Ensure comfort working from home in an ergonomic desk chair
A vast number of workers now spend much of the week in their offices at home. This requirement means they typically spend numerous hours sitting in an office chair; an action which can place undue stress on the spine. Without sitting in an ergonomic desk chair to promote good posture and support the lumbar spine, this physical stress may compound and cause short term pain, or even long term injuries.
A good ergonomic desk chair should reduce any pain caused by sitting for long periods and minimise the risk of future injuries
What to look for in an ergonomic desk chair?
It can be hard to sift through all the different styles of ergonomic chairs on the market these days. Especially when you factor in all the information on ergonomics, what is best for your back and general comfort. We all know that sitting in a supportive, and ergonomic desk chair is good for our bodies, but how many of us actually end up just sitting on a kitchen stool, or an old office chair (providing little to no support). Sometimes it just takes a niggling pain in our back to really give us the motivation to look for one!
There are many different types of ergonomic chairs designs these days. This can make it quite difficult (and overwhelming) to find the best one for your needs. We have come up with a list of priorities to look for when purchasing an ergonomic office chair. But remember, everyone’s body’s are different, and once you have found an ergonomic chair that meets your criteria, it must be comfortable for you!
The most important factors to look for when purchasing an ergonomic desk chair:
- Backplate – adjustable for height and angle (if the backplate is separate from seat) to provide support for the spine’s natural curvature. Otherwise if backrest is joined to seat it should be capable of moving forward and backwards only.
- Tilt tension – Tilt tension on an ergonomic office chair is a feature which adjusts the tilt of the chair. This mechanism allows the individual to decide how much they want to recline, and how much force is needed to do so. It is a good idea not to lock this mechanism completely or leave it as loose as possible, as it is important that when you lean back you are not pushing or feeling as though you might fall back. This is feature assists to reinforce spinal alignment and fluidity.
- Lumbar support – Preferably adjustable for depth and height to enable support for the lower back natural curvature of the spine.
- Height – adjustable seat height is imperative to allow the individual to have their feet on the floor. It is important to ensure the chair is suitable for your height, especially if you are quite tall. Typically this can be found on the product description or by reading reviews from others who have purchased the product.
- Seat – should be comfortable for the individual with an adjustment lever to move the seat forward and backwards. Seat should have breathable material with quality foam padding, as oppose to a hard surface.
- Headrest – Not always a common feature of an ergonomic chair. If this is an addition, a good headrest should help to keep your eyes level with the screen. It should be able to tilt back, to enable your neck to remain straight and stop your head tilting forward. It should also be height adjustable to ensure it sits at the base of your skull
- Arm rests – The gold standard is for the chair to have arm rests and for them to be adjustable, to alleviate stress on the upper back.
Click here to see our pick of best ergonomic office chair for under $200 or see our review of the popular ergonomic desk chair, the M18 by Sihoo.