Ergonomic Desk Chair Features
According to Merriam-Webster.com, ergonomics is “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.” An ergonomic desk chair is designed to adapt well to your body and be comfortable while reducing risk for certain health issues related to sitting in a desk chair for long periods of time. Many people find using ergonomically designed chairs to be critical in preventing or alleviating injuries and illnesses related to sitting and working at desks, such as back, neck, wrist and arm pain and problems.
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Seat
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The ergonomic desk chair’s seat is contoured, to adapt to the shape of your body. To assure that your legs are comfortable and that your back has adequate support, seat depth and height are adjustable. Another plus to seat height adjustment is that the chair can customize to your height and weight. The seat depth is correct when your balled fist fits between the back of your knee and the front edge of the seat of the chair. When you can comfortably place your feet flat on the floor, your seat is at the correct height.
Backrest
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The ergonomic chair offers all areas of your back the proper support, from your upper back down to your lower back. Adjustable backrest height and angle help to assure that support, especially for your lower back—by adjusting, some of the pressure is removed from your lower back. Proper lumbar support focuses on the lower back and abdomen.
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Armrests
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Many ergonomic desk chairs have armrests to provide adequate support for your arms during computer use, and for those that do, the armrest height adjusts to provide comfort for your arms and to best reduce repetitive strain injury (RSI). Armrests also provide for some movement so you do not get stiff from being in the same position for too long. When the armrests are at the correct height, your arms are at the same height as your desk. With armrests, you will likely find less strain in your forearms, neck and upper back. Other possible features in armrests are padding and pivoting.
Recline or Tilt
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The ergonomic chair has adjustable tension, and it reclines and tilts according to your needs and desires. By reclining to the proper angle, much of your body’s weight can be focused on the back of the chair, which is where it should be. Being able to change the tilt is a plus, given that this allows the body to move, as opposed to being in the same position for too many hours at a stretch.
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References
- Office Chair Advice: The 5 Essential Features That Define An Ergonomic Office Chair
- Office Ergonomics Training: Demystifying All Those Chair Adjustability Options
- Ergoware: Demystifying Ergonomic Chair Features
- SafeComputingTips.com: What Ergonomic Features Should I Look for When Purchasing Seating for Several Different Departments
Resources
- Photo Credit office chair image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
