Ergonomic Office Chairs
Ergonomic office chairs - backfriendly working
If you spend most of your working day and even your free time in a seated position, you are in good company. Many people work in an office and sit at their desk for an average of 7.5 hours, and then again at home. You find out how stressful sitting for hours can be at the latest when the first tenseness and back pain appear because sitting for a long time is considered the number one trigger for back problems. In addition, secondary diseases such as shoulder or knee problems can arise from the permanent strains from bad posture.
Sitting correctly at the workplace improves your general posture and promotes well-being and health at work. In the following, we provide you with instructions on how to sit ergonomically and support your back.
Table of contents
- How can I sit more ergonomically?
- How important is my sitting position?
- How important is my own posture for ergonomics when sitting?
- How can I avoid back pain by using ergonomic office chairs?
- These are the features an ergonomic office chair should have
- Which office chair should I buy if I suffer from intervertebral disc problems?
- Which chair suits me?
- Conclusion
HOW CAN I SIT MORE ERGONOMICALLY?
You want to sit ergonomically in your office? Then you should consider the following points when designing your workplace:
- Place the monitor a little more than an arm’s length from where you are sitting.
- The height of the monitor should be chosen so that your gaze is slightly lowered when working at the computer.
- The mouse and keyboard should be placed so that they are level with your elbows.
- Use supports or pads for the hands to relieve the muscles when operating the mouse and keyboard.
- The pelvis should be slightly tilted or at a 90° angle while sitting. If you want to sit ergonomically, use an ergonomic swivel chair with an appropriately shaped seat cushion.
- The feet must pe placed parallel and firmly on the floor.
- Correct sitting at the workplace is more effective if the swivel chair can be adjusted to your own body size. Ensure that the chair has a fitting seat height.
- Ergonomic sitting at the PC is not enough to sufficiently relieve the body during a sedentary job. It also is important to incorporate regular exercise into your everyday life.
How important is my sitting position?
The seating position should not be underestimated if you want to sit better. The sitting position should be dynamic. Whereas in the past it was advised to keep the sitting position as rigid as possible and always remain upright, today it is advised to constantly change the sitting position. Wobbling with the chair, leaning backwards, stretching arms and legs - all this is absolutely permitted in ergonomic sitting.
How important is my own posture for ergonomics when sitting?
If you want to sit better, you can buy an ergonomic desk chair. The right chair is the most important investment when it comes to ergonomic sitting in the workplace. Secondly, you should work on your own posture. You want to sit properly in the office? You can try sitting ergonomically in the workplace by changing your sitting position frequently.
How can I avoid back pain with ergonomic office chairs?
Sitting properly in the office can help prevent or relieve back pain and other discomforts that can result from sitting incorrectly. Sitting ergonomically at work can help prevent back pain. Ergonomic office chairs relieve the body in crucial areas. Because of the chair's supporting function, the spine is relieved and the intervertebral discs can be better supplied with blood. The muscles in the shoulders, arms, hands and neck are also relieved. Less tension and pain are the result. Thanks to the numerous adjustment options, it is easier to adapt the chair to your own body and to sit healthily. The optimal desk height also plays a role when it comes to sitting ergonomically.
These are the features an ergonomic office chair should have
The office chair should be height-adjustable, swivel and have an adjustable backrest. In addition, it should be built so that it cannot tip over. All office swivel chairs at hjh OFFICE meet these requirements. When choosing the right office chair, you should pay attention to the correct sitting duration. The quality level of an office chair can be roughly measured by the recommended daily usage. When buying a chair, look for information on the daily usage time. In our shop you will find this in the description in the specifications as well as next to the product picture.
Office chairs for sitting for no more than 4 hours a day are appropriate in terms of quality and the requirement for sitting time and are usually also significantly cheaper than the professionally usable chairs with a higher daily usage time. They have the standard features such as a rocker mechanism, comfortable upholstery, armrests - often with fabric cover or mesh fabric.
For everyday and professional office use, it is recommended to choose office chairs and executive chairs with a recommended sitting time of 8 hours. An office chair with professional features can easily be individually adjusted to your individual needs: Lumbar support, synchronous mechanism and a seat depth or seat tilt adjustment as well as multi-adjustable armrests and headrest. These office chairs are usually equipped with high-quality and abrasion-resistant fabrics. The ergonomic upholstery provides maximum comfort even during a long working day.
WHICH OFFICE CHAIR SHOULD I BUY IF I SUFFER FROM INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROBLEMS?
After a slipped disc or in the case of a chronic disease in the back, it is particularly important to pay attention to ergonomics at the workplace. Choosing the right chair can pave the way to a pain-free everyday working life. An ergonomic chair is one of the basic requirements for people with intervertebral disc problems if they want to sit in a way that is easy on the back. Chronic back pain and intervertebral disc problems can make it impossible or painful to work. Today, many people suffer from chronic tension and back problems. Often these people return to their old workplace after an operation and subsequent rehabilitation and find office furniture there that contributed at least in part to their discomfort. It is therefore particularly important to enable employees to sit in a way that is easy on the back.
For chronic back and intervertebral disc problems, experts recommend orthopaedic office chairs. In addition, orthopaedic models have adjustable armrests and, depending on the model, also have a headrest. An orthopaedic desk chair follows the user's natural movements in all directions and encourages dynamic sitting, which is recommended for back and intervertebral disc problems. The associated relief for the spine protects the intervertebral discs. If you are looking for an orthopaedic desk chair and want to sit in a way that is easy on the back, look for the following criteria when buying:
- Chair must be height adjustable
- High, easily adjustable backrest with lumbar support
- Backrest can be locked in any position if required
- Synchronous mechanism with large angle of inclination
- Seat surface must be anatomically designed
- Seat depth can be individually adjusted
- Possibility to adjust the seat inclination
- Automatic adjustment to bodyweight or easily adjustable counterpressure
- Armrests adjustable in height, depth and width
- Cover should be breathable and antistatic
- Easy, intuitive use of the chair
- Stability
You want to sit properly despite back problems?
With an orthopaedic chair and the features mentioned above, you ensure that your intervertebral discs are not further damaged by using the wrong chair. Thanks to dynamic seating, an orthopaedic office chair adapts to the natural movement of your back. This means that you do not have to adapt to the chair, but the chair adapts to you. An orthopaedic work chair/office chair supports the movement of your back and promotes healthy sitting.
WHICH CHAIR SUITS ME?
What kind of desk chair do I need (in terms of size/weight)?
There are office chairs for people of all sizes and weights. When choosing your chair, make sure it can be adjusted to your height and fits your weight. For people who weigh more and are taller than 1.90 m, special XXL chairs are usually recommended. Healthy sitting starts with the right chair height.
What type of swivel chair is suitable for long periods of sitting?
Ergonomic sitting at the PC is especially important if you sit many hours a day. Sitting for long periods strains the body. If you want to sit ergonomically in the office, make sure that the chair of your choice is designed for longer sitting periods and meets the criteria of an ergonomic desk chair.
You can find further advice in our buying guide for office chairs.
What else should I look for when choosing a chair?
If you want to sit ergonomically at your workplace, pay attention to the following aspects in addition to the points mentioned above:
The cover and upholstery must feel comfortable and match your furnishing and taste. The look is secondary, but if you have a lot of customer traffic, you not only want to promote ergonomic sitting in the workplace, but also ensure an appealing overall appearance.
Ergonomic office chair vs. orthopaedic swivel chair
The term "orthopaedic office chair" is used to refer to chairs for healthy sitting. Orthopaedic here simply means that the chair is intended to prevent back problems and other ailments and has many adjustment options for this purpose. Orthopaedic office chairs are intended to enable back-friendly sitting. Sitting healthily means that the body can move well and is still supported in the crucial areas. Orthopaedic office chairs can be equated with ergonomic office chairs. Both terms can be used synonymously.
Conclusion
You want to sit ergonomically at your workplace? Browse through the extensive range of office chairs right now and find the model that suits your needs best. Ergonomic sitting also means healthy sitting.
In general, the more often you change position, the better.
With an ergonomic office chair you are doing your body a favour, but you should not remain in the same position permanently. Dynamic sitting is better. Otherwise your muscles will inevitably cramp and tense up. Regular exercise is important: get up more often, walk to the printer or take a short walk during your break.
