What To Look For In Your Ergonomic Office Chair

It does not matter whether you work from home or in an office having the right chair is extremely important if you want to avoid any kind of back problems in the future. Unfortunately for those of us who spend a large part of our day sat at a desk we are placing additional pressure and strain on to our spines and with the wrong kind of office chair this problem can be further exacerbated. Today there are now ergonomic office chairs available which not only support the spine especially the lower back but also help a person to remain a good posture position.

In this article we will take a look at some of the features you should be looking for if considering purchasing an ergonomic chair. As you will soon discover there are lots of different ones available but unfortunately not all are necessarily as good as the manufacturer or the salesman makes them out to be. Now let us take a look at what you should be looking for in the main features of your ergonomic chair.

1. Height of the Chair Seat - Any good quality office chair should allow you to be able to adjust the height of the seat to one that you feel comfortable with. Once the height has been adjusted you should then be able to place your feet flat on the floor in front of you but your arms should be at a height where they are level with the desk top.

2. Seat Depth and Width - The seat should be between 17 to 20 inches wide and so be able to support the person sitting in it comfortably. Whilst for the depth of the chair you should be looking for one that you to sit with your back comfortably against the back rest yet still leaving you with between 2 and 4 inches of space between the back of your knees and the seat front.

3. Support For The Lower Back - This is extremely important part of any ergonomic chair and the right one is one which offers you the ability to adjust both the height and the depth of the lumbar rest so that it can support the lower part of the back where it begins to curve inwards.

4. The Backrest - This part of the chair should be around 12 to 19 inches wide and provide support for the upper part of the back and spine. There are two types of backrest those which are fully integrated with the seat or those that are separate from it. But with both kinds of backrests a good quality office chair whether it is ergonomic form or not should have levers which allow you to adjust the height and also the angle at which it leans. Once you have chosen a comfortable position for you when sat in the chair these levers should ensure that the mechanism locks the chair into the required one.

5. Chairs Armrests - Although there are some office chairs which do not have armrests a large number do. Therefore if you are looking for one with armrests then you need to make sure that you can actually adjust them so that you are able to rest your arms on them easily and comfortably. At all times the lower part of your arm along with your elbows should be resting comfortably on the armrests and this in turn will help to relax your shoulders. As for your forearms these should at no time be resting on them especially when you are typing.

By keeping the above points in mind you should easily be able to find the right type of ergonomic office chair for you. One that will provide you with ample support and will help you to maintain a good posture whilst sat in it. Don't forget it should also be comfortable. Therefore if you can try a few out and it may be advisable to see if you can actually try out one for free for a few weeks.

By: A R Thompson

Are You Sitting Comfortably? Why not take a trip to www.Sitting-Comfortably.com Where you will find lots of information and advice about office chairs.

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