Ergonomics can be defined as the study of people’s interactions with their physical surroundings. It relates to the comfort, tension, eye function, physical movement, and direction they’re doing indoors and outside. Its goal is to provide individuals with the best possible living conditions and working environment to perform effectively and without delays or negative repercussions.

A lot of people focus on creating an ergonomic environment in their offices and their homes at the same time. At home, it starts with the bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom. Everything is arranged, so there’ll be no stretching, pulling and pushing objects out of the way to get what you want. And at the office, they choose ergonomic chairs, adjustable tables and even an ergonomic computer mouse that helps them greatly with their lousy posture.

What to Consider When Buying an Ergonomic Executive Chair

Nowadays, there are many different types of ergonomic executive chair options you can choose from. Although no single model is the best and fits everybody’s needs, there are a few essential factors to consider before buying. These factors will help you choose and customise the chair to meet your personal needs.

Height

A solid ergonomic chair should be able to change its height from 40cm to 55cm from the floor. This range is suitable for people who are 150cm to 195cm tall. The optimal seating position requires your feet to be flat on the floor, and your knees must be at a 90-degree angle. This will ease and reduce the stress on your knees and the lumbar area.

Width

You need to have enough space on the chair that supports your tights. Overall universal measurement of the seating area is between 45cm and 50cm in width. To sit comfortably in a chair, you should have at least 2.5cm on each side of the hips, but no more than that because your arms will stretch to get to the armrests.

Depth

The seat on the perfect ergonomic executive chair for your office should have a proper depth. You should be able to rest your back comfortably against the backrest and have at least three fingers of space between your knees and the end of the chair. Always look for a sliding seat. This will help you move in and out and find the correct position.

Lumbar Support

This is also an essential because the spine is the main structure that holds together and stabilises the body, including the neck and head. Good lumbar support will protect the spine and control the movement of the legs. The right curve will evenly distribute the weight and reduce stress.

Backrest and Armrest

The average width of the backrest is between 30cm and 50cm and it has to follow the natural curve of the spine. These executive chairs should provide dynamic sitting in order to improve blood flow. It needs to have different reclining options so you can set it how it suits you best. The proper recline will relieve pain and weight off your lower back. Always opt for high-quality, breathable materials that won’t cause imbalance, discomfort and back pain.

The proper height of the armrests, starting from the seat, should be 17-25cm. Besides being adjustable, many of them are also removable for your convenience. You should be able to rest your elbows and forearms on them comfortably while working.

The Benefits of Sitting on an Ergonomic Chair

Students and people working at the office spend at least 8 hours a day slouched in front of the computer. This can cause a lot of back pain and serious health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. An ergonomic chair can prevent this from happening and ease any pain and problems you might have at the moment.

Posture Support

Experts believe that one of the reasons we tend to sit with a bad posture is the traditional chairs. They offer no support and aren’t adjustable in any way. When manufacturers made ergonomic chairs, they considered this factor. They created an adjustable chair that will provide lumbar support and the right posture to keep you happy, healthy and comfortable at the same time.

Enhance Productivity

Many studies confirmed that workers and students with ergonomic chairs are happier and more productive than the rest. They don’t have to stretch, stand up, can move and spin freely in the chair and don’t have pains, which leads to a more productive working environment.

Reduced Pain and Pressure

The backrest naturally supports the spine, following its curve. They have the correct height and width and provide the perfect sitting angles, and their soft sitting area supports the hip region. All pain points are protected, which reduces pain and has further health conditions such as spondylosis and low blood circulation.

What Are the Alternatives?

Kneeling Ergonomic Chair

This specific chair doesn’t have a backrest and puts the person in a modified kneeling position. It slides the hips forward and aligns the back, neck and shoulders, giving you a good posture. The chair’s seat provides the primary support, and the shins are there to help. In this case, the weight is distributed between the knees and the pelvis, and your back and leg muscles don’t have tension and stress.

Saddle Ergonomic Chair

As the name suggests, this chair is shaped like a horse’s saddle. This puts the person between a sitting and standing position, allowing the legs to fall naturally and widen. This is a stable position that eases lower back pain and strengthens back muscles. Plus, it prevents slouching forward and improves blood circulation.

Exercise Ball

This big ball encourages movement and provides active sitting. The legs keep moving; circulation is better, there is no slouching, and the muscles are busy. You can find this ball in many sizes depending on your needs.

In Summary

An ergonomic chair will improve the overall working environment and your health at the same time. It’s always worth investing in a chair like this because of the many benefits. You’ll say goodbye to back and neck pain and increase your focus, happiness and productivity.