When shopping for the best ergonomic office chair, getting a chair that fits the user is of paramount importance. Not every chair labeled "ergonomic" has all the adjustment features necessary to truly be ergonomic. This guide will help you make a better selection.Use our chair selector tool and one of our fit experts will respond with personalized recommendations. We love to help people find exactly what works for their needs, and we typically respond within 1 business day. The mechanism controls how the seat and back move. It includes controls that are typically levers under the seat that the user can push, pull, or twist to adjust the chair. Some models may offer more than one choice of mechanism for the same chair. These two mechanisms are the most popular: Multifunction Mechanism This mechanism is preferred due to the wide range of adjustability it offers. The back and seat angles adjust independently of each other as well as independent of the tilt. This allows you to lock the chair into an infinite number of positions.
This type of mechanism will rock/tilt back from the center of the seat. The Neutral Posture NPS800 and the Bodybilt J3507 are two examples of chairs that offer this type of mechanism. Synchro-Tilt Mechanism - The seat and back are linked and tilt simultaneously as you lean back (typically the seat back tilts back two degrees for every one degree of seat pan tilt). Since there is less adjustability with this mechanism it is not as ergonomic as the multifunction mechanism. A chair with a synchro-tilt mechanism should have a waterfall front or flexible front seat edge or it may press into the back of the thighs when reclining. This type of mechanism also rocks/tilts from the center of the seat. The Raynor Ergohuman and the Allseating Cpod Chair are two examples of chairs that offer this type of mechanism. These are less common but may be appropriate for many applications: Task This is the most basic mechanism and adjustments may be limited to just seat height, seat height plus seat depth, or seat height, seat depth and back angle.
Task mechanisms do not offer tilt. As this discourages movement, a task mechanism is best suited for lighter duty such as a home office or conference room. Two examples of this type of chair would be the Ergocentric Saffron Apt and the Raynor Vigor RG33 Task Chair. The backrest should slide up and down to allow the lumbar curve of the chair's back rest to fit into your lower back (lorthotic) curve. A height adjustable lumbar support is a common substitution. This will also help fit the chair to your body type. Reclining in your chair supports the weight of your upper body and thus relieves some weight from you lower back. Many chairs have a locking back angle adjustment that will let you find your most comfortable reclined or upright position and then lock that position. Both lumbar disc pressure and back muscle activity are lowest with a supported recline angle of 110° - 130°. Reclined postures often are preferred (Grandjean, 1988). This adjustment knob allows you to adjust the amount of force required to recline to your body weight.
The Humanscale Freedom Chair and Liberty Chair are counterbalanced to the weight of the user and do not require a tension adjustment. The best lumbar support offers both vertical and depth adjustment. This is especially important if the user has lower back issues, or if multiple people will use the chair. The most basic lumbar supports are adjusted vertically as you raise and lower the chair back. A fixed depth lumbar is acceptable if it fits you well and does adjust vertically. A chair without either an adjustable back height or an independently height adjustable lumbar support may not fit many people. The chair base should have a minimum five spoke base. Four spoke bases tend to tip over when reclining back in your chair. Quality casters should glide freely over various floor surfaces. A headrest provides support for your head and can reduce the weight your neck must support. If you have neck issues, strongly consider buying a chair with a headrest. Back to U.S. Website, APO/FPO
FurnitureExtra 25% OffSelect Furniture by Abbyson*RugsExtra 15% OffSelect Area Rugs by Nourison*DécorExtra 15% offSelect Home Decor by Christopher Knight*Bed & BathExtra 10% OffSelect Bedding & Bath by Madison Park*Home ImprovementUp to 25% off + Extra 10-15% off Lighting & Ceiling Fans*KitchenExtra 10% OffKitchen & Dining*OutdoorExtra 10% offSelect Outdoor Furniture by Highwood*JewelryUp to 70% Off + Extra 10% OffJewelry*WatchesUp to 70% off + Extra 10% offWatches*WomenExtra 10% offWomens Clothing & Shoes*MenExtra 10% off Mens Clothing & Shoes*Kids & BabyShop Car Seats MoreUp to 65% OffSelect Luggage & Handbags* How to Choose an Ergonomic Chair Anyone who spends hours at a desk knows how important a good ergonomic chair is. The right ergonomic chair helps you maintain good posture for an extended period of time, which relieves strain on your back, improves circulation and helps you remain comfortable and productive for a full day's work. However, choosing a new ergonomic chair can be a chore if you've never purchased one before.
If you're planning on picking up a new ergonomic office chair, keep reading for a few suggestions that will help ensure that you get the best ergonomic chair for you. Choosing an Ergonomic Chair: Choose a style of ergonomic chair. Before you go about determining the details of your ergonomic chair, decide which style of ergonomic office chair you want. The majority of office chairs today are still the traditional swivel chairs you see everywhere, but you can also find knee chairs, saddle chairs and divided back chairs, each of which is designed to keep your back supported in a different way. While these alternative designs aren't for everyone, you may find that a kneeling chair or a saddle chair helps relieve lower back pain. Decide how much lumbar support you want from an ergonomic chair. One of the elements that makes an ergonomic chair ergonomic is how the back curves in to support your lumbar region or lower back. While any ergonomic office chair that you purchase should support your lower back (unless you're choosing an alternative design like an ergonomic kneeling chair), just how much lower back support you need is up to you.
If you know that you're prone to slouching, which strains your lower back, you may want a lot of lumbar support. If you maintain good posture when you sit, you may not want as much lumbar support. Look for ergonomic chairs that are adjustable. Even if you buy an ergonomic computer chair that appears to match all of your preferences, there will still be things that you want to change once you sit in it for a while, like the height of the chair and the tilt of the seat, and you'll quickly appreciate a chair that's fully adjustable. While nearly all office chairs have adjustable heights, some also have adjustable backs, seats and arms. While you may not want all of these options, choosing an ergonomic chair with several adjustments can ensure that you're satisfied with the fit of your new chair. Determine whether or not you want an ergonomic chair with arms. While arm supports are often useful on an office chair, ergonomic chairs without arms may be preferable if you have an active job.