Being an employee in any office involves sitting for an extended period of time doing your work. This adds stress to the spine as this wasn’t designed to being in the sitting position. To remedy this dilemma and prevent serious back problem, there must an office chair that is created that not only ergonomic but also support the back and gives good posture.
Types of Ergonomic Office Chair?
There are all kind of ergonomic chairs that are available for the office. There is no office chair is actually the best, but there are some features that makes for a good ergonomic office chair. These will let the user to fit the chair well for his or her specific needs.
1. Kneeling Ergonomic Chair
The kneeling chair is a chair that has no back support, and put the position in a unique kneeling position. This design promotes good posture by sliding the hips forward and aligning the back, shoulders, and neck. The support is from the seat of the chair, with extra support coming from the shins. It spread out the weight between the pelvis and the knees, which minimizes spinal compression. Thus, relieving the stress and tension in the lower back and leg muscles. It also has a forward slanting seat that goes to a more natural position for the spine, resulting in a sitting position that feel comfortable and effortless.
2. Saddle Ergonomic Chair
The saddle chair is an ergonomic chair that is used either a desk chair or computer chair. It’s in the shape of a horse's saddle and is in a position between sitting and standing, like when riding a horse. It allows the legs to widen sitting creating a comfortable and stable position.
This is designed for people with lower back problems. It’ll even strengthen the back muscles when used in the long term. It can be adjusted according to the different heights to be for different users. It intended to solve some of the problems associated with a traditional office chair like for example circulation system problems and leaning forward.
3. Exercise Ball Ergonomic Chair
The exercise ball chair is precisely what the name implies. It makes the user exercise their legs while sitting. It’s a bouncing ball large enough to sit but keeps the legs moving, which encourages circulation and tones the muscles, reducing stress and fatigue. Some of these can be fitted with a base frame with wheels for mobility, and can have a backrest included.
4. Recliner Chair
Sometimes, some people prefer sitting in a reclined position saying this is the most comfortable for their backs. People suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, for example, frequently feel relief in a reclined position with feet up on a footrest. For them, there is only one option is to use a recliner while working. Small tables can be included to the reclining chair and can be move over the chair to work comfortably on a laptop or do some signing.
What Makes a Good Ergonomic Office Chair?
In choosing the right kind of office chair, there are some features an ergonomic chair should possess, these are:
1. Seat height.
The height should be adjustable with ease. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the best option to do this. It should range from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor and work for most people.
This can let the user have his or her feet perfectly appendicular to the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms matching the height of the desk.
2. Seat width and depth.
The seat should have enough width and depth to accommodate the user comfortably. Approximately 17-20 inches wide is acceptable. The depth (from front to back of the seat) has to be deep enough so that the user can lean his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair. It should leave an allowance of approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. An adjustable tilt of the seat is preferrable.
3. Lumbar support.
Lower back support is always the number one feature for any ergonomic chair. It helps support the back to prevent slouching,
The human lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for extended periods without support for will lead to having a bad back and increase the stress in the structures in the lower spine. It must have a lumbar adjustment (both height and depth) so each user can find proper setting to help the inward curve of the lower back.
4. Backrest.
A12 to 19 inches wide backrest of an ergonomic office chair is ideal. If it is separate item from the seat, it should be adjusted according to height and angle. It must support the natural curve of the spine, with special emphasis to the proper support of the lumbar region.
If the backrest is built in to the office chair, it should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a lock to safeguard it from going too far backward once the user has adjusted the appropriate angle.
5. Seat material.
The material on the office chair seat and back must have the proper padding to be comfortable whether sitting for extended periods of time or for leisure. A cloth fabric that breathes is better to that of a harder surface.
6. Armrests.
Office chair armrests allow the user's arms to rest comfortably and shoulders relaxed. It must adjustable according to the user’s preferences. The elbows and lower arms are supported lightly by the armrest, and the forearm on the table and not on the armrest when typing.
7. Swivel.
Any ergonomic chair must have an easily rotating seat so the user can reach different objects of his or her desk without reaching out too much.
As a better substitute to the more traditional office chair, new designs of ergonomic chairs try to create good support, comfort, and promote good posture. These chairs may need a little getting used to, but will become very acceptable over time. The use of these ergonomic chairs can benefit for some people with lower back pain or discomfort.
No matter what kind of ergonomic chair or regular office chair is chosen, short breaks should be taken intermittently to improve circulation. Getting up from the chair from time to time will promote stronger posture, relieve strain on the eyes, and reduce fatigue.
