It may surprise you, but a recent survey conducted by WHO and NCHS concludes that an average working person spends 40 hours on an office chair every week.
The number increases even more when summed up with the time spent at home or outside. With these numbers, one can clearly understand what range of impact it makes on an average person’s health.
Besides, the working position in an office, may it be managerial, technical, or business, plays a significant role in adding stress to the natural spine structure.
A majority of the people undergoing such stress can feel an adverse effect on their daily routine. But, most of them think of them as an average temporary effect and thus take it lightly.
In reality, these are the early symptoms of many severe damages like misalignment of the spine, eyesight, potbelly, and back pains. If you are one such person spending most of your time in the chair, you are in the right spot.
This guide will help you find the best chair that supports your tasks and helps reduce the adverse effects of regular chairs.
So, let’s dive in.
What is an Ergonomic Chair?
As the name suggests, an Ergonomic Chair is specially designed based on human biotechnology and engineering to support different sitting scenarios. They have several features to improve posture and offer proper support to the body.
However, despite having such incredible features, the sitting posture plays a significant role in taking advantage of those chairs.
But, if you are willing to practice the proper sitting manner and are keen on getting a good ergonomic chair, here is what you should look out for.
- An ergonomic chair is one with many adjustable features to shape the chair based on the body of the user. For an instance, you can find adjustable armrests, backrests, headrests, footrests, etc
- It comes with great back supports which can also be adjustable based on the user’s preference
- Proper padding that suits the user’s needs from all aspects
- User-based chairs to support users with back pain, neck pain, bodily pains, etc.
- A proper compliment to the work desk where the user needs to either read/write or work on the computer screen
- A chair that gives good freedom of motion to the users including the swivel motion or wheels
Whether you are buying an ergonomic chair for computer work or your home use, you must consider all factors that depict the body dimensions for a better fit. This is because one person’s preference differs in the same perspective.
Types of chairs to choose from
Many studies show that the type of chair you use for work is proportional to the overall productivity in your task, no matter whether you are at home or working in the office. To find an ergonomic office chair that favors daily work routines, you should consider the factors provided below.
If you prefer an ergonomic chair, there is no need to look for cutting-edge technology or a luxury brand to provide the best support. All you will need is a chair that supports the vital parts that rest when you focus on your work. Here are the chairs that you can choose from
Modern chair with customizable options
A feature-rich chair with a fresh look and a well-engineered design with tons of adjustable features is, by all means, the best choice. Whether you are gaming or working at the desk on the computer or for records, these chairs can be made to suit your requirements using all the available options.
If you are compelled by the feature-rich options of those chairs, all you have to pay for is the customizable option. So, you should make sure the chair is advanced in every aspect compared to a conventional gaming or office chair, and you are good to go.
Here are some important factors that make such chairs different from others
- Dedicated controls for every adjustable option
- Incredible options to choose from, when it comes to customization
- Dedicated headrest, neck rest, and backrest
- Features to adjust the height and width of the working desk whenever you need
Standard chairs with breathable cover and backrest
This chair category is widely available for all kinds of users with some tweaks to support the majority of people working at the desk.
Although they have similar features to advanced gaming chairs, they are user-based chairs with the standard option in adjustability and controllability. These chairs are a bit cheaper than gaming chairs but have enough space for customization. If you prefer those chairs, here are the things to consider
- Proper padded material
- A breathable cover to provide comfort even in long periods of usage
- A good backrests
- Adjustable height and width
- Swivel or wheels, if they are required
Classic leather chairs
Some professions like managerial and client-based companies require the whole room to be in a complementing ambiance in a formal way. Thus, most people prefer leather chairs to merge with the interiors and provide comfort. Although these are not as comfortable as gaming chairs, you must look for certain things while buying these chairs.
- The bright and classic color combination
- Premium materials stuffing
- Proper ergonomics for long working sessions
- Overall comfort and scope for adding some accessories
Conventional chairs with separate backrests
These are the most affordable options with enough room for accessories. All you have to look for is whether the height and width of the chair suit your body dimensions, and you are good to go. Well, to make a proper ergonomic chair out of it, you should look for factors like:
- Whether a suitable backrest is available
- The depth and height of the seat are suitable to work on the desk
- Ease of movement
- Enough space for freedom of motion
Crucial factors to consider while finding an ergonomic chair
Now that you are searching for an ergonomic chair that can support your work or home, you must consider the essential factors to reach your destination.
Lumbar support
A good office chair comes with dedicated lower back support that helps maintain the natural spinal curve. There is nothing like perfect, and universally accepted lumbar support as the body dimensions of people vary a lot. So, the best way to find a chair with proper lumbar support is to try them in a real-time scenario. But, if you cannot get a hands-on approach to the chair, choosing an adjustable model could be a smart pick.
Discover our detailed guide on the best Office chairs for Neck and Back support, offering valuable insights and recommendations to help alleviate discomfort and promote a healthier posture.
Fabric
One of the adverse conditions that can bother a working person who needs to stick to the chair for more extended periods is the temperature. A plastic or leather chair can get too hot gradually due to friction and less breathability. So, it is essential to look for a chair having a proper breathable fabric.
Mechanism of chair
The movements of the seat and back play a significant role in an ergonomic office chair. You can look for typical levers with feasible control to change the movements as per your comfort.
Usually, ergonomic chairs with either multifunction mechanisms or Synchro-Tilt Mechanisms. One should prefer a Multifunction mechanism if the basic requirement is a wide range of adjustability. In such chairs, you can adjust every single movement as you wish without any inconvenience.
On the other hand, Synchro-Tilt Mechanism, as the name suggests, the movement of one adjustment is dependent on the other. For instance, the armrest also moves in sync by leaning backward. This is a comfortable option with a limited adjustment function.
Backrest Adjustments
The backrest plays a vital role in an ergonomic chair, and one should look for the following adjustments for a suitable option.
- Height adjustment: – A backrest that could slide up and down to support your Lordotic curve is considered a smart option for a chair on which you will spend a long period of your day. It is a common substitution for the standard chairs which require separate accessories for back support.
- Angle Adjustment: – Proper reclining in your chair can support the upper back and relieves weight from your lower back. Here is where a chair with a locking back angle adjustment can be a preferable option. But, you need to look for a proper locking mechanism in such chairs.
- Tilt Tension Adjustment: – Now, chairs come with a dedicated knob to adjust the amount of stress you need to give to recline backward. Do consider such adjustment options for a better experience while a long period of work.
Headrest
It is a part of the ergonomic chair that provides support for your head to reduce the weight of your neck. In case of neck pains, chairs with adjustable headrests are highly recommended.
Armrests
Armrests for a chair should be at a minimum height and adjustable in an ergonomic chair. Besides, you should make sure that the height of your armrest doesn’t bother your elbow movement.
You can also find more personalized armrests with these best modern gaming chairs.
Tips to choose the best chair to complement your tasks on the computer
- Prefer a chair with a full back which reduces the chances of injury and enhances productivity with good support
- Go for a chair providing multiple adjustable options as per your needs
- For even weight distribution all over the body, it is better to go for the office chair having waterfall seats
- Make sure your joints are comfortable at around a 90-degree angle
- See whether your hip is perpendicular to your thighs. If not, the chair is probably taller or shorter for your body
- Medium-texture upholstery is comfortable in every office chair, but the use of disinfectants makes it safe for the skin as well
- Make sure your chair is easily adjustable without the use of tools
- The chair should provide support for you to move in any directions
- Proper support to your back no matter which angle you are in
What is the best posture for an office chair?
No matter which type of chair you choose or how feature-rich it is, your body posture is everything that matters. But, you can make the chair support your posture in such a way that a cushiony rest backs up every resting part.
If you are looking for the best ergonomic chair to work on the computer, a chair in proximity to a gaming one is highly preferable. Such a chair comes with every support a user requires with tons of customizable options.
So, all you have to make sure is that your body from head to waist is around 90 degrees with some reclining. The thighs to knees part is linear, and the part from the thigh to the leg is perpendicular to the floor. You should also make sure your feet naturally touch the floor for continuous work in the same position.
Similarly, if you are looking for an ergonomic chair for office work like signing or studying, the back support should be closer to the desk. The chair should be in such a way that you don’t need to lean forward to reach the desk.
Either way, sitting in the same position at any moment can lead to negative impacts. So, even experts suggest taking a break from work and thus from the chair every 30 minutes and taking a walk to ensure proper blood flow.