Sitting behind a desk all day can be uncomfortable. The inactivity can make people gain weight, and recent studies have found sitting all day actually increases the risk of death. Fortunately, most people can change the way they sit at their desks or even avoid sitting entirely. There are several alternatives to regular chairs for working at a desk. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support the body properly, particularly the spine. They come in many forms, including standard chairs with additional back support, kneelers, and chairs that require actively sitting on a balance ball. Another alternative to standard desk chairs includes replacing the desk and eliminating the chair entirely. Ergonomic chairs come in many forms. The size and height of the chair can affect the comfort level for the individual user. Chairs are still furniture, so the design and appearance of the chair can affect customer choice as well. Traditional ergonomic chairs look similar to standard office chairs, but offer additional back support and usually are highly adjustable.
Some chairs may add a headrest or footrest in addition to the standard seat and back. Kneeling ergonomic chairs don't have a back; rather, the sitter is in a kneeling position with support under the knees. This position encourages good posture from the neck through the shoulders and back. Because of the way kneeling affects weight distribution, stress is reduced in the back and leg muscles. Saddle ergonomic chairs position users similarly to sitting in a horse's saddle. Compared to a traditional sitting position, legs are wider and lower, which opens the hips and reduces back pain. Balance ergonomic chairs place the sitter on an unstable seat. This forces core abdominal muscles to be actively engaged to remain upright. Balance chairs come in several styles. Some use a balance ball like those found at the gym as the seat of the chair. These exercise ball chairs may have feet and a partial backrest. Other balance chairs are more like a stool than a chair, with a seat balanced a single wobbly leg.
Depending on the chair's design, the physical work required to remain seated can be challenging. For some people, lying down on the job may be a better way to reduce back pain than sitting more upright, which is more likely to be the case if the user suffers from a specific medical condition like spinal stenosis rather than generalized pain and achiness. For people with these conditions, sitting in a recliner and using a footrest to elevate the legs may increase comfort. It is also possible to eliminating sitting altogether. Several desk alternatives eliminate the pains and health risks that come with extended sitting by forcing the user to be even more active while working. Standing desks raise the height of the desktop to allow working from a standing position. For comfort, it's important to have the desk at the correct height, which is slightly below elbow level. Most standing desks can be adjusted to a range of heights to suit the user. Regular office desks can be converted to standing desks by adding a shelf or platform to raise the computer workstation to a higher level.
Adjustable platforms allow the workstation to be easily lowered to the normal height. This is a significant benefit since working at a standing desk can be tiring if the user isn't accustomed to it. A treadmill desk combines a standing desk with a treadmill for the user to walk on while working at the desk. Some of these desks include a built-in treadmill, while others are designed to accommodate the user's own treadmill. While these desks allow exercise to become a daily routine, walking while working may not be suitable for all jobs and responsibilities. It's easy to review the desk chair alternatives and decided which ergonomic chair to purchase by searching the offerings on eBay. Search for a specific type of chair or desk by entering the appropriate term in the search box. It's also easy to browse the offerings under the Desks and Home Office Furniture category. The search results will display a page listing all available items in that category. There can be many items listed, so take time to review the options.
Read the listings carefully to make sure the item can be adjusted to suit your height and needs for maximum comfort during office hours.Free accessory with UPLIFT desk purchase > Alternatives to Lifeform ChairsWe offer many chairs similar to the Lifeform brand of office chairs that meet their standard of luxury and sturdiness while being better task chairs that will encourage prolonged productivity. If you are looking for sturdy build with leather upholstery, ergonomic adjustments, and modern detailing, check out some of the options we have handpicked for you! Bodybilt brand chairs will give you high customization and excellent comfort, the Humanscale Freedom Chair is iconic for its superior quality comfort and adjustments, and the Ergohuman Chair is another best-seller whose leather configuration is available at a reasonable price. Need help deciding which chair is right for you? Fill out our Ergonomic Chair selector and we'll provide expert recommendations. Steelcase Siento ChairBodyBilt 2507 High Back Executive ChairSteelcase Amia Chair in LeatherRaynor Ergohuman Chair - Leather Chair with Headrest LE9ERGNightingale CXO Mesh Chair with Headrest Option 6200 & 6200DHumanscale Freedom Chair in Leather with HeadrestSteelcase Leap Worklounge in LeatherSteelcase Leap Chair in Leather
Our company is founded by a Certified Professional Ergonomist and our goal is to help you find the right chair for you. We don't offer the Lifeform line of chairs, but we do have a selection of great alternatives and a staff willing to help you narrow down your options. Give us a call at 1-800-531-3746 for some expert recommendations. Video Review - Steelcase Amia Chair Watch our video review of the Steelcase Amia Chair! Video Review - Leather Ergohuman Chair LE9ERG Check out this video review showing the Leather Ergohuman Chair (LE9ERG) in action! Sign in if you're already registered.A few years ago I decided that having a good office chair was one of the most important things for having a work at home job. Between blogging during the day and gaming during my free time I sit in my chair at least 50 hours a week. At one point, I tried to save a little money by going with something cheap. Over time, I realized that I could work harder and more comfortably if I found a good office chair that was ergonomic.
In the short-run, you might be hesistant to spend a little bit more. However, in the long-run, you'll be better off with an ergonomic chair that lasts longer and doesn't cause you any pain. In addition, there are several budget-friendly chairs that fall into this category. I'll list some of my favorites below. A Good Under $200 Ergonomic Mesh Gaming Chair Review of Lorell's Executive Office Chair for Gaming I'm a pretty big guy at 6'4" and 250 pounds. I need a chair that is not only sturdy, but tall as well. The Lorell Executive office chair is a good option for gamers who are average to above average height.I've used it for the past year and a half and have yet to notice any wear and tear on the back mesh or seat. Speaking of the mesh it breathes well and helps you to avoid any sweat build up that can occur over long gaming sessions.The back of the seat is ergonomically designed for natural curvature. It's a good budget alternative to the pricey Aeron chairs you see on the market as it feels nearly as comfortable and just as durable.
Fully Adjustable:Another really nice thing about this chair is that you can adjust it in pretty much every way possible. It's not only the height, but the 3 levels you can see in the picture to the right also control the back of the chair and the seat as well. I also like the 5-point wheel system which makes it easy to glide over the plastic chair mat beneath it. If you do purchase it I do recommend the chair mat since the chair itself is pretty heavy-duty and can rip even more durable carpets.ArmrestsThe armrests aren't perfect, but they are adjustable and not too wobbly like many chairs out there.Final Impression:Overall, if you're going to be sitting in a chair a lot and need something durable, then I highly recommend the Lorell Executive High-back chair. For the money, it can't be beat. I bought my first one of these several years ago and have since purchased another for my upstairs system. A Good and Ergonomic Executive Back Gaming Chair Here's another executive office chair that our editor uses.
The Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair is a bit pricier but has far more features in terms of customization and adjustment. He's about 5'11" but, as you can see in the picture it would fit someone much taller due to its height adjustment for both the chair, back, and headrest. It would also work for someone below average height due to how the chair can adjust and move. The Perfect Mesh Office Chair for Gaming:This chair is fully mesh from top to bottom and breathes extremely well. It's higher quality than other mesh I've used and is ideal for any gaming session.Features and Ergonomics:The legs are on a 5 point wheel system which makes it easier to move around and the whole thing is pretty much adjustable top to bottom. With the way that the mesh feels and the back is curved, it's a bit more comfortable than the Lorell Executive simply because you can get it closer to the preferred shape and style you're used to. Eurotech refers to it as a back angle adjustment. You can see it in the pictures we took to the right.
Tilt Tension and Lock:In addition the tilt tension control and lock allows you to not only lock in the tension but lock it in multiple positions.Final Impression:This chair is anything, but cheap. In many ways I like it as good or better than some Herman Miller chairs I've used in the past. If you want a good deal, try to find it on a deal or refurbished for around $400. Otherwise it'll set you back around $600. A Good Budget Pu Leather Ergonomic Gaming ChairMerax is a seat company that's really come on to the market during 2016. Their Faux leather and mesh chairs come in 13 different styles of mesh and leather and are affordable with pricing from as low as $50 to as high as $225. The High Back 6 chair, featured on the right, is the one that's drawing my interest right now because of it's sleek design and high back. It's comfortable, firm, has an ergonomic fit, and has height adjustment as well as a near-to-straight back recline function. This chair is as comfortable as some of the options you'll find in the $500 range and looks nearly as good too.
Overall it's a solid value in the under $200 category. A Good and Cheap Leather Ergonomic ChairIf you prefer leather to mesh I really like the Viva High Back Ergonomic chair. It comes with adjustable lumbar support. If the lumbar support on some chairs can be a little bit much for you, this might be perfect. It's good middle ground between having lumbar support all the time and removing it when you simply want to sit back. In addition to adjustable lumbar support, the Viva chair also swivels, reclines, and has an adjustable seat. It does have an executive stance, so it's good for medium to tall individuals. The weight limit is 250 pounds. Overall, this chair is inexpensive at around $200, has a ton of flexibility, and has good ergonomics as well. If you suffer from regular back pain or just want to prevent it, this is a good option. A High-End Ergonomic Office ChairIf price is not an issue, I highly recommend Herman Miller's Aeron Chair. This lightweight Carbo Pellicle / graphite chair comes with a 12-year warranty and, from experience, will last you at least that long.
If you're like me and go through typical chairs every few years, in the end it may even save you money. In addition, it's feature-packed with Back support, a fully-mesh design, and has just about every adjustable feature you can think of. Pay Attention to Ergonomics:I've seen a lot of gamers out there who look at their health as an afterthought. By that, I don't only mean exercise, but also what they sit in. An ergonomic chair forces you to sit in a way that helps you to avoid long-term back injuries. Injury can and will occur if you're sitting improperly for too many hours at a time. Find a chair that's not only adjustable but also offers back lumbar support.Don't just assume that whatever is most expensive offers the most support. Many of the pricey and popular chairs are not that much better than some of the inexpensive chairs I've come across. If the ergonomics of a chair bother you, consider getting a chair that allows for adjustment of lumbar support. Then, you can adjust when and if you use it throughout the day.
Mesh or Leather Office Chair for PC Gaming Which would you rather use? Mesh Vs. Leather for Gaming:Mesh and Leather are both viable options for gaming or for your office. For long hours, I tend to lean towards mesh chairs. The breath-ability and durability of them can't be matched. However, I fully admit that a true leather seat is often more comfortable. If I'm sitting for just a few hours, I'd rather go that direction. Summary: Chairs for GamingOverall don't be afraid to spend a little extra on your gaming chair. I try to do this with everything that I use a lot. That includes my socks shoes, computer, monitor, bed, and of course, my office chair. Look for something that's ergonomic, durable and comes with a decent warranty. What's your favorite office chair for gaming? Let us know in the discussion area below. Best $2,000 Custom Gaming PC 2016 - Builder's GuideLooking to build a good custom gaming PC around $2,000? Here's a guide on the best parts to choose for your desktop in 2016.Best Budget BF4 Graphics Cards 2016Are you still playing Battlefield 4 like I am in 2016?