Things You'll Need:
- Time
- An objective viewpoint
- A notepad
- Knowledgeable sales staff who can help you make your decision
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Step 1
Choose a chair with the maximum amount of adjustments possible. Ideally you will want to find a chair that has pneumatic seat adjustment, height adjustment, back height adjustment, seat depth adjustment, arm height adjustment and adjustable tilt tension.
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Step 2
Make sure the chair has a good quality base. There are several different materials on the market, but ideally the base of the chair should be aluminum or steel. Aluminum is both lightweight and strong, steel is strong and extremely durable and scratch resistant.
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Step 3
Test the chair to make sure that it is appropriate for your weight and body size. OSHA standards suggest that, "you should be able to adjust the height of the seat pan so that your legs are at right angles and your feet rest flat on the floor. Your forearms should be horizontal and at right angles to your upper arms and your elbows should just clear the top of the work surface." Also, the pneumatic height adjustment on most chairs will have a weight limit, this is usually printed on the bottom of the chair. It is also wise to consider the over all physical feel of the chair. Do you feel cramped? Does the chair accommodate your height?
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Step 4
Make sure the chair fits you ergonomically. It should be both wide and deep enough to seat you comfortably. The seat pad should be a durable breathable material that is firm and comfortable, without being overly spongy. According to OSHA, "hard, unpadded seat pans are uncomfortable to sit on for more than an hour. Soft, deeply padded seat pans cause you to sink in too far, shifting pressure from the buttocks to surrounding tissues. The result is tension in the hip muscles. The front edge of the seat pan should have a softly padded, rounded front edge (called a waterfall edge). Straight, unpadded edges compress thigh tissues and restrict blood circulation, which can cause pain and numbness in the legs. Seat-cover fabric should be porous and breathable. A slippery seat pan will cause you to slide away from the backrest and provide little back support." Additionally, the chair back should be padded in such a way that it supports the natural lumbar curvature of your spine.
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Step 5
Test the adjustable arms. Do they allow you to raise or lower your arms to an ideal working height. How do they feel? Ideally the should be firm, but not so firm as to hurt your arms or wrists after extended time in the chair. OSHA recommends that "armrests should be adjustable and should not interfere with the work surface. You should be able to move close to your work without losing support from the backrest. Your forearms should rest comfortably on the armrests, with your shoulders relaxed. If the armrests are too high, they will elevate your shoulders and cause stiffness or pain in the shoulders and neck; if they’re too low, they promote slumping and leaning to one side. Remove arm-rests if you don’t use them, if they interfere with your tasks, or if they can’t be properly adjusted."
