The Latest in Ergonomic Technology
Working on the computer in an office for many hours a day may be somewhat hard on your body if you are using an older chair with poor orthopedic technology. Sadly though, many firms design various kinds of office chairs but only several really invest the proper time in to making chairs which are ergonomic and designed properly to help your back instead of just offering a stand to sit on. All in all, there are a number of features to be aware of:
Seat Height - Office chairs height should be easily adjustable. Often times, the chair in question will be equipped with a pneumatic adjustment lever to adjust the height of the furniture piece. Based on average height of Americans, seats that adjust from 16 to 21 inches should be proper for a majority of office workers. If you are on the tall side, you want the chair to be around 21 inches, if you are on the short side you will do the opposite.
Seat Width & Depth - The seat should have proper width and height to help encourage a healthy body and back. Often times 16-19 inches wide will be a healthy standard width. Likewise, the depth of your particular office chair is preferably deep enough so that the person sitting can sit upright with their back against the back of the chair. In general, you should have about three or four inches left between the back of the knees and the chair seat. This is fairly crucial.
Lumbar Support - Lower back support for ergonomic office chairs is certainly necessary. This is often times referred to as Lumbar support. Lumbar support is the inward curve of the chair against the back, and this helps you when you are sitting for extended periods of time. If you have improper lumbar support, this will often times lead to slouching and improper natural curve. This can be unhealthy for your
lower spine.
Material - The seat should utilize a material with enough padding to add comfort,
however it should be firm enough to support your back for extended time periods.
Armrests - Office chairs should be equipped with rests that you can rest on easily
with your shoulders being relaxed. The elbows should rest lightly and forearm should
not be on the arm rest while you are using a keyboard.