A good quality office chair is an investment.. think about it.. your job might require you to be seated for up to 40 hours every single week. A poorly designed chair will damage your body! I've some simple ergonomic tips that really helped me:
Your chair should support your body, help maintain a good posture and not cause any kind of injuries. It should give you options to adjust height, tilt, armrests, etc., to contour to your body and to easily lock your preferred settings. Finally, don't forget to get up and stretch frequently - even an ergonomic chair like below will cause injury if you sit for prolonged time.
- Your feet should rest on the ground at a 90 degree angle when seated.
- Your back should lay against the backrest of the chair.
- Lumbar support should not push you out of the chair.
- Armrests should not stress your elbows. Both armrests should be adjusted to the same height.
- Seat edges should be curved a.k.a "waterfall" designed. This design reduces stress on your knees.
- Your chair should be stable when you swivel around.
- Find the fabric of your choice - that is breathable and easy to maintain - mesh/leather/upholstered all have their own advantages/disadvantages.
- Padding should not be too hard nor too soft. You can't sit for too long in a hard chair and soft chairs do not offer much support.
- Your chair will last at least the number of years mentioned on the manufacturer's warranty.
- Remember, your desk needs to be at the right height to work together with your chair (picture below via backdesigns)
Your chair should support your body, help maintain a good posture and not cause any kind of injuries. It should give you options to adjust height, tilt, armrests, etc., to contour to your body and to easily lock your preferred settings. Finally, don't forget to get up and stretch frequently - even an ergonomic chair like below will cause injury if you sit for prolonged time.
