What is an ergonomic chair?
An ergonomic chair is one that is designed to be comfortable and efficient for the tasks a person may perform while seated. Many people choose ergonomic chairs for office environments that require workers to sit for extended periods. While sitting in a chair may seem completely natural, it puts stress on the spine. Over time, some people develop back problems because of sitting in ordinary office chairs; others, who already had back problems, may find them exacerbated. Purchasing an ergonomic chair that supports the lower back can help avoid these issues and even help promote optimal posture. When a person begins to shop for an ergonomic chair, he may find a large variety of options, which may make his search confusing; this is because no one chair is perfect for all people. To narrow down a search, one of the first things to consider is the height of the chair. It is best to select one that has a height that can be adjusted easily, and many people prefer pneumatic adjustment levers be
Some of you may not be able to explain what exactly ergonomic means but you must have heard of ergonomic chairs and certainly know they are quite fashionable. Those of you who already have one in your office or home are probably aware of the benefits that this specific piece has brought to your lives. The term ergonomic comes from two Greek words: ergos meaning work and nomos meaning natural law, which clearly explains the basic aim of this type of chair. It has been created to meet the physical (and, why not, mental) capabilities of the office worker. Whoever designed the first ergonomic chair had body mechanics in mind. The chair ensures a lot of comfort, minimising the risk of back, neck and abdominal pain that an ordinary chair is likely to give you if you sit for too long. Computers have changed our lives significantly. On the one hand they have simplified work but on the other hand they have condemned us to sitting long hours in front of the monitor hardly leaving our seats. Ergo
Look for adjustability and lumbar back supports. Good chairs should be able to accommodate a wide range of shapes and sizes of people. Probably the most important adjustment is seat pan height. It is also important to have the ability to adjust seat pan angle. A padded support for the low back, which is called a lumbar back support, helps reduce the stress on the spine. Before buying a chair, however, it is important to think about the tasks the employee performs and the work environment in which the chair will be used. Specifically, it is critical to remember that work organization affects the amount of time spent sitting in a chair. Organizing the work so that workers can change postures and get up from their chairs may be more important than purchasing the best ergonomic chair available. Back to top.