Ergonomic Seating
Choosing the right office chair can be confusing at the best of times. It would be so nice if one size fitted all, but that’s a perfect world. The reality is we are all different, and we all have our own individual requirements. It can be as personal as choosing your shoes.
To this end at Wellworking we aim to guide you to the right chair. Helping you consider the numerous options to choose model to use from. All our chairs are selected with you in mind. From the Embody chair, the first chair to really consider the users requirements regardless of stature, or the Sayl chair which in todays economic climate represents outstanding value for money when it comes to ergonomics.
What Features Should a Good Ergonomic Office Chair Possess?
In first considering the "conventional" style of office chair, there are a number of things an ergonomic chair should have, including:
- Seat height. Office chair seat height should be easily adjustable. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the easiest way to do this. A seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor should work for most people. This allows the user to have his or her feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.
- Seat width and depth. The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17-20 inches wide is the standard. The depth (from front to back of the seat) needs to be enough so that the user can sit with his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair while leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be adjustable.
- Lumbar support. Lower back support in an ergonomic chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve tends to lead to slouching (which flattens the natural curve) and strains the structures in the lower spine. An ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment (both height and depth) so each user can get the proper fit to support the inward curve of the lower back.
- Backrest. The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. It should be able to support the natural curve of the spine, again with special attention paid to proper support of the lumbar region. If the office chair has the seat and backrest together as one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward once the user has determined the appropriate angle.
- Seat material. The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a cloth fabric or mesh that breathes is preferable to a harder surface.
- Armrests. Office chair armrests should be adjustable. They should allow the user's arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly, and the forearm should not be on the armrest while typing.
- Swivel. Any ergonomic chair should easily rotate so the user can reach different areas of his or her desk without straining.
Which Type of Chair?
- Task chairs - designed to support you throughout the day
- Bespoke chairs - can be tailor to suit your exact requirements
- Sit-Stand chairs - encourage changing positions between standard seating heights and semi standing positions.
- Stools - alternative postures such as kneeling chairs.
