushion. Also, do consider a chair with breathable fabric or mesh if you are spending long hours in the chair.

#2: Adjustable Seat Height

• If you can’t adjust your desk height, you might as well adjust your seat height.
• The height of your seat should be adjusted such that you are able to place your feet flat on the floor or a footrest (if required).
• Your thighs should be roughly parallel to the floor.

#3: Seat Depth

• There should be around two to three fingers’ width distance between your legs and the edge of the seat when you are seated fully back.

#4: Adjustable Lower Back Support

• The lumbar support of your chair should be adjustable up and down.
• Also, it should be curved at the lower back area.
• The reason for this is because our back has a natural curve that curves inwards when we’re sitting down.
• Having a curved lumbar support allows it to fit the natural curve of your lower back, reducing strain on your lower back

#5: Recline Ability

• Not only should you able to adjust your backrest height, but your backrest angle too.
• You should set your backrest such that your hip angle is between 90 to 120 degrees to provide better spinal posture.

#6: Adjustable Armrests

• Not all chairs have armrests but if your chair does have one, it should be height adjustable and be able to turn inwards or outwards.
• The height of your armrests should be such that your shoulders won’t be hunched and your elbows bend at roughly 90 degrees when typing.
• Armrests can actually promote poor posture if not positioned properly. So, if your armrests are obstructing you from getting close to your desk, you should consider adjusting or in the worst case, removing them.

#7: Swivel and Movement Ability

• This might not be a big deal to some people but having a chair than can roll around and swivel allows you to reach for things on your table without putting strain on your body, especially if you have a large workspace or using dual monitors.

Hopefully this helps you to purchase good chair that is also ergonomic!