Office Chair

What are the Important Features of Office Chairs?

Office workers spend most of their time sitting on their office chairs, usually in front of a computer, in order to get their work done. Sitting on office chairs for a long time, however, can take its toll on the body. It can lead to impaired blood circulation of the body, to sore and weakened muscles, to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, among many others. But sitting on office chairs for prolonged periods is inevitable because that is just how most work is done in the office nowadays, so it is important for office chairs to be ergonomic.

Ergonomics is the application of scientific principles that will increase productivity in the workplace while keeping work-related injuries to the body at a minimum. Ergonomics plays a huge role in the design of office chairs nowadays, and ergonomic office chairs have five important features. These features are:

1. Ergonomic office chairs have enough space for the hips and thighs. Office chairs should also be amply cushioned. In this way, the nerves and the veins in the hips, thighs and buttocks would not be pinched, as pinching can lead to numbness and impaired blood circulation. The cushioning on office chairs will also prevent the muscles in the buttocks and the back of the thighs from becoming sore.

2. Ergonomic office chairs have firm, contoured backs, which are designed to provide support to the lower, middle and upper back. A common problem experienced by office workers when sitting far too long at their desks is back pain. The muscles of the back get weakened from sitting for prolonged periods. Office chairs that have backs that are contoured and firm will provide sufficient support for the muscles of the back as well as the spine, which will then prevent the body from experiencing soreness and sustaining injuries.

3. The backrests of ergonomic office chairs are also adjustable in height. Office chairs that have adjustable backrests will allow the people sitting on them to lean back and rest their necks comfortably when they need to do so. Not having enough support to the upper back and the neck can lead to soreness of muscles, not to mention migraine.

4. Ergonomic office chairs are supposed to have armrests that are adjustable, as well as cushioned and contoured to the shape of the arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a problem that most office workers experience, as repetitive stress on the arms tends to make the muscles of the arm contract. This then leads to the narrowing of the carpal tunnel in the wrist, and the narrowing pinches the nerves there, causing debilitating pain. This ailment can be prevented if the office chairs being used provide enough support for the arms.

5. Good ergonomic office chairs have a five-point tip base. Once in a while, the person sitting on the chair will need to recline his or her chair for a bit in order to rest the back and the neck. This is to reduce the strain on the back and on the neck, which is inevitable when sitting down for long hours at a time. Using office chairs with a five-point tip base will prevent the chair from accidentally tipping over when reclining. Tipping over can result in injuries to the head and to other parts of the body.

What are the types of office chairs?

The rapid development in our technology has created a huge demand for a number of different office chair designs. New technology creates new occupations and some of those occupations require new types of furniture. Much of the technological growth has come in administrative and information based fields. These fields have created the demand for specialized office seating like computer chairs and ergonomic office chairs. Other factors like climate and architectural design have recently influenced the office chair industry. The increased popularity of mesh office chairs in hot and humid climates is due in large part to the ability that mesh has to breathe and keep the user cool during the work day. On the other hand, chairs like the Aeron have been developed with a strong emphasis on modern, artistic design which has drawn the attention of any business trying to keep up with modern trends. There is also a big distinction in the style of chair that an executive uses compared to that of a typical employee. Executives have always had to distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd and it is no different with executive office chairs.

* Computer Chairs were designed to be very adjustable and comfortable for long periods of sitting. Computer chairs usually feature an adjustable seat and backrest, casters, a swivel function and a padded seat for more comfort. Many times employees from different shifts will use the same chair. This makes the adjustability of computer chairs a big positive.

* Ergonomic Office Chairs are designed to keep the user in a supportive, proper sitting position to help minimize stress and tension put on the muscles, joints and limbs. Ergonomic chairs are highly adjustable and feature high end upholstery. Most ergonomic chairs have a fully adjustable seat and backrest, fully adjustable armrests, adjustable lumbar support and an adjustable headrest (if the chair features a headrest). An ergonomic office chair should be used if the employee will be seated for more than 4 hours at a time.

* Mesh Office Chairs first came into popularity when Herman Miller introduced the Aeron Chair. Most mesh chairs are completely transparent which makes them extremely breathable. Traditionally office chairs have had a wood or plastic backing with a fabric or leather upholstery. This upholstery will often make the user hot or sweaty if used for long hours. Mesh has constant airflow keeping the user cool during the day.

* Executive Office Chairs are usually upholstered in top of the line upholstery and almost always feature a high back or headrest. They also feature a swivel function and seat height adjustment. There is a wide range in the number of adjustments available on different models after the initial functions. Executive office chairs have typically been upholstered in leather but many executives are now sitting in mesh chairs.

Office chairs will continue to evolve as technology does. New upholstery options like mesh will continue to be redeveloped and improved upon. Topics like ergonomics will continue to be at the forefront of the office chair industry. Office chair design has gone from a simple fabric swivel chair to fully adjustable ergonomic chairs with memory foam seats. Who knows what type of office chairs are still to come?

How To Buy An Ergonomic Office Chair?

When shopping for or buying an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair online, finding the best ergonomic chair depends a lot on what kind of work you do whether at home or away from home. And incorrect ergonomics can cause back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and many other medical issues. And if you spend most of your waking hours sitting at your desk, you know you need an ergonomic office chair that works with your body not against it, to spare you from needless backaches and fatigue.

The terms computer ergonomics and office ergonomics are often used interchangeably; they're usually referring to body-adapted ergonomic chairs, office chairs, stools, desks, keyboards, mice and so on. In recent times, the word 'ergonomics' has become part of office terminology.

Medical chairs and dental chairs also benefit from using correct ergonomics. Clean room chairs and ESD chairs are also on the market; these chairs come with height adjustable options as well as seat pan and back option, plus they have necessary inflatable lumbar support and footrest options. Ergonomic comfort is also very important because it helps keep employees alert. Ergonomic intensive-use chairs or seating, also known as 24/7 seating, are usually used for dispatch room security monitoring areas, control rooms, and 911 emergency dispatch offices.

Ergonomic executive office chairs or seating, also called managers' chairs, are usually found with a higher back and come with leather or stitched leather upholstery. The ergonomic intensive-use chairs are very durable and especially need to be ergonomic in design, because workers are typically sitting for many hours. And the executive chairs usually have upholstered back rests and upholstered arms.

The hydraulic seat height adjustment allows the user to adjust the chair properly so feet can rest on the floor or footrest and the upper body is properly aligned with the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. The seat should always extend at least one inch from either side of the hips for optimum comfort because insufficient hip room can make you sit too far forward and not get enough support for the thighs. Adjustable height and width are absolutely necessary when buying a chair that has armrests. The armrests should be made of a soft material and should be at least 2" wide to provide an adequate surface area.

Some of the ergonomic chair seat pans easily adjust for either a forward or backward tilt. You can use an ergonomic chair with casters and a 5-point base to ease movement and minimize possible tipping. A good ergonomic chair or office chair will recline and lock into several different positions.

The backrest of the chair should also have angle, in-out and height adjustments to achieve the proper spinal alignment; the angle adjustment allows the user to adjust the angle of the backrest in relation to the seat pan, as opposed to the tilt mechanism, which moves the seat pan with the backrest. The front part of the seat should slope down ever so slightly and allow a fist size gap between the back of the knees and the front edge of the seat pan to reduce pressure on the back of the thighs. The seat pan is the one component of the chair that supports the majority of the user's weight.

Hopefully these ergonomic facts and tips about features and types of ergonomic chairs will help you when shopping for or buying an ergonomic chair online or locally from your office supply store or office furniture store. Many good deals can be found online and at local office furniture consignment and resale shops. And if you can't afford the Cadillac of chairs, the Aeron chair, which starts at about $400, find an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair that is a true ergonomic chair, not the 'ergonomically designed' chair that is generally not totally ergonomic.

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