• Chair Buying Guide

 

What to Look For in an Office Chair

Office chairs are a part of the décor of any office and so many people try to make sure they look good without worrying about the health influences the chair will have on the person who uses it. The design or ergonomics of the chair should be considered above everything else.

Lumbar Support: Most chairs offer some kind of lumbar support, Some of the better ones will even have an adjustable lumbar support that allows the user to fit the chair to their lower back. This is important in preventing back strain that can worsen and become sciatica, a condition which can be debilitating.

Adjustability: Almost all office chairs have a height and arm adjustment; however, these are not the most important adjustments to look for when shopping for an office chair. The best office chairs have at least five adjustments with some having up to 14 different adjustments.

Important features that should be adjustable include lumbar support, arm width and height, seat back width and height, seat and back angle, and tension control. Many of the supports are dial controlled while a few are controlled with a hand-held bulb pump, similar to a blood pressure cuff pump.

Wheeled Base: Nearly all office chairs have a wheeled base; however, if the office is carpeted it may be necessary to get a chair with wheels specifically made for carpet. Rolling is important in preventing strain due to reaching across a desk to retrieve items that are out of reach.

Swivel Base: All office chairs should swivel freely to allow for easy access to various parts of the desk. If the chair doesn’t swivel freely, arm fatigue can result from over extending to reach various items.

Fabric: The fabric should be breathable to keep the chair from becoming hot and uncomfortable after hours of sitting in it. In addition, it should have enough cushion to support the person sitting in it without feeling the base of the chair through the cushion.

Why Is a Good Chair Important?

There are many benefits to having a good office chair in addition to having less back strain. A good, supportive office chair prevents fatigue and discomfort that can come from siting in the same chair for hours on end.

Studies have shown that comfortable employees are more productive and contribute to a more positive work environment than uncomfortable employees. Finally, having the correct, comfortable office chair reduces the number of breaks the employee will need to take due to being uncomfortable.

Trying out a Chair

Office managers should attempt to have their employees try out the chair they plan to purchase before buying it to insure that it fits the employee well. It is important to know how the chair should feel in order to make a wise purchase. 

  • The backrest should be adjustable and follow the shape of the spine. It should also support the curve in the lower back.
  • Feet should rest flat on the floor comfortably. If not, adjust the chair height or add a footrest.
  • Arm rests should be close the body and allow the shoulder to relax.
  • Arm height should be adjustable and match the height of the desk. This will prevent strain to the shoulders.
  • In a sitting position looking forward, the centre of the computer screen is what should be seen.
  • The back of the chair should come to the middle of the shoulder blades in order to provide adequate support, above the shoulders is even better.
  • The seat of the chair should be long enough to put two or three finger lengths between it and the knee.
  • If possible, the cushion should be memory foam. Other cushions wear out quickly and make the chair uncomfortable.

Finding the right chair that is comfortable and keeps strain and injury from occurring is important to having happy, healthy, productive employees who aren’t out sick with back injuries.

Make sure the chairs in the office are doing their part to increase productivity by having employees try out various chair types before purchasing them.

Chair Buying Guide

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