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Working in an office is usually spent on sitting in an office chair. Sitting for a long period of time can adds stress to the structures in the spine. To avoid developing these kinds of problems an office chair should be ergonomic that supports good posture. Ergonomic is definitely a famous word when it comes to finding a modern office supply and furniture, but few people actually understand what the term means. What is and ergonomic chair? The Dictionary defines ergonomic as: designed to minimize physical effort and discomfort, and hence to maximize efficiency. In lay man’s term, ergonomic chairs are designed to keep a person at maximum comfort while working so that they can be productive and efficient.

Features of Ergonomic Chairs

Here are some of the features of a good ergonomic chair that can answer the first question of what is an ergonomic chair.

Feature 1 – Height

This feature seems like a simple feature but it makes a big difference when it comes to comfort. Any decent ergonomic chair should feature an adjustable height of the seat. Some higher end ergonomic chairs even allow you to adjust the height of the back rest and armrest separately. By adjusting all these features you are producing a good posture that feels both natural and comfortable. Seat height ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor. User should have his feet flat on the floor, thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk. These adjustment lever can be usually found below the seat.

Feature 2 – Seat Width and Depth

For the seat to be enough to support a user comfortably it should be 17-20 inches wide. The depth should be enough that the user can sit with their back against the backrest leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. Most ergonomic chair has a tilt feature that can be adjusted forward or backward.

Feature 3 – Backrest

The backrest of an ergonomic chair should not be less than 12 inches wide. This part should be able to support the natural curve of a spine and if the backrest is separated from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. But if the office chair seat and backrest is together in one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward or back angles, with a locking tool to keep it from going too far back once the user has chosen the proper angle.

Feature 4 – Lumbar Support

One of the most essential answer to what is an ergonomic chair is the availability of lumbar support. Since not all chairs have this feature, this is very important since the lumbar spine has an inward curve and sitting for a long time without support can result to slouching and strains the structures. An ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment so each user can get the appropriate fit to support the inward curve of the lower back.

Feature 5 – Seat material

An office chair seat and back should have enough padding to sit on for extended periods of time comfortably. Fabrics are more comfortable than harder surface.

Feature 6 – Armrest

Another important feature of an ergonomic chair is its’ armrest should be adjustable. These feature should allow user’s arms and shoulders to relax comfortably. The forearm should never be on the armrest while typing. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly on the armrests.

Feature 7 – Swivel

All conventional style ergonomic chair should easily rotate so as the user can reach different areas without straining himself or herself.

Feature 8 – Stability

A five point base is recommended for greater balance. Most ergonomic chair also has wheeled casters so it will be easier to move around the working environment.

In conclusion, the answer to the question what is an ergonomic chair is a chair that is designed not only to give maximum comfort but by extension to make the workers themselves more efficient. These chairs are designed to suit a range of people however there is no guarantee that it will suit any one person in particular this is why all of the features are adjustable. If you follow the checklist above it is possible to find the right chair although it is not always that easy. Please take note though that buying an ergonomic chair is a good beginning to allow a user to sit in a balanced position but it is still always important to sit properly.

Two of the top selling and most popular seating solutions in the market today are mesh office chairs and leather office chairs.  Leather style chairs are on of the most traditional types of office chairs while mesh chairs on the other hand, gives of a modern design look with a new importance on ergonomics. Mesh chairs have become increasingly popular over the years with its unique look. In this article Mesh chairs vs Leather chairs we will tackle on the variety of features and benefits for users these two industry leading chair types can offer. We hope to assist you which one if right for you.

Comparisons of Mesh vs Leather Chairs

 Comparison 1: Comfort

The most important factor of any chair is comfort. Both styles offer an assortment of attributes which we will compare that contributes to this aspect. First, we will tackle on the features of mesh chairs. Mesh chairs are designed to remedy office seating needs. At the time mesh chair made its appearance, there was a swirl of aesthetic controversy as most office chairs were filled with foam stuffing and looks bulky but mesh chair had a modern style innovation. Its skeletal look and a mesh fabric stretched across the frame. This made people have negative thoughts of it being comfortable as it lacks a foam seat. This types of chairs boasts excellent back support and firm construction to allow different variety of chair shapes. The breathable mesh back keeps the user cool while working.

Leather chair on the other hand gives an impression of comfort and elegance. Thick padding of leather office chairs is supportive for critical regions, including the lower back and seat bones. This excellent amounts of padding can sometimes have memory foams. Just take note that during summer months a leather chair can actually work to your disadvantage because it can make you hot while working for a long period of time.

Both type of chairs are made ergonomically and with excellent user friendly features to provide you maximum comfort all day long. One disadvantage of leather chair is that they sometimes use memory foam, this makes it a huge difference especially for those who spends long hours in their chairs. The winner is mesh chair if will base it on comfort.

Comparison 2: Durability / Longevity

The lifetime of a chair is an important factor that deserves serious attention when choosing the right chair for you. As we are doing this for comparison sake, we will assume that both chairs are of equal price. Leather desk chairs are a great investment for many companies because they are built to last and requires only little maintenance.  While durability can be an issue for mesh chairs, because of the unsupported fabric may slacken or sag after a few years of wear and tear. Once the mesh chair loses its supportive shape, it is time to buy a new one as continued use could result in muscle strain or injury.

For this round we give it leather chair as mesh material will more likely ware and stretch way before a leather will.

Comparison 3: Maintenance

The Mesh chairs are lightweight and easier to lift and move around than leather chair. They are also easier to clean and maintain. Vacuum all the crumbs off your mesh office chair and follow with warm soap and water to remove stains. If stain still persist, gently dab them with a spot cleaner. Never scrub or rub as it can cause mesh to fray.

Leather chair has limited elasticity. This means that when it is stretched it wont return to its original shape. Leather chairs are also more prone to being faded when exposed to direct sunlight over a long period of time. Gently wiping your leather once a week with a clean dry cloth or vacuum with a soft brush can remove dusts.

For this round of Mesh Chairs Vs Leather Chairs, we are giving it to mesh chair, although leather is more durable it requires a lot of work to make it lasts a long period of time.

Comparison 4: Price

Another thing to consider when buying a product is price. All business have to stick to a budget when purchasing office supplies. This round can go either way as it will depend on the features and grade of material used, but if we will just base it on components mesh chair has a slight edge as it is generally cheaper as compared to leather or upholstery while still maintaining professional look.

After 4 rounds of Mesh Chairs Vs Leather Chairs the winner is the former by a slight margin. Do not be tricked by the 3-1 lead it has because it will all still come down to your preferences as they both are good types of chairs. They both have great design, provides great comfort and lasts a long time. Doing additional research can help with excellent savings and benefits for you and your business.

Office work requires a lot of time of working at your office desk, and sitting in one of them for a long period of time can cause stress on your body which can result to injury and strains. The main reason is sitting in an office chair is a static posture that increases stress in the back shoulder, arms and legs. It can also add a large amount of pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs. Most people have the natural tendency to slouch over or slouch down in the chair, this posture can strain the discs and structure of the spine. This can only be prevented if you have a good office chair that can keep you comfortable and support you with a good posture.

Most office chairs nowadays are designed ergonomically that their sole purpose is for your maximum comfort. These type of chairs can be very expensive but will benefit you in the long run as these are not as expensive as having to maintain a damaged back. These ergonomic features of a good office chair is the main reason that prevents stress on your body.

How Ergonomic Office Chairs Work

Although sitting straight up while sitting on a chair is good posture this could put a lot of stress on your back this is why most ergonomic chairs usually tilt back when you lean on them to let you rest and reduce tiring your back muscle. The back rest should move independently so you can find a comfortable position.

Some office chair has footrest that lifts your knees to the same height of your hip joints this will help you maintain proper position. Having footrests can also reduce chance of developing circulatory conditions such as blood clots or varicose veins. People with shorter physiques will benefit from having footrest.

Another new feature of a good office chair is it has lumbar support, this support will allow you to fit your lower back’s natural curve. Lumbar muscles are vital to strength, rotation and flexibility in the body. So if you have low back pain, this pain will prevent you from being flexible and moving freely. Low back support also prevents you from slumping forward which can add extra stress on your lower back.

Many aches and pains in the upper back may result from the muscles of the upper back growing tired of supporting the weight of the arms. This is where the armrests support of your office chair comes in handy. Armrest support the weight of your arms and allow your neck and shoulder muscle to relax. Some people uses their wrists to support their arms when their chairs don’t have armrests which can also be stressful to your wrists. Please be careful though because these armrests are design to support your wrists when you stop typing and not while typing.

Using the resting eye level measure can also prevent neck strain from looking up or down in your monitor. This is how you do the test, close your eyes while sitting comfortably with your head facing front. Slowly open your eyes and aim your gaze at the center of your screen this should be within your eye level. If it is higher or lower then adjust the seat height of your chair by raising or lowering it. You should also do the elbow measure in which you measure by sitting comfortably as close as possible to your desk so that your upper arms are parallel to your spine. Rest your hands on your work surface and it should be at a 90-degree angle. If its not 90-degree you should either move your chair up or down.

In Conclusion

After reading about how you have to adjust the measurements to get the maximum support and prevent stress on your body. We can now conclude that having a poor and weak chair can cause a lot of structural damage to your back, shoulder, hips arms and elbow etc. It really helps to find the correct  good ergonomic chair that will fit your budget and needs. This is a long term investment since it will be more expensive to pay for surgeries and rehabilitation and with a good office chair you can prevent the cause or further stress on your body.

We all know that sitting for extended periods of time isn’t good for the body. We have been told over and over again to get up, move around and stretch throughout the day. BUT… if you’re like most desk-bound workers, you probably haven’t taken the time to adjust your chair correctly, which is just as harmful.

Chair calibration is easy and takes just 5 minutes. The benefits are monumental and can make a big improvement in overall body soreness, joint pain and circulation issues. Sound good, but you’re not sure where to start? Take a deep breath, I will help guide you through the process step by step.

Is your chair ready to be retired?

First things first, is your chair even worthy of you? It is best to start by evaluating your chair. Is it over 2 years old? If so, you probably need a new chair – the BEST NEW OFFICE CHAIR.

Does it allow you to adjust it? If not, you probably need anew chair

Are you generally comfortable in it? If not, you probably need a new chair.

Not all chairs are made equal. Before I educated myself, I bought a stylish, sleek $200 faux leather chair.  Long story short… I felt like a boss, but it exacerbated some minor lower back pain I had. After I realized it was giving me absolutely no support, I replaced it with a fully adjustable ergonomic chair. Life is good. My new chair is like a slice of heaven.

No amount of adjustment can make up for a poor quality chair. It is not worth the pain or discomfort. Make an investment in your health and get a new one. If your chair is of good quality, take the time to customize it to your body shape so you can work in comfort.

The 6 Easy Steps

1. Is your chair the correct height?

• Sit as close to your desk as possible.
• Sit up tall with a straight spine.
• Your UPPER arms should be parallel with your spine.
• Rest your hands on your desk.
• TEST: Are your elbows are at a 90-degree angle? If not, your chair needs adjustment.
• FIX: Adjust the seat height up or down until you reach the 90-degree angle.

2. Lower leg height

• TEST: Slide your fingers under your thigh at the very edge of your chair, right before the back of your knees. The orange arrow shows where.
• Is there a lot of space? If so, then you are too tall for your workspace.
• Is it hard to push your fingers under and your feet feel like they are not firmly planted on the ground. If so, then you are too short for your workspace.
• FIX: If you are too tall – raise the desk height or work surface.
• FIX: If you are too short – get an adjustable footrest or lower the desk height.

3. Where’s your butt positioned?

• Push your rump up against the back of chair. Push it. Oooh baybeh, baybeh.
• TEST: See if you can push yourself far enough for your back to rest against the backrest. If you can’t reach back far enough, your calves  will hit the bottom pad of the chair. See the orange arrow. Your back should hit the backrest before your calfs hit the chair. There should be a slight gap where the orange arrow is.
• FIX: Adjust the backrest forward. If you can’t adjust it, you can get a separate lumbar support cushion, but a better option is to purchase a more adjustable chair so you can better tailor it to your optimal seated position.

4. Spinal support, anyone?

• Push that rump against the back of the chair, again.
• TEST: You should feel cushioning that forces your lower back to arch slightly.
• If you don’t, you are in trouble. You have a chair that is giving you no spinal support and is going to force you into a slouching posture. I had a beautiful $200 chair that had this issue.
• FIX: A quick fix is to purchase a lumbar support cushion. The better option is to purchase a higher quality chair to will give you true lumbar support.

5. What are you looking at?

• Close your eyes.
• Relax and let your head face forward.
• Keep your spine neutral and comfortable.
• TEST: Open your eyes and note where your screen is.
• FIX: If you have to look down to see your screen you need to raise it up to prevent strain on the upper back. You don’t want to force your spine into a hunchback posture. We have all seen that guy who’s neck sticks forward like a turtle. DON’T be that guy or gal.

6. Are your arms and shoulders off kilter?

• TEST: Check and see if your shoulders slouch while you work. Are they slouchy like an oversized hipster sweater?
• FIX: Adjust your armrests up and down until they feel comfortable. The armrests help take the strain off of the upper spine and shoulders. It also helps you from slouching forward in your chair. DON’T skip this step. If you sit for a long period of time, this is critical.