The average adult spend between 50-70% of their day sat down at work, so choosing the right chair for you is really important, not only for your back health, but also for your There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing an ergonomic chair, so we have sectioned them off to make your decision thatSeat - Arguably the most important part of the chair you will have to consider, as it requires the most maneuverability in order to customise the seat to your needs and for you to feel the benefit of your ergonomic chair. The height of your seat should be adjustable to ensure that your thighs and legs are rested at a 90 degree angle and your feet are flat onA seat height that ranges from 16 to 21 inches (41-53cm) from the floor should be suitable for most users. However if this is not a position you can achieve comfortably in relation to the height of your desk, you should then invest in a footstool to ensure your legs
and feet are always at the right angle. legs should not be left Seat depth needs to be sufficient for you to sit with your back against the backrest of the chair whilst still leaving a gap of between 2 to 4 inches (5-11cm) between the back of your knees and the chair. This gap should be roughly the size of a fist, which is an easier way to measure when assessing the suitability of aChairs that offer a seat pan slide, enable you to adjust the seat depth so your legs are positioned correctly. This usually ranges between 17 - 20 inchesThere should be at least one inch of unused space either side of your Your seat should be adequately padded to maximise comfort during prolonged periods of This is what sets an ergonomic chair apart from the crowd. adjustability should compliment the natural curvature of your back. The backrest should compliment the natural "S" shape of your back. The curved section of
the chair should rest in line with the bottom A chair with an adjustable backrest height will help you to ensure that the backrest is in the right position for you. different heights and sizes, one backrest will not work for all. Your backrest should be able to tilt forward and backwards to ensure that you can stretch your back throughout the day, You should also be able to recline your chair in order to relax your back during rest breaks. Your armrests should be height adjustable so that your arms rest at a 90 degree angle and are in line with yourYour desk should rest just below the height of your elbows. It is worth noting that you should not use your arm rest when typing as this can cause unnecessary strain on your back, your elbows should stay close to your sides Your chair should have fullThe base of your chair have at least a five pedestal base with wheels for maximumYour chair should also be able to
swivel as this prevents unnecessary reaching and stretching which can be a strain on your The fabric of your chair shouldLeather is a popular and luxurious choice, but it is not recommended if you sit for long periods of time as it does not dispense heat very well. A cloth fabric is recommended for the seat as it is breathable, however it is not very resistant to stains andMesh is the preferable solution for the backrest as it is both breathable and So now you have chosen your ergonomic office chair, it is time to organise your deskA poor desk layout is another source of back strain and can diminish all of the good work that your chair is doing. As people become ever more aware of the damage sitting for long periods of time can inflict on their bodies, a new trend for standing desks has swept offices worldwide. This encourages mobility and is even thought to motivate users to walk around the office more
in order to interact with colleagues. Purchasing a standing desk can be a big investment if you aren't sure that it is something that will work for you, so an adjustable desk might be better suited to yourAn adjustable desk enables you to easily switch between sitting and standing, whilst still using one set workspace. desk also enables you to ensure that your desk is at the right height in relation to your Ideally when you are sat in your office chair your forearms should sit 90 degrees to your keyboard, however this can be relatively difficult to maintain. ensure that minimum strain is impacting on your body, your arms should be no more than 20 degrees above horizontal whilst sitting, and no more than 45 degrees below whilst standing. Your keyboard should sit with the qwerty section of your keyboard centred in front ofYour keyboard should lay completely flat on your desk to minimise strain to your wrists.
In order to keep the rest of your desk at the optimal height, you may benefit from a keyboard tray if your arms naturally rest below the desk Your mouse should be kept in line with your keyboard so that you can easily make the transition between typing and the mouse without affecting the posture of your arms. Your monitor should be positioned an arms length away from yourThe top of your screen should be at, or slightly below eyeIf you are using a standing desk then the centre of your screen should be This covers all of the important things that sit on your desk which you use regularly throughout the day, such as your telephone or stapler. be positioned close to your keyboard, on the opposite side from where your mouse is. prevents unnecessary stretching throughout the Ergonomics and human factors at work: A brief guide (A brief guide, one free Ergonomics Book Course - Ergonomic Guidelines for arranging a