If you spend most of your day seated at your desk, ensure you're as comfortable as possible while you’re at it. After all, no one enjoys spending all day on a chair that's not ergonomically designed. In this article, we rounded up some key features to look for in an ergonomic chair
What is an ergonomic chair?
An ergonomic chair is a type of chair designed to fit the shape of the human body better, helping prevent back strain and other injuries caused by long periods of sitting. Due to its long list of benefits, ergonomic office chairs are one of the best sellers in office furniture.
Ergonomic chairs are generally designed to help support the spine, armed with reclining backrests fit to your back and smaller seats. They also often have wheels, allowing you to move around more freely and easily. You can read our blog to learn more about ergonomic chairs.
What to look for in an ergonomic chair
When buying a SIHOO ergonomic chair, you can’t just grab a chair because you like the design. There are several factors to consider to ensure you’ll get the best ergonomic chair.
Here are some features to look for in an ergonomic chair.
Height
The height of your chair is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an ergonomic chair. If you buy a chair that isn't adjustable, you'll likely feel uncomfortable after using it for only a few hours. Ergonomic chairs typically have three different height settings: minimum, medium and maximum.
- The minimum setting should allow you to sit with good posture and still have your feet flat on the floor or slightly higher than your knees.
- A medium setting will allow you enough room to move around while working at your desk or sitting in front of a computer screen without compromising comfort or balance.
- A maximum setting provides additional support for taller individuals who tend to slouch more when sitting in office chairs without proper lumbar support.
Backrest
The next thing you want to look at is the backrest. A good ergonomic chair should accommodate your posture and body type, so the backrest must be adjustable to help you find the most comfortable position.
The backrest has a curve that matches your spine. If the curve of the chair isn't right for you, or if it doesn't have one, this could cause pain or strain in your lower back, shoulders and neck.
Lower back support
A chair's lower back support helps you sit upright and keep your spine in proper alignment, which can reduce or eliminate lower back pain. Adjustable lumbar support also aids spine alignment by supporting the curve of your lower back.
Adjustable armrests
When looking for an ergonomic chair, you'll want to ensure that the armrests are adjustable. The height of your armrests will depend on how high or low your desk is and how tall you are, but generally speaking, it's best to have them at about elbow height.
You should also pick a chair with padded armrests to lessen the pressure on your shoulders and arms. This can become especially uncomfortable if you spend a lot of time typing, as it puts extra stress on your wrists.
To avoid this discomfort, try having the armrests at least 1 inch away from where they rest against the sides of the user’s body so they don't feel any pain or discomfort while sitting down for long periods.
Tilt tension
Tilt tension controls how much the backrest tilts. This is a lever or knob that allows you to control how far your chair reclines, thus helping you maintain a more natural posture. For some people, tilt tension can be adjusted to fit their body type or height, while others need it set at a permanent level.
Regardless of your preference, it's important to have this feature because if the tilt tension isn't set properly and you sit down in the wrong position, it could cause pain in your back over time.
Adjustability
Adjustability is the most important thing to look for when selecting a chair. You'll want to ensure it has a good range of adjustability to find the perfect fit for your body. Adjustability options should be easy to use and require little effort.
In addition to adjustable backrests, armrests and headrests (if available), look for chairs with seat depth adjustment and tilt lock-out capabilities, also known as tilt tension. These allow you to change how far back in the seat you sit and how much pressure there is on your lower back when sitting down, respectively — two things that directly affect comfort levels while working at a desk all day long!
Depth adjustment option
The depth adjustment option allows you to adjust the seat height and depth. This feature is ideal for individuals who are taller or shorter than average and those who need more support in certain areas of their bodies, such as those with back pain.
However, the adjustable seat must not cause your legs to move into awkward positions while seated in your chair. For example, if you have longer legs than average but don't want to use a riser under your chair, look at models with a tilt-and-scoot function instead of a fixed seating that could cause discomfort.
Back support angle adjustment
Back support angle adjustment is a feature that allows you to adjust the angle of your chair's backrest. This is important because different people have different types of backs. For example, some people have flat backs, while others have curved or sloped backs. If your chair doesn't offer this feature, it might not properly support the natural curvature of your spine and could cause pain or discomfort over time.
The importance of this feature depends on how much space you want between yourself and your desk — whether you want a larger or smaller space and if objects within arm's reach need to be moved around frequently.
Cushioned seating
The padding in your chair should help reduce pressure on the lower back and buttocks. Look for a chair with a seat and backrest filled with foam or gel. Some chairs have different firmness levels so that you can choose the right cushioning.
Pneumatic height adjustment
When looking for an ergonomic chair, consider pneumatic height adjustment. This feature allows you to adjust the height of your chair with the touch of a button. It’s often only found in high-end ergonomic chairs and can be great for tall or short people (we all know someone who needs to sit on a shorter or taller desk).
Pneumatic height adjustment systems are built into most higher-end chairs and allow users to quickly change their sitting position by pressing down on a lever attached to their chair’s base. The lever will lower or raise your seat until it reaches its desired position and stays there without further input from the user.
Swivel base
A swivel base is a great option for your office chair, and it can also be an essential feature if you work in a job that requires you to move around a lot. For example, if you need to get up from your desk often or will be moving around to help others, having the ability to spin around and face them while they sit down makes it easier for everyone involved.
If you’re looking at chairs with swivel bases, there are two main types: fixed-swivel and pneumatic, also known as gas.
Fixed swivels don’t require any adjustments since they have a locking mechanism that keeps the chair in place. The downside of this type is that sometimes they can feel stuck or difficult when trying to turn around quickly or move abruptly – especially if someone else has locked their fixed-swivel chair into place!
On the other hand, pneumatic chairs offer much more freedom with turning movements but require regular maintenance, so air doesn't leak out of them over time. It comes with a cylinder with an air chamber linked to a piston. The piston moves into the chamber when the lever is pulled. The air inside the chamber is further compressed by this movement, which causes a lifting motion that raises the seat
Only choose the best ergonomic chair for you
The perfect office chair may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s one of the most important. While many different types of chairs are available, they all have one goal — to keep you comfortable at work.
These are vital features to look for in an ergonomic chair as it allows you to identify one that fits your needs and works with your body type
We hope this guide has helped you learn about the different features that make an ergonomic chair great. SIHOO provides a range of ergonomic chairs with advanced intelligent engineering concepts making them ideal for work and study. So, if you’re looking for a new chair or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or browse our catalogue of ergonomic office chairs.