Pretty much everyone who works an office job has heard the news: Sitting eight hours a day is killing you. Okay, maybe it's not killing you today, but study after study show that sitting is detrimental to your health, even if you try to counter-balance it with a lot of exercise in your spare time. What do you need to make a change? The answer might be an adjustable standing desk, one that lets you easily transition between sitting and standing—or better, one that tracks just how long you've been sitting and tells you when it's time to switch positions. Another solution might be to walk while you work, and indeed, there are now work stations that allow you to do just that. Of course, standing or walking while you work for eight or ten hours a day is unreasonable. At some point, you'll want to sit at least for a little while. That's where active chairs come in. These alternatives to traditional office chairs adjust your posture by engaging your legs and core muscles, so that sitting becomes active.
Plain old yoga balls come to mind as a decent alternative to a traditional office seat, but they aren't usually designed for office spaces, and they certainly aren't the only option. In fact, there are some great furniture choices out there that combine healthy options with attractive design (sorry, yoga ball). I've rounded up four of the more interesting alternative desks and chairs. The right one can transform your office or work space from a sloucher's paradise into a more healthy and fitter environment. Stir Kinectic Desk $2,990–$4,190 Sit-stand desks typically aren't very smart, but the Stir Kinectic Desk is. It knows how long you've been sitting and prompts you to stand up when it's time, and then it raises itself to a custom height that you set. A smart, built-in touch screen uses Bluetooth to connect to Fitbit devices so the desk knows when you're approaching and knows if you've had a long run this morning and could use some time in your chair. There are two versions of the Stir desk: the original Stir Kinectic F1 (shown) and the new, less expensive M1.
The major differences are in shape—the F1 is rectangular while the M1 has a curved edge—as well as price and material quality (the F1 is hand finished). Technogym Wellness Ball – Active Sitting $225 When you do need to sit at work, there are healthier alternatives to standard chairs, options that keep your core engaged and your back strong. We love the Technogym Wellness Ball for its simple design but smart features, like a removable and durable anti-bacterial slip cover. A weighted bottom also keeps the ball from rolling across the room when you stand up. It's a little pricier than other yoga ball chairs, but it's also designed with more consideration for what you actually need in a stability ball chair in the office, rather than the gym. LifeSpan TR1200-DT5 Treadmill Desk Combination $1,499 If you never take a break, eat meals at your desk, and answer your mobile phone in the bathroom, then you might be a workaholic, and you probably need some help squeezing more movement into your day.
A treadmill desk like the LifeSpan TR1200-DT5 might be the answer. The desk on this unit isn't directly attached to the treadmill, so it doesn't shake during use. The TR1200-DT5 model counts, records, and displays the actual number of steps you take (in addition to total distance traveled), and has a feature that automatically stops the belt when you step off. While treadmill desks aren't everyone's cup of tea—nor are they suitable for certain kinds of work—they can help very busy and time-strapped professionals stay healthier. Buoy $199 After listening to this episode of 99 Percent Invisible, I became obsessed with balance stools. I've been hunting for an affordable but beautiful one to add to my home office desk, and the Buoy might be it. Balance stools like the Buoy are active chairs, similar to yoga balls. The Buoy is designed to tilt from 5 to 12 degrees, wobble, and swivel. One of the benefits of tilting stools is that they get your spine and body out of the C shape that it tends to be in when you sit in traditional chairs, which is better for you in that time you do need to sit because—let's be real—you can't stand all day long.
(Truth be told, I really want this stunning balance stool by Thorsten Franck, but it's not available anywhere.)Click here to see our updated list for 2017 The best office chairs are ergonomically designed to promote good posture and to avoid lower back pain. Whether you are looking for an executive office chair, adjustable desk chair, swivel task chair, leather or mesh, we’ve got you covered. Join us as we rank the top rated office chairs your back will thank you for. 3SEE IT NOW 5SEE IT NOW 7SEE IT NOW Price, Info, & Pics Price, Info, & PicsIf you are looking for the best ergonomic office chair than look now further, here is our review on the Top 7 ergonomic desk chairs available in 2016. After long days sitting in my office, my back eventually started to hate me and so did my hands. I got to a point where I was in so much pain after every shift. I know I needed to correct something. I started reading up on orthopedic ergonomic office chairs that could help my needs.
It was overwhelming and prices were all over the place, I didn’t know if I was paying for quality or I was just paying for the name. I read a bunch of articles on how important ergonomics was at work, so I decided to take action into my own hands. I got to a point where I was sick of all the so called advice every article was giving me. And, yes, I arrived at the conclusion that something can be excellent for me and horrible for my cubicle buddies, and that is why the buyer should acquire information on more that one product and then decide which one is truly best for him or her. In my search for the best most comfortable ergonomic office chairs I compiled a list. And this list is what you see today. My research and findings of what will help you ease the pain in sitting in that desk all day. If you’re here you are probably feeling the pains I felt. The uncomfortable numbing and constant aches. Sitting in a chair all day is horrible. Most of us work jobs that require us to sit all day for eights hours maybe even more.
I am not going to tell you to quit. Im here to give you the most practical solution that I can think of. Get ergonomic equipment that can correct most of these pains. My theory is, if you’re going to sit all day, you might as well have a good place to sit in, right? Not all desk chairs are created equal. Some have more advanced ergonomic benefits. These include breathable mesh and lumbar supports. With orthopedic office chairs there is a positive correlation with price and functionality. The higher the price the bigger the benefits. One of the most popular ergonomic desk chairs in office buildings. The Aeron set the bar for ergonomic office chairs in 1994. With no foam based cushions the Aeron was a innovator. Made up of woven mesh the chair has no straight lines, replicating the human body. The Aeron comes in three easy to remember sized ranging from A,B and C. Each size is strategically crafted with the owner in mind to give a highly comfortable and highly adjustable lounging experience.
Pros: Its no question why the Aeron is still around after a decade. This is one of the most comftorbale seats you will ever sit in. No other chair will feel quite as comfortable as it used to. It is very stylish and looks great. Cons: The price is on the upper end of the scale when purchasing the Aeron. You are definatly not just paying for the name here. You are getting everything you need in an ergonomic office chair here. The Embody, does just that and embodies the human skeleton in mind. This chair was designed by the original designer of the ever popular Aeron. The goal with the Embody was to correct any complaints with the Aerons design almost like the little brother who beats you at everything. The embody boasts and exposed exoskeleton that copies the spines contours. The back moves as you move and keeps your spin corrected and aligned without adjusting the chair. The backrest to this chair has individual supports which is going to move and adjust to any position you put yourself in.
This chair is more on the pricey side depending on the aesthetics you choose. Undoubtedly one of the most comfortable chairs you will ever sit in though. Pros: In true fashion the Embody out does its older brother by being the more comfortable out of the two. Because you are not getting in and out of your to relieve the numbing in your back you can balance out the cost of this chair with your higher productivity. Cons: This chair has got to be one of the most heaviest chairs out there, and for the price you can almost bet it will be the most expensive as well. Supportive, fully adjustable and very luxurious. This chair has the luxury you are looking for and the ergonomic functionality that you need. Perfect for your home office so you can sit in style. The freedom chair is designed with six controls for lavish luxury. This ergonomic office chair features a cushion based design to adapt to and shaped spine or body size. The cushion is strategically placed within contact areas to minimize pressure points and to even weight distribution.
With the high end styling and the great functionality this is a perfect fit for the executive who is looking to correct their form and posture. Pros: Great Design, comfort I well above average. The freedom has a great counter weight that supports your back at all times. Cons: The armrest adjustment system is a little irritating and dysfunctional, but the armrests themselves are comfortable. Overview: The Freedom Chair doesn’t have any comfort or ergonomic feature that will wow you, but it’s a very solid chair and does its job well. Another Herman Miller, well the reason, they know how to make good chairs! The sayl is an ergonomic office chair that is beautifully designed to match your personality without sacrificing your health. The Sayl is a reasonably priced chair on the lower end of the spectrum. For what it lacks in adjustability it makes up for in style. There is a wide range of colors that you can choose from. The Sayl sits above the rest of the chairs in this price bracket.
If you are looking for the best bang for you buck, look no further. Pros: The Sayl is a well built chair that serves its function. It does not have all the bells and whistles you see in higher end models. If you are looking for the the Aeron is where to go. The Sayl however does make up for it in price. At an affordable price the Sayl is a great chair to pick for someone who is on a budget. Cons: As mentioned, not as much adjustability as some of the chairs on this list. The Zody puts function over form with the only chair authorized by the American Physical Therapy Association. This chair allows you to target problem areas by conforming the char to your natural body shape. This ergonomic office chair is great for lumbar support. With the independent lumbar support with full control over the right and left sides of your lumbar region, you are going to get full support for you lower back. The pelvic support is there to keep the natural curve in your posture. You still have all the natural adjustments and you have the choice of an additional headrest as well.
Pros: Highly adjustable, looks pretty much good in any atmostphere. The lumbar support is below none and is one of its selling points. Cons: The arms are highly adjustable but are too easy to knock out of position. The casters which are nearly frictionless cause the chair to roll around a lot if placed on a hard surface. The seat pad is also on the thicker side and while it does not “breathe” as well, it is still comfortable. Overall: The zody is a great chair, though if you want all the bells and whistles you will have to shell out the extra dough. This ergonomic office chair is just what you are looking for if you are doing a lot of movement. The Leap is very sturdy and long lasting and it has a lot of adjustability to boot. Its extremely comfortable and the design makes your whole back feel supported. This chair was designed with ergonomics and the planet in mind. 98% of this chair is recyclable and 30% of it is made up recycled content. Pros: the Leap is going to stand strong when compared with the other high end ,models on this list.
The build quality is great some parts could have had a better build quality, but im just noting that because of the price of this chair. But other than that the Leap is up there for ergonomic design and style. Cons: The lumbar support was not as up to par with the Aeron at time it feels like it feels like its not adjusting evenly. The build quality of the levers is out of place considering the rest of the chair. The Diffrient is a different kind of breed when it comes to ergonomic office chairs. This chair with its weight sensitive design and automatic incline gives for a much simpler experience. This is Humanscales first ever mesh chair, the entire chair weights under 25 lbs and is also green friendly with 97% of it made from recycled material. This chair hides the functionality under a great design. But unlike other task chairs this chair is innovative and accommodates to the user without all the crazy amount of levers and arms. Pros: Very leight weight, self adjusting, awesome support, fits 95% of the population, great aesthetics, earth friendly.