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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Jonah Shin | Posted under Consumer Electronics
9 Tips to Choosing the Right Chair
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1. Make sure it fitsChoose a chair that fits your body size and shape. It doesn't matter how ergonomically designed the chair is if your feet don't touch the floor, or you can't pull it close enough to your keyboard. Just like our shoe sizes are different so are our chair sizes. If you purchase what you think is the right chair only to find out it wasn't after you start using it, take it back. A chair that doesn't work for you can fatigue you, cause your muscles to hurt, and over time cause injury. 2. Active sittingMany of us have come to recognize the term active sitting and its relationship to working safely. Active sitting refers to fluid movement and movements that are supported correctly. An active sitting chair literally moves with you. It holds your body in its natural position throughout the day and it literally follows your every move, from side to side, forward and backward. It is an excellent choice in an ergonomic chair. 3. Promote good postureMuscle cramping and tension are related to poor posture. Overtime this cramping and tension can become a repetitive strain injury. By choosing a chair that promotes good posture you can reduce the risk of this type of injury. The chair should support from the lower back to the shoulder blades and allow the user to adjust the support to fit their size and frame. 4. Avoid compression on the kneesThe chair should support most of the thigh but it should not cause pressure on the back of the knees. It should allow the knees to sit slightly lower than the hips, while comfortably supporting the pelvis. 5. Adjustable heightChoose a chair that offers maximum seat height adjustment. You should be able to adjust the height of the chair so that your feet sit flatly on the floor. Once you've adjusted the height to fit your frame be sure that it can still be slid close enough to the keyboard. 6. Adjustable wedge seatYour chair should have an adjustable wedge or tilt seat. A wedge seat is thicker at the back, gently sloping forward at the front. You should be able to adjust the angle of the drop to fit your body size. 7. Adjustable backrestAn adjustable backrest is critical to the health of the users back. Incorrect support and pressure may result in lower back pain or shoulder pain, which can turn chronic. A direct upright position with a ninety degree angle is not healthy for our discs. Rather the back should be slightly titled. A forward tilt or a reclined backrest is much better for the back. The chair should allow for the backrest to be adjusted to a position that is comfortable and ergonomically correct. 8. Adjustable armrestsThe purpose of armrests is exactly what their name says. You should be able to rest your arms comfortable on the armrests while using your keyboard or typing. Their purpose is to reduce the work of the shoulders, elbows, and upper arms, as well as to support some of your upper body weight. Armrests should have both height and width adjustments. Width adjustments are important so that you don't land up with your elbows pointing out or stuck too close to your body. 9. Fit the taskWe tend to think of typists and data entry clerks when we think of an ergonomic chair. Let's not forget about other professions that spend much of their day sitting. How about dentists, draftsmen, and tellers to name just a few. Be sure the chair you choose fits the type of work. A dentist or draftsmen would be much more comfortable in an ab or saddle chair. A teller would need a very tall chair to reach the counter, while still providing the needed support. Fitting the chair to the task will reduce fatigue and injury. The number of repetitive strain injuries and soft tissue damage is growing at an alarming rate. Don't become a statistic. Do your research and chose the right chair. About The Author: Jonah Shin has been working in the furniture industry for more than 15 years and has experience in office furtniture. Visit Jonah's office chair website, http://www.office-chair-now.com , to learn more about office chairs. |
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