Sitting all day at the office can do a lot of damage to your back. Non-accidental injuries are very common in working professionals and having the best chairs for office work is essential to your health!
For office workers who sit a lot, non-accidental back injuries are often caused by having an improper chair. Neck strain, lower back and leg pain are all common ailments from having a chair that is not ergonomically correct for your body.
Which Are The Best Chairs for Office Work?
There are a myriad of office chairs available. The trick is to find one that is right for you. Here are some features to look for when selecting an office chair:
Lumbar Support
This is one of the most important features in an office chair. Our spines have a natural “S” shape to them. Your office chair needs to be the most comfortable and reduce the risk of back pain. Have that natural curve supported is essential! Lumbar support can vary from the chair back having an “S” curve built into it to having an adjustable lumbar support that can be moved in or out to fine-tune your chair to your spinal curve.
Seat Height
When you are working in the seated position, your forearms should be parallel to the floor. The most common means to adjusting this height is via an adjustable seat height. Most office chairs have a pneumatic cylinder build into the chair pedestal. Seat height can be adjusted by moving a lever and allowing the seat to raise or lower until it is at the correct height.
You might also like to switch to a standing desk.
Armrests
Having armrests on your chair can take the pressure off of the muscles having to support your arms. Armrests should be just slightly lower than your workstation surface. Many chairs have either a cam-type adjustment where rolling a knob raises or lowers the armrest, or a knob that when pushed in, allows you to pull up or push down the armrest; releasing the knob lock it at the selected height.
Material
Office chairs come in a variety of materials. Real leather of course looks nice, but it is more expensive. If not leather, many of the better office chairs come with a fabric seat and back. One of the best chairs for office work has the latest innovations in chair back material; plastic mesh. Not only does this allow for the material to adjust to the contour of your back better, but it allows your back to “breathe” better if your office environment tends to make you perspire.
Check out 5 great butt toning exercises you can do while you are in your chair!
Selecting an ergonomically office chair suited to you is one of the most important decisions you can make when picking out office furniture. Make sure it has all the features listed in this article so it can properly support your healthy lifestyle.
Don’t miss out on our tips for reducing the amount of time you are sitting while at work. It will GREATLY increase your productivity and add in those extra steps to your day.
