What you need from your office chair

We often take our workspaces for granted, with your choice of chair being among those things. Most of us working in an office environment are unaware of the health implications due to prolonged sitting. To take care of our bodies and minds, it’s important to have knowledge of the consequences of 30+ hours sitting at our work desks every single week, and how to counteract these issues.

Sitting down for extended periods of time puts you at risk of several muscular or skeletal problems, especially in our spines, and this is being recognised by more health professionals as time goes on. One of the key reasons for this is the lack of ergonomic office chairs.

That’s why we’re sharing our top five things that you need from your office chair to have a comfortable, ache and pain-free workday.

Make sure its height-adjustable

A seat at an optimal height allows you to have both your feet flat on the floor, no matter what your height. Therefore, a height-adjustable function is important – because we’re all of different heights. Additionally, it’s important to take note of the height of a chair before purchasing, as a seat height ranging between 16 and 21 inches off the floor should work for the majority of people.

Get some armrests

Adjustable armrests enable the reduction of tension in your upper body, ensuring your shoulders stay relaxed and comfortable. It’s important to note that armrests aren’t recommended when typing, as this prevents the function of overall arm movement. In turn, this could increase the movement of your wrists which can cause strain on the muscles in your forearms.

Have a tilt function

The very best ergonomic chairs usually with a tilt function, enabling you to reposition your pelvis to a position of comfort. The anterior pelvic tilt is a health problem that affects almost everyone who sits for much of their working day. This highlights the importance of having your pelvis in a neutral position whilst sitting.

You need width and depth

Ideally, your seat to be between two and four inches between the edge of your seat and the back of your knees. A seat that’s too far forward could put pressure on the back of your knees.

You need lumbar support

Lumbar support is the term given to lower back support and is essential when considering buying an ergonomic chair. An ergonomic chair will support the natural position of the spine, preventing you from slouching and reducing the risk of skeletal issues.

With all these factors in mind, we provide a range of high-quality seating choices that will enable you to work productively and in comfort.