There’s nothing more important for a good home office than the right office furniture! Considering just how long we spend at our desks, cracking on with the day’s work, it’s important to make sure we’re comfortable and supported through every hour. Towards this end, one of the most important pieces of office furniture is the desk chair.
A good office chair can help to support you throughout the working day, to help you maintain a healthy posture. This in turn staves off dreaded back aches and neck strains! Arguably the ultimate in home working comfort is the ergonomic desk chair. These office chairs are specially designed to accommodate the human form. To support the spine throughout the working day, and to promote good posture.
But what is it that makes a good ergonomic desk chair? What are the features that differentiate them from bog-standard desk chairs? Today, our Reliant tech experts are going to help us find out!
What Makes A Good Ergonomic Desk Chair?
Arm Support
A good ergonomic desk chair should provide support for more than just the back! When you’re looking for the perfect office chair, make sure it provides excellent support for your arms. Your arms should be entirely supported from below, and you should be able to relax them throughout the day.
While back support is paramount, it’s important to make sure your arms are also supported. When your arms are supported, it keeps your shoulders from tensing up, and prevents various aches!
Good armrests should also allow you to relax your shoulders. It’s easy to end up tensing up your shoulders during the working day, especially when your arms aren’t adequately supported. Proper arm support helps to ensure you don’t have any lingering shoulder pains after you’ve clocked out for the day!
Make sure the chair has adjustable armrests. This allows you to change the armrest height to best suit your individual needs!
Easy Swivelling
An iconic feature of all office chairs is the recognizable swivel. Though it may seem like a superfluous feature, the swivel is highly important, as it allows you to turn and look at different parts of your desk without having to move your back or neck!
If you work with multiple monitors, or you have an L-shaped desk, then a swivelling office chair allows you to easily turn your attention, without having to move your body!
The Right Height
The perfect office chair should allow you to quickly and easily adjust the height as needed. Sitting at just the right height helps to optimise your posture, and ensures there is less tension placed on your body throughout the working day. Your feet should be flat against the floor, and your knees should be about level with your hips.
Lumbar Support
One of the features that helps ergonomic desk chairs stand out from the rest is efficient lumbar support. The lumbar is the lowest part of the spine, made up of five unique vertebrae. It’s important to remember that the spine has a natural “S” shape, with the spine curving slightly inward toward the bottom of the back. Lumbar support helps to support this natural shape, which in turn keeps you from slouching!
Make sure that your office chair not only has lumbar support but that it is adjustable. This way, you can choose the perfect positioning for your spine. Most ergonomic desk chairs will allow you to adjust both the height and depth of the lumbar support. Adjusting the depth and height allows you to achieve the perfect positioning, to maintain that natural “S” shape in your spine!
Good Material
Office chairs are made using a variety of different materials. It’s worth looking for materials that are best able to offer you extra support and comfort throughout the working day. For instance, softer materials help to provide extra cushioning, which in turn helps to lessen strains and aches. Softer materials also allow you to more comfortably sit for extended periods.
It’s worth looking for an office chair with materials that suit your working environment. For instance, if your office is often warm throughout the day, you’ll want to make sure to pick a material that can stay cool. Mesh materials are very popular, as they are incredibly breathable, to help keep you cool, while also being soft enough to be comfortable for hours on end!
Appropriate Angles
Many people often overlook the importance of an appropriate angle when using an office chair. For maximum comfort, you want to make sure that your pelvis is at the correct angle throughout the day. Generally, your pelvis should be within an 80-degree angle to your hips and knees. This helps to prevent anterior pelvic tilt, which can prove troublesome with time. In order to ensure the proper angle for your pelvis, you’ll want to make sure your ergonomic desk chair allows you to adjust angles at any time.
It’s important to make sure your desk chair is angled just right! An appropriate angle helps to keep your posture upright and helps to prevent anterior pelvic tilt. A condition that can put a strain on your posture!
It’s also worth looking for a desk chair with adjustable tilt tension. This feature allows you to adjust how much force is needed to tilt the chair back. This allows you to adjust the chair to suit your weight!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes A Good Ergonomic Desk Chair?
Ergonomic desk chairs are designed according to the unique shape of the human body. One of the most unique features of these office chairs is their lumbar support. The lumbar is the lower part of the spine, with a distinct inward curve. Lumbar support helps you to maintain that curve, for comfortable work throughout the day.
Do I Really Need An Ergonomic Chair?
If you work long hours at a desk, then an ergonomic chair really is essential. Ergonomic chairs are specially designed to support the unique shape of the body. This helps to prevent various aches and pains. So once you finish a day of work, you can truly relax, without carrying around the weight of the day!
