If you spend long hours in front of the computer sitting on a ‘normal’ seat, then it is very likely that you have developed a back ache. This is not in the least bit surprising given the fact that it is a commonplace condition. Whenever a person has to sit for a long time on a seat which is not professional designed as one of the new ergonomic office chairs, there is bound to be an adverse physical condition such as chronic neck and back pain which is a result of the chair not being properly aligned with the body of the user.
Ergonomic chairs are however, a remedy for such conditions as they are built to align properly with the individual’s body and prevent stress at the various points of the body which are vulnerable to such pains. You can pick up any one of these chairs at a store specializing in ergonomic furniture but before you pay for one, is it important that you ensure that it fits you comfortably. In other words, test drive it. The way to go about the test drive is to check out the features and of course, sit on it to make appropriate adjustments to see if it fits perfectly. Here are some features you should look out for:
1.Chair Recline: It is therapeutically recommended that you change your body position a couple of times during the day. This is quite easy with this feature as it enables you to alter the angle at which the seat stands in relation to the floor thus putting the weight of the upper body on the back rest of the chair.
2.Back Rest: Check to see if the ergonomic chair has sufficient lumbar support. This is important because it determines whether your spine will be put under stress or not. Make sure the back rest is small enough to fit into the small of your back or curved to give your back enough support.
3.Seat Height: It is also important that you see that the chair has a good height adjustment which will allow your feet rest on the floor or on the footrest as well as permit appropriate alignment between your upper body and the computer monitor and other peripherals.
4.Seat Pan: This part of the ergonomic chair bears your weight so it is important to run a check to ascertain that certain features are included. Ensure that it has a tilt adjustment and sliding mechanism. The former allows you to maintain a reclined or forward leaning posture while the latter allows you adjust the distance between from the back rest in accordance with your height. You should also ensure that the seat pan has a spring coil or dense small-cell foam padding.
5.Arm Rest: An arm rest measuring a minimum of 2 inches and crafted from a soft material will do for your chair as this will give you sufficient surface area.
6.Casters and Base: A five point base is advisable for your ergonomic office chair as this will reduce the chance of the chair tipping over. As for the casters, there are nylon carpet casters, soft-wheel casters and rubber locking casters for you to choose from. You need to make a choice based on the kind of floor you are placing the chair on. If you are using a linoleum floor, you need to see that the chair has soft wheel casters otherwise you can pick one with the nylon carpet casters if that is what you are using.
So hopefully now you have a better feel for what key things to look for when you’re shopping for an ergonomic office chair. Just keep in mind that just because they say it’s ergonomic doesn’t mean it will fit you ergonomically as you have to position yourself properly as well.
This checklist should be able to assist you in helping you decide when buying your new ergonomic office chairs and ensuring that it fits you.
