Many of us spend countless hours typing away at our computers, engaged in the work at hand. The trouble is, when you’re so engaged in your work, you might find yourself hunched over your desk, without even realising it!
It’s important to maintain a good posture while sitting at your desk. Especially when you consider just how long you’ll be sitting there in any one day! Luckily, many desk chairs are ergonomically designed to support your posture as you work. So you won’t have to suffer hours of back pain after each working day!
But, some chairs are better at delivering ergonomic support than others. So how can you avoid grabbing a rubbish chair? What are the features that separate the best office chairs from all of the rest?
In this guide, the Reliant tech experts will highlight the most important features you should look out for in the perfect desk chair. Let’s get right into it!
What Are The Best Things To Consider In An Office Chair?
The Seat
If your job requires you to sit for hours at a time, you’ll want to make sure your office chair has a comfortable seat. Of course, you’ll want to make sure the seat is padded, to reduce strain on your hips and your lower back. Some operator chairs are aimed at people sitting at their desk for 8 to 12 hours, and are often referred to as a 24 hr chair.
Make sure your desk chair is padded just right. Too much padding may promote a bad posture, which leads directly to back pain. Too little padding, and there will be too much pressure on your hips!
However, you should make sure the seat still has a firmness to it. If the seat is too soft, you might unconsciously find yourself adopting a hunched posture. It’s also more likely that your lumbar would curve inwards. Over time, this curve can cause lower back pain that keeps you up all night!
A firmer seat encourages you to maintain an upright posture and ensures your lumbar is kept in optimal position. This further helps to prevent back pain!
Make sure the seat is also wide enough to accommodate you. If the seat is too narrow, you’ll be forced to squeeze your legs in together, which will cause them to ache over time!
Adjustable Height
Your office chair should be perfectly suited to your height. If you are a taller person, your chair should be higher off the ground. If you are a shorter person, your chair should be closer to the ground. The perfect desk chair should allow you to adjust its height as required.
When your desk chair is at the right height, you should be able to sit with your feet flat against the floor, and with your knees parallel to your hips!
The Right Armrests
Make sure to pay special attention to your arms! You should make sure your arms are sufficiently supported throughout the entire working day. Make sure you can adjust the height of your armrests. You want to make sure your elbow is bent at a 90-degree angle, as this allows the majority of your arms to relax, even while you type away at the keyboard!
You should also ensure the armrests can be adjusted in terms of width. If your arms are forced too close together, you’ll find yourself straining to keep them closed in. This will result in you tiring out at a faster rate!
A Good Backrest
Of course, the spine is the most important part of the body to protect for the sake of your posture. As such, you should make sure your office chair has a great backrest. The backrest should be designed to encourage good posture throughout the day.
The backrest should be shaped to match your spine’s natural curve. Maintaining this natural curve is crucial for preventing back pain, as it reduces the strain placed on your lower back. Make sure the materials used in the backrest are firm enough. A good amount of padding is great for creating a luxurious sense of comfort. But you should make sure the backrest is firm enough to keep you upright.
It’s worth looking for a desk chair that places a particular focus on the lower back. Many of the best desk chairs offer adjustable lumbar support. So you can position the chair to perfectly support your lumbar from behind!
A Headrest
Though not essential, a good headrest is great for extra comfort. A good headrest allows you to lay back even more and reduces the strain on your neck. This will keep your neck from aching, and will also encourage you to keep from hunching forward!
The addition of a headrest can help to further reduce the strain placed on your spine. This helps to prevent back pain, while also preventing neck pain! A headrest isn’t essential, but it’s worth it!
When your head is resting against the headrest, it reduces some of the strain placed on your spine. Again, this helps to prevent back pain!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Best Things To Consider In An Office Chair?
You’ll likely be sitting in your office chair for long hours. As such, you’ll want to make sure it supports you. Most importantly, a good office chair should have a backrest that supports the natural curve of your spine. A comfortable but firm backrest helps to provide extra comfort while also supporting you from behind.
How Should I Sit At My Desk For 8 Hours?
If your job requires you to sit at your desk for more than 8 hours at a time, you need to make sure it’s comfortable. But, more than that, you need to make sure it’s ergonomic. An ergonomic desk chair should support the curve of your spine. It should also allow you to sit with your feet flat on the floor, and with your arms at a 90 degree angle from your body!
0 Comments