Navigating the sea of office chairs that are available on the market today can be an overwhelming task. There are many to choose from and many of them look very similar at a glance. So, what should you look for and how do you know when you have found the right one?
One could argue that your chair is the most important part of your entire office. It is the one item that you are in direct physical contact with throughout the day and it will have direct impact on how you feel. A comfortable office chair that does not leave you aching is critical to your effectiveness in the workplace. The first step is finding the chair that is the right size or one that can be adjusted to the right size for your body. A good chair will allow you to sit with your feet flat on the floor while your upper legs are parallel to the floor. Next, you should also be able to rest your arms comfortably on the arm rests while your shoulders are in a relaxed position. Utilization of the armrests gives the muscles in your neck and back a chance to rest and will relieve stress throughout the day. Finally, a quality office chair should provide good support in the lower back or lumbar area. It is important to sit all the way back in your chair so that your back is properly supported.
That said, the greatest chair in the world does you no good if you are sitting on the edge of your seat. Office chairs with an adjustable lumbar support can be made to provide just the right amount of pressure on your lower back. Another feature to look for in an office chair is a tilt lock adjustment. This allows you to lock the chair in an upright or “task intensive” position. There are two benefits of this feature; first, you can lean back on the chair without it reclining, and second, it allows you to continue in a task without having to lean forward in your chair. A seat depth adjustment is also a nice feature to have if you need the chair to be flexible for people of various leg lengths.
The materials used in an office chair can also impact the comfort of the chair. For instance, a mesh material can provide increased comfort in warm environments due to the dissipation of heat away from the body. The foam in the seat or back should not be too soft as to allow sinking in the chair. A good task chair should be comfortable, yet not pillow like. The better chairs (from an ergonomic standpoint) are often more firm and a smaller scale. An EthoSource sales consultant would be happy to assist you in the chair selection, providing multiple options, both new and pre-owned.
