What is an "Ergonomic" office chair?

2005-11-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Definition of Ergonomics
- The applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

What to look for in an ergonomic office chair?
- Features, almost all of them should come standard

Seat height - Seat height should be easily adjustable. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the easiest way to do this. A seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor should work for most people. This allows the user to have his or her feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.

Seat width and depth - The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17-20 inches wide is the standard. The depth (from front to back of the seat) needs to be enough so that the user can sit with his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair while leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be adjustable.

Lumbar support - Lower back support in an ergonomic office chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve tends to lead to slouching (which flattens the natural curve) and strains the structures in the lower spine. An ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment (both height and depth) so each user can get the proper fit to support the inward curve of the lower back.

Backrest - The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. It should be able to support the natural curve of the spine, again with special attention paid to proper support of the lumbar region. If the office chair has the seat and backrest together as one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward once the user has determined the appropriate angle.

Seat material - The material on the seat and back of the ergonomic office chair should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a cloth fabric that breathes is preferable to a harder surface.

Armrests - Armrests should be adjustable. They should allow the user's arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly, and the forearm should not be on the armrest while typing.

Swivel - Any conventional style or ergonomic office chair should easily rotate so the user can reach different areas of his or her desk without straining

By: Rodney K. Lefler, DC

What's coming in our next post?
- Who really needs an ergonomic keyboard tray anyways?
- Resources and suppliers for ergonomic office chairs.

Questions?
- Post a comment and I would be happy to help.

First Post - Ergonomics

2005-11-12T01:43:00.000-08:00

Just want to say hi to everyone. I am sure that there won't be to many people that will read this, but welcome to those who do. I decided to write a blog on something I am close to everyday. Ergonomic office furniture, something that business's everywhere are realizing just how important it can be. Today people spend prolonged periods of time at their computer, typing on a keyboard for hours at a time. Most people don't remember to keep there body postures ergonomically correct, and suffer greatly because of it. Ergonomic office furniture aids the body in keeping your posture correct all day. I will be trying to keep up with the Ergonomic Office Furniture industry, including products and informative ergonomic information. Make sure add this blog to your feed if you are interested in ergonomics. Thanks again for stopping by.

Ergonomic Furniture Info

What is an "Ergonomic" office chair?

First Post - Ergonomics