Office workers spend the majority of their time sitting. Over the past few years, there have been more and more studies coming out that show sitting can cause or exacerbate any number of health issues, especially back problems. Sitting for long periods of time puts a large amount of pressure on our spine and hip bones, pressure that our body just wasn’t designed to handle. How you sit and how your work station is positioned can also put strain on other joints and inhibit good blood circulation in the limbs and back. One of the best fixes for these problems is simply making sure you or your employees have the opportunity to get up and walk around throughout the day. Unfortunately, some jobs make it hard to avoid sitting for long stretches. That’s why choosing the right office chair is so important. A well designed ergonomic chair can do a lot to help minimize the strain placed on our bodies and have a big impact on an office worker’s health and productivity. Whether you’re looking to buy a chair for yourself or for an entire office, it can be tricky to find a chair designed to adequately accommodate the wide range of shapes and sizes people come in, or the wide range of sitting positions people use throughout the workday.
The truth is there is no ‘best’ chair that will perfectly suit everyone, but there are some features that you should look for in order to help you find the best chair for your office. Every person is different, and because of this, the key to a well-designed ergonomic chair is adjustability. An adjustable chair allows each person using it to tailor the chair to fit their individual needs, as well as their body shape and proportions. There are five key areas on a chair that need to be adjustable in order to properly fit and support the individual who uses it. In addition to these five features, it’s also important to remember whenever you consider buying new chairs that they represent a significant investment in your workplace health and productivity. Make a budget ahead of time, and set a price that is reasonable to invest in a proper chair. Make sure that your focus is on getting the most bang for your buck, and not just getting the cheapest option that meets the minimum criteria.
Don’t forget to factor the possible cost of delivery and installation into the budget. Once you know what to look for in an office chair and have an idea of your budget, all that’s left to figure out is where you should begin looking. There are many high-end brands that have made a name for themselves over the years by producing quality, highly-praised, ergonomic chairs. Any of these brands make a good starting point as you begin to research models and compare options. But as experts in office furniture, out of all the brands and designs we’ve seen out there, the Steelcase Gesture is by far our favorite choice. Steelcase is known far and wide for their quality, durability and comfort, but perhaps the most impressive thing about Steelcase as a brand, is the tremendous amount of research that they put into designing products that support and protect the human body in our ever-changing workplace. To help them design more ergonomic chairs, Steelcase conducted a study to better understand how office workers sit while interacting with different forms of technology in the office.
They were able to identify nine new working positions that have appeared in the workplace thanks to our use of tablets, smartphones, and laptops. The end result of this study was the Gesture, which was designed to better support workers in all nine of these new positions. In fact, the Gesture is so well designed, that The Wire Cutter named it the Best Office Chair, hands down, of 2015. And with a brand as prolific as Steelcase, it wasn’t surprising that the Wire Cutter’s runner up was another of their products, the Steelcase Leap. To learn a what makes the Steelcase Gesture so unique, and the Best Office Chair of 2015, you can check out the Wire Cutter’s review Here. Free Infographic to Help You Remember these Keys When Buying Chairs A BUSY LEADERS GUIDE TO SELECTING OFFICE CHAIRS [INFOGRAPHIC] Choosing the right chairs for your team is a difficult task. This fun infographic will help you understand the following: Share it, print it, post it around the office.
The stability ball is a piece of exercise equipment used for strength training, improving balance and stability. Replacing the office chair for the stability ball is increasingly popular because of the potential for improved health, posture and strength, but you should be aware of both the benefits and drawbacks before deciding to use a stability ball. Always consult a doctor before starting this or any other exercise regimen. The stability ball, also known as the Swiss ball, yoga ball or exercise ball, is an inflated ball constructed of soft PVC material. Stability balls come in different colors and sizes, and for best results, you should choose a ball that fits your height range. If you are between 4-foot-11 and 5-foot-4, select a ball that is 55 cm in diameter. If you are between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-11, use a ball that is 65 cm in diameter. If you are over 6 feet, choose a ball that is 75 cm. Spineuniverse explains that sitting on a stability ball can improve stability and balance because doing so is said to constantly engage the core abdominal muscles.
Stronger ab muscles protect the lower back and promote better posture, and can be the result of using the stability ball. A study in the "Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association" by chiropractors Larry G. Merritt and Celynne M. Merritt showed that two people who reportedly suffered from lower back pain improved when they began consistently sitting on a stability ball. Of course, results vary by individual, and not everyone experiences these results. According to the United States Army Public Health Command, sitting on an exercise ball can have a few drawbacks. For example, because exercise balls lack arm rests and back supports, the upper body might not be properly and fully supported. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center argues that the use of an armrest takes some strain off your neck and shoulders and makes you less likely to slouch. The Health Command also explains that sitting in a chair in a reclined position significantly eliminates disc pressure in the back, but this position cannot be maintained while sitting on an exercise ball.
If you use the stability ball in place of an office chair, you might feel that the ball is not tall enough for you to reach your desktop. You also might have concerns that the stability ball will roll away when you stand, so you might need to find a way to anchor it. Prolonged improper sitting posture and office equipment that promotes bad posture can damage spinal structure and cause recurring back and neck pain. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center explains that when sitting and resting your arms on a desk, your upper arms should be parallel to your spine. When you look at your computer, your gaze should be aimed at the middle of your screen. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Keep in mind that you might just as easily slouch on a stability ball as you would in a chair, so practice good posture regardless of the seat. If you are new to using a stability ball, you might need to start out using the ball in small increments, as your body and muscles might not be accustomed to sitting in this manner for long periods and get fatigued.
As your muscles build strength and endurance and become familiar with the seating position, it will become easier and you will be able to use the ball for longer periods. Your employer or work environment might not permit you to use a stability ball in the workplace, so receive approval before bringing your ball to work. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week How to Use a Stability Ball As a Chair Exercise Ball Vs. Desk Chair How to Sit on an Exercise Ball at a Desk Does an Exercise Ball Chair Actually Give You Any Health Benefits? Exercise Ball Chair Exercises The Best Exercise Ball Brand How to Sit on a Workout Ball at Work The Benefits of Using a Stability Ball as a Chair 5 Things You Need to Know About Using an Exercise Ball as an Office Chair