A good office chair is indispensable in any workplace. There are therefore many types and versions on the market. But how do you choose the right ergonomic office chair? What exactly should you look for, and perhaps even more important: how do you adjust it? In this blog, we will tell you all about it!
What is an ergonomic office chair?
An ergonomic office chair is an office chair specially designed to suit the human body. The chair provides the right support and sufficient freedom of movement for the employee. The design of the office chair considers different postures and sitting positions. After all, it is essential that the office chair can be adjusted to each body.
Why choose an ergonomic office chair?
When you're in the office, you probably spend most of your days sitting on your office chair. This can cause many complaints and injuries. It is essential to choose an ergonomic office chair that is tailored to your body and working habits. An ergonomic office chair provides the right support for your back, neck and arms, allowing you to maintain a good sitting posture throughout the day. This reduces pressure on your spine and prevents tension and pain in these areas.
How do I adjust an ergonomic office chair?
When you choose an ergonomic office chair, it is essential that it is adjusted correctly. After all, an incorrectly adjusted office chair has no effect and actually causes more physical complaints. An office chair has several adjustment options. They are:
Height of the backrest
Both the angle and the height of the backrest can be adjusted. To adjust the angle, it is important that there is an angle of at least 90 degrees between the seat and the back. If you increase the angle a little more, up to 110 degrees, you sit in an active posture.
The armrests
The use of armrests is sometimes underestimated. When you don't use the armrest, you put your arms on the desk. This causes you to lean too far forward and causes back and neck problems. There is a simple way to adjust the armrest to the right height. Touch your collarbone with your index finger and then keep your arm relaxed along your body. At the height of the tip of your elbow, you can adjust the armrest.
The seat height
Adjusting the correct seat height is done as follows: place both feet firmly on the floor. It is important that your thigh drop slightly so that your hip is higher than your knee. This ensures good circulation in your legs. If blood flow stagnates, you may experience a numb or tingling sensation in your feet.
Seat depth
The seat depth of an office chair is easy to determine. The space between the front of the seat cushion and the hollow of your knee should be a minimum of two fingers and a maximum of a fist. If the space is too large, you will feel like you are sliding off the chair, and if the space is too small, it will cause irritation.
What standards should an ergonomic office chair meet?
- The seat is flat, at least 40 centimetres wide and 44 centimetres deep
- The seat has an adjustable tilt angle of -7 to 3 degrees and can be fixed at an angle of -3 degrees;
- The front and back of the seat and the top and bottom of the backrest are rounded;
- The seat depth is adjustable from 38 to 48 centimetres;
- The front of the backrest is smooth, without kinks or angles, with a horizontal radius of 40 centimetres or more;
- The seat height is adjustable from 41 to 55 centimetres;
- The armrest has an adjustable height of 20 to 30 centimetres and is at least 5 centimetres wide and 20 centimetres long;
- The width of the backrest is at least 36 centimetres and maximum 46 centimetres, the length at least 37 centimetres;
- The front of the backrest is flowing, without kinks, with a horizontal radius of 40 centimetres or more;
- The base has 5 castors and is swivelling;
- The distance between the armrests is adjustable between 36 and 51 centimetres;
- The lumbar support is adjustable: the centre of the support is at least adjustable between 17 and 23 centimetres above the seat;
- The distance from the front of the armrest to the front of the seat is at least 20 centimetres;
- The distance between the swivel axis and the floor is at least 2 centimetres;
- The chair is safe and stable and has no sharp or protruding parts.
Want to buy an ergonomic office chair?
At Podobrace, we have a wide range of different ergonomic office chairs. We guarantee that these chairs are of the very best quality. If you would like more information about these ergonomic office chairs, please contact our highly knowledgeable customer service team. Our team consists of experts who can provide you with all the information you need. We can be reached by phone, live chat and e-mail.
