Ergonomic Chair

Finding the right ergonomic chair is extremely difficult. There are so many chairs on the market claiming that they are “ergonomic”. Just because a chair is labelled “ergonomic” doesn’t mean that it is the right chair for you. A chair is ergonomic when it fits the employee, their job tasks and the workstation. Just because that chair fits that person doesn’t mean that it will fit everyone else.

The decision and selection of a good ergonomic chair is crucial in preventing injuries or long term problems. These days the pressure to perform, and the increase in the number of hours that we sit at our desks, means that this decision is even more crucial. When choosing a chair consider a few things - your body dimensions i.e. how tall or short you are, your weight etc.

So what are some of the features that you should be looking out for?

• Adjustability – ideally all aspects of the chair need to be adjustable i.e. the seat height, depth, backrest angle and lumbar support
• Seat height– the height of the chair needs to go up and down so that you can sit comfortably in the chair with your elbows at 90 degrees when resting on the desk and your feet are flat on the floor
• Stability – the chair needs to have 5 pointed base to ensure it doesn’t tip easily
• Arm rests are not essential – if you do purchase a chair with armrests, then make they are adjustable, so that the chair can come in under the desk

The advantages of using an Ergonomic Chair with increased adjustability include ensuring a better fit for the user, providing sufficient support while sitting

Some guidelines when setting up your ergonomic chair

• Ensure the height of the ergonomic chair is set correctly – elbows at 90 degrees
• Ensure that the lumbar support of the ergonomic chair is in the small of your spine (lumbar spine). This will support the spine and keep it within its normal alignment
• Your feet need to be placed flat on the floor – if they are not ensure that your chair is set at the correct height. You may require a footrest.
• Your thighs need to be parallel to the ground
• Ensure the armrests on the ergonomic chair are low enough that you can come in under the desk

It is often worthwhile having a professional assist you with making the right decision when choosing an ergonomic chair. There are a lot on the market with huge price variances, so call Ergoworks, 9251 0822 to let one of our consultants assist you.