How To Choose The Best Ergonomic Office Chair?

Why do you need an ergonomic chair?

If you are a desk worker, if you need to sit and work continuously for 8 hours or more every day, and you do not have a suitable chair, such  a sedentary lifestyle will cause serious damage to your health. We can see that too many young people today have such office syndrome: back pain, cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc., all due to excessive fatigue and adverse posture.

Most of us lead sedentary lifestyles, and we may spend long hours looking at screens every day, leading to extreme fatigue and soreness. It seems that for many people, sedentary is inevitable, so choose a comfortable chair not only to help you form a healthy sitting posture, but also to minimize your fatigue.

Of course it is especially important to choose an ergonomic chair that best suits your needs. Because everyone’s body is different, the popular chairs on the market may not be suitable for you, so do not blindly choose. Finding the right ergonomic office chair will take some time, but it’s essential to take some time to do some research before you buy an expensive chair.

Ergonomic chairs are ergonomically supported by features that help you maintain good posture and have a comfortable seating experience. We have summarized this essential information through our research for your reference when choosing an ergonomic chair from Uwot.

What features should an ergonomic chair have?

1. Lumbar support

When you feel tired, you are more likely to bend down or sit in other poor positions. Slouching can hurt your spine and further lead to excessive lumbar problems. An office chair with adequate lumbar support can help relieve back pressure and tension. Lumbar support is the support needed for your lower back, make sure the lumbar support is natural and fits the curve of your spine. Office chairs that provide good lumbar support have a comfortable backrest that wraps around the spine and is contoured to fit your lower back, providing support for muscles and spine.

2. Seat depth

Bad posture will also affect your knees and legs. In addition to causing spinal problems, it can also lead to leg and joint problems. The right office chair will have sufficient seat depth, so your posture helps your joints to maintain good shape and health.

Many office chairs have a seat that can be adjusted forward or backward to get the best seat depth. Seat depth helps support your legs and hips, and when deciding on the best office chair for you, make sure the seat pan is deep enough so the backs of your knees don’t touch the seat. In addition, you can relax your knees when you lean your back against the backrest. The seat should also be at least one to two inches wider than your hips.

3. Seat height

The most scientific sitting posture is that when you sit in an office chair, your feet must be flush with the ground, thighs and the ground parallel. This posture can prevent you from sitting at a desk all day when the back is sore. Height adjustment allows you to change the height of the chair so that your feet are flat on the floor.

Secondly, an office chair with height adjustment allows you to keep your arms at the level of your desk height. It also helps to keep your head looking straight at the computer screen, avoiding twisting or changing your posture.

Adjustable height, backrest position and tilt – adjust all three, when you sit in the chair and lean back, your lower back should be well supported, while adjusting the height of the chair so that the knees are slightly lower than the hips and the feet can be comfortably flat on the floor.

4. Armrests

Your arms must be at the same height as your desk to reduce muscle stiffness. Chairs with adjustable armrests help ensure that your body is in the right position and that you remain comfortable throughout your office hours.

If you choose a chair with armrests be sure to ask for adjustable armrests, otherwise it is better not to have armrests. Adjustable armchair allows you to adjust the height of the armrests according to your comfort level, you can put your arms on the armrests to get the best rest when you are tired of working.

Putting your arms at the same height as your desk will not only help you feel comfortable and prevent fatigue, but also ensure that your hands are in the correct typing position. It helps reduce your likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. So, when you buy an office chair, be sure to check the armrest adjustment function.

5. Seat tilt and back tension control

Often sitting straight is ideal, but impractical. There is no doubt that maintaining a posture to reduce tension in the body is essential. However, prolonged uprightness may lead to severe strain and discomfort in the neck.

Recent studies have shown that a reclined sitting position with a 135 degree angle between the thighs and torso is the best position for you to sit in. The good news is that most ergonomic chairs come with a seat tilt function. The best office chairs allow you to tilt the seat to at least a 135 degree angle. This reduces the pressure on your back and allows you to sit comfortably at your desk for longer periods of time. So make sure you consider the recline and tension control features when choosing a chair. These features can support the weight of your upper body and provide some relief for your back after adjustment.

6. Headrest

Office chairs don’t always need headrests, but if you are tall or have some chronic neck fatigue issues, you will desperately need a headrest to provide extra support and relief.

Other issues that need to be considered

With the right ergonomic seat is not everything is fine, you also need to consider other factors of the office environment, in order to make the best use of the effectiveness of the seat.

1. Consider the impact of the floor

Choose the right type of casters for your floor – hard floor, stone, carpet, etc. – to prevent you from sliding around when you don’t want to, or potentially damaging your floor.

2. Consider the height of your desk

A standard desk is about 740 mm high, which is widely suitable for most of us, but if you are short or tall, make sure the desk fits you. Ideally, set up your chair to optimize your posture and find a table to accommodate your chair (not the other way around). For the ultimate setup, try a “sit-stand” desk that allows you to sit and stand throughout the day. Try standing for 20 minutes for every 40 minutes of sitting.

3. Screens and monitors

Your screen should be at an arm’s length from your eyes, with the center of the screen at eye level. Do not change your chair settings – use an adjustable arm or stand to change the height of the monitor.

4. It’s best to try to experience before you buy

Everyone has a unique anatomy, and what feels great to a friend or colleague may not be right for you. You need to give yourself some time to get used to it.

5. Check the warranty

Check the materials and find out how durable they are. The average lifespan of the best work-at-home chairs is five years. This is taking into account that you will use the chair outside of work hours if you are playing games or otherwise using your computer. Durability depends on usage and materials.

General summary

We hope that this information we have summarized will provide you with a reference when choosing an ergonomic chair.