Are you looking for the right chair for your workstation? Learn what to look for in a well-designed ergonomic office chair.

Most people working at the desk spend hours sitting on a chair daily; a position that can add stress to the spinal cord. To avoid developing back problems, it is vital to buy an ergonomic office chair that promotes good posture and supports the lower back.

There are various types of ergonomic chairs available in the market today, and you can’t say that a particular type is the best but there are important factors you have to consider before picking the right ergonomic office chair. These factors depend on an individual’s specific needs to enable him or her work more comfortably and healthily.

Let’s take a look at the features that a well-designed ergonomic office chair should possess so that you can go shopping with confidence.

Features of a Good Ergonomic Chair

Seat Width and Depth

A well-designed ergonomic chair should have enough depth and width to comfortably support the user. The standard width of an ergonomic office chair is usually between 17-20 inches. The distance from the front to back of the seat is what is referred to as the depth. The depth of the chair should be enough to allow a user to leave approximately 2-4 inches between the seat of the chair and the back of the knees, while the user’s back rests comfortably on the backrest of the chair. The chair should also be adjustable to allow easy forward and backward tilt.

Seat Height

An ideal office chair should possess a pneumatic adjustment lever to adjust the seat’s height accordingly. Most ergonomic chairs have a height of between 16-21 inches off the floor. The chair you choose should allow you to comfortably rest the feet flat on the floor. The thighs and arms should be horizontal alongside the top surface of the office desk.

Lumbar Support

The lumbar spine has a natural inward curve that supports the back when we are in a sitting position. The lower support of an ergonomic chair should be able to support the back to avoid slouching. When you work for long hours without proper support of your back, the spine curve flattens, which puts a strain on the structures of the lower spine. That’s why you should get a proper office chair with lumbar adjustment to achieve an ideal fit to support the back’s lower inward curve.

Backrest

A good ergonomic office chair should have a backrest that is between 12-19 inches wide. The backrest should be adjustable in both forward and backward angles to allow the user in resting the back comfortably. The backrest should be able to support the spine’s natural curve without putting a strain on the lower back structures. If you prefer a seat that separates from the backrest, the backrest should be adjustable both in height and angle, paying special attention to proper support of the lumber region. If the backrest and the seat are attached as one piece, the chair should have an adjustable backrest to allow easy backward and forward tilting. Once the user adjusts to the right angle, the chair should have a locking mechanism to hold the backrest in place.

Armrests

To allow the user to rest his or her arms comfortably, an ergonomic chair should have adjustable armrests. While using the armrests, the shoulders should be relaxed while the lower arms and elbows should rest lightly. Ensure that the forearm does not rest on the armrest while typing on the computer.

Swivel

To allow easy reach and turning actions, an ergonomic office chair should be able to turn in a 360-degree rotation. This swivel feature allows the user to reach different areas of the desk without too much effort.

Seat material

An ergonomic chair should have enough padding to allow the user to sit for long hours comfortably. The material on the office chair’s back and seat should be “breathable” and that’s why a cloth fabric is more preferable to a hard surface as seat material.

Now that you know the key features to look out for in ergonomic chairs, apply the knowledge in your shopping process. It’s more likely than not that you will purchase an ideal chair that fulfils all your ergonomic criteria!