How to Choose the Perfect Ergonomic Office Chair
If you find yourself constantly dealing with a stiff neck, a sore back, and a posture that leaves you looking like a hunch back, it could be that your office chair is to blame.
In the US alone, it is believed that as many as 1 in 4 adults will suffer from bad posture, or similarly related health conditions caused by bad posture, and if left untreated, over time these issues can become very painful and potentially debilitating.
Below, we’ll be looking at the key differences between a regular office chair and an ergonomic chair with lumbar support in a bid to determine which is better and what some of the key benefits are.
Incorrect office furniture is one of the leading causes of poor posture, which is why ergonomic office chairs are now so popular in offices and workplaces all over the globe.
An ergonomic desk chair is a chair that is designed to make you comfortable and to also support your body and allow you to sit the way you should be sitting. Offering neck and lumbar support, comfort, functionality, and practicality, ergonomic office chairs are a must-have for any office.
Because these chairs are in such high demand, however, buying a good quality one is much easier said than done. To help you be more comfortable and supported at work, here’s a look at some useful tips for choosing the perfect ergonomic office chair.
Is it on castors?
Okay, when people talk about ergonomic office furniture, generally they don’t really focus on whether or not the chair has castors, as moving a chair isn’t exactly the toughest job in the world. After a while, however, if your chair doesn’t have castors fitted, you’ll wish it did, especially if your office has carpet.
In an ideal world, when you buy an office chair, you want it to have a five-castor base that enables you to move it around freely without any issues. You can even buy castors for hard floors, and castors for carpets so be sure to consider that before you commit to making a sale.
Fabric
Another very important consideration when shopping for ergonomic desk chair products is the fabric and material it is made out of.
We all have our own unique preferences when it comes to furniture, but as well as the aesthetics, be sure to consider the practicalities as well. The SOLOS Classic Ergonomic Chair, for example, is made from a mesh material that promotes air circulation and helps keep your skin cool in warm weather.
Available in 3 colors, the chair has an extra thick seat cushion, height adjustment, and tilt, adjustable hand rests, and more besides, which help to make it comfortable as you can adjust it based upon your own specs.
What type of back support does the chair offer?
Remember, when sitting down, back and lumbar support is incredibly important as this is what will help to prevent posture-related health issues from arising in the first place.
A good quality ergonomic chair such as the SOLOS Premium Ergonomic Chair will offer middle and upper back support, along with lumbar support for the lower back. This helps to keep the spine straight and it helps to prevent pain and discomfort if you’re sitting down for a prolonged period of time.
Ideally the chair you select should support the natural shape and curve of your back and spine, with an adjustable backrest of between 12” and 19” in width.
Is the seat the right size for you?
One consideration that is often overlooked when shopping for an ergonomic chair is whether or not the seat is the right size for the buyer.
Ergonomic office chairs come in all shapes and sizes, yet people often don’t focus on the size of the seat, and instead, they’ll focus solely on the backrest. If the seat is too large or too small for you, it could become uncomfortable and potentially lead to bad posture.
Ideally, you want a seat that is roughly one inch wider than that of your hips, with the seat pan located just behind your knees.
Is the seat’s padding right?
As well as the size of the seat, you also need to focus on the padding of your seat as well.
When you buy ergonomic office chairs, avoid cheap and inferior products and instead opt for good quality products like those offered by SOLOS.
Cheap office chair products often have poor quality padding which quickly degrades and breaks down, causing the seat to not only become uncomfortable but also to become a great deal less supportive as well.
More worrying, however, is the fact that inferior chairs with poor padding can result in misalignments in the back, hips, and spine, which can lead to back and spinal issues and bad posture.
Look for a good quality ergonomic office chair such as the SOLOS Premium Ergonomic Chair as you know the padding is there to last.
Does the seat tilt?
Not every office chair has the ability to be tilted, yet when it comes to ergonomic office furniture such as ergonomic chairs, you will want a chair with this feature.
Having the ability to tilt your seat means that you can maintain good posture and you can adjust it based upon your sitting position and your natural body shape.
Before you buy a new office chair, if you do anticipate the need for a tilting seat, just double-check whether or not the chair you had in mind has this feature, as not every office chair does.
Does it fit the décor?
Okay, when talking about an ergonomic desk chair, comfort is of course the most important consideration here, but that doesn’t mean aesthetics don’t play a part. When you buy new office furniture, you want it to look right in your office, so check whether it fits the décor.
If you’ve designed an old-fashioned, country chic office, an ultra-modern and sleek desk chair that looks like it’s from the future probably won’t fit in with the look and décor of your office. Sure, it’ll look like a nice chair, but it won’t fit the décor.
When you buy an office chair, unless you absolutely do not care about the aesthetics, try to find a chair that compliments the décor of your office, rather than standing out like a sore thumb.
