Spine Health Factors: Identifying Ergonomic Chairs

Office employees generally spend a good amount of time seated on a chair linked to a desk which over time causes back problems due to the stress that builds up directly on the spine attributed to long hours seated on a chair. Such scenarios (long hours of sitting ) often leads to the users to develop back problems and as such it is crucial for employees to own ergonomic office chairs that support the lower back (lumbar) and promotes optimal posture. 

Although most office chairs are suitable for temporary sitting and working, for long hours it is important to choose an ergonomic chair that is right for you especially for those who work from a home office (as studies indicate that those who work from their home offices spend more than 8 hours on their office chairs). For those who are not certain about how to choose a proper ergonomic chair for themselves, this article provides a list of elements that preferably should be present on an ergonomic chair in the office. 

These elements or chair ‘ergonomic components’ will allow users to make the best of their chairs with regards to their personal anatomical needs that vary from one user to the next. Below are the ‘ergonomic elements’ that a good certified ergonomic chair for the regular office or home office should have: 

Adjustable Armrests

Most regular office chairs have static armrests, as opposed to ergonomic versions that have adjustable armrests that allow the user to rest their arms comfortably according to the arm length which helps the shoulders to relax. Essentially both elbows and the lower arm should only rest lightly on the armrest and forearms must not be positioned ‘on’ the armrest whilst the user is using the keyboard or mouse. 

Swivel Factor

Both, conventional and ergonomic office chairs normally have this function which is critical for users to have access to the various areas around the office desk with ease.

Adjustable Seat Height, Width and Depth

A good office chair should include seat height adjustability and most have this component using a pneumatic mechanism. In general, seat heights should range anywhere from 16 to 21 inches from the floor level as this range would suit people of almost all height, allowing them to have their feet flat on the floor and their arms horizontally levelled with desk height. 

As for the width and depth of the seat, the adjustability should have enough range to fit most adult sized users comfortably. Generally a range of between 17-20 inches width adjustment should be sufficient and for depth which revolves around the distance from the front of the seat to the back of the seat, a range of 2 to 4 inches is sufficient to ensure that users are able to sit with their lower back against the backrest. The depth adjustment is usually coupled with a tilt function to ensure proper depth and tilt balance for the user. 

Summary 

It is critical to understand that among the most important factors of ergonomic chairs is lower back support based on the fact that our lumbar spine is curved inwards and when an individual sits for too long without any support for this curved area eventually leads to slouching which in turn flattens the curve and exerts strain on the lower spine. A well designed or high quality ergonomic chair according to an office furniture designer in Melbourne should be at least 12inches wide going up to about 19 inches. Finally the seat material also counts in terms of sufficient padding for comfort and fabric that is breathable.