What are the features of ergonomic chairs?
The number of employees suffering from back, neck and shoulder pain caused by sitting behind non-standard office chairs is still increasing. In this article, we will get acquainted with the features of a standard ergonomic chair suitable for the work space, and we will examine the consequences of using non-standard office chairs.
- Consequences of using non-standard office chairs
- Features of standard ergonomic office chair
- Adjustable height table of chairs according to height
We spend long hours in our chairs behind the computer and seldom think about the consequences of sitting in non-standard chairs. According to statistics published by BigThink.com, people spend 7,709 days of their lives sitting. If we consider that people spend eight hours of this time in the workplace, crouched on the monitor screen, the importance of a good office chair becomes clear.
In the following, before addressing the features of the chair ergonomically, the consequences of using a non-standard chair will be examined.
5 consequences of sitting on a non-standard office chair:
1. Poor blood circulation:
A chair can affect your blood flow. If your chair is not adjusted properly, it can cause poor blood flow to your legs, shoulders, neck and back. This condition can be partially compensated by exercise, but your long hours in a chair will still be effective.
2. Weight gain and body fat:
Sitting in a non-standard chair for a long time leads to immobility, which is why a good ergonomic chair with flexibility is very important. Some employees have to have lunch at their desks due to busy working hours and get to work immediately; In this case, the mobility is less than usual.
Studies have shown that people who sit for long periods of time each day add more fat around their abdomen.
3. Decreased concentration, poor brain health and increased fatigue:
Using the wrong office chair can lead to distraction and lack of concentration because you are constantly forced to change your physical position due to discomfort. In this case, you will eventually spend more time finding a comfortable physical condition. Studies have shown that if your spine is not in the same direction, other muscles should help you stay straight; This condition causes the brain to feel tired due to lack of oxygen and fresh blood. When we sit still for a long time, everything slows down and causes fatigue. A chair that allows you to sit and is tailored to your work tasks can greatly reduce fatigue and increase productivity.
4. Back, shoulder and neck pain:
Prolonged sitting in a non-standard chair can pose serious health risks. If the spine is unable to move, it becomes inflexible and causes pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders. Improper sitting on a chair can compress the discs of the spine.
A comfortable ergonomic chair that allows you to sit dynamically encourages movement and not only reduces pain, but muscle movement increases blood circulation and reduces fatigue.
5. Digestive problems:
Sitting may lead to indigestion. Digestion plays a role in maintaining health and fitness. Food only reaches the cells of the body if it is properly dissolved in the bloodstream. Sitting in an unsuitable chair for hours can slow this process.
Sitting in a non-standard chair not only affects your performance, but also your health. If you sit at your desk for long hours, it is important to invest in a good quality chair and pay attention to when your chair needs to be replaced.
What features make a chair ergonomic?
Here are 10 features of a suitable chair and ergonomic standard.
1. Adjustable seat height:
A standard ergonomic chair has a lift lever so you can easily adjust the height at which you sit. The proper height of the chair can be tested in such a way that your forearm should be in line with the table; In this situation, if your feet are not flat on the ground, you will need a footrest.
2. Adjustable seat width and depth:
To check the depth of your work chair, sit on a chair; The required space between the back of your knees and the chair should be approximately three fingers wide. A standard ergonomic chair has a seat slider so you can easily reach this standard distance.
3. Adjustable categories:
If the armrests are at the right height so that the shoulders are also in a comfortable position, the armrests of an ergonomic chair should be adjusted so that they form a 90 degree angle when the shoulders relax. Ergonomic armrests are adjustable so that they can stay close to the body. In addition, the upper bouts featured two cutaways, for easier access to the higher frets.
4. High quality base:
The base of a high-quality office chair is usually made of polished aluminum or high-quality plastic to prevent the chair from tipping over.
5. Adjustable lumbar support:
For comfort of the waist and spine, the backrest of an ergonomic chair has height adjustment. This feature, such as the ability to adjust the backrest, is one of the basic features of an ergonomic office chair. Using this feature causes some of the weight of the upper body to be removed from the discs during the day.
6. Suitable lumbar support:
This feature also supports the back and spine. In other words, ergonomic chairs support the natural shape of the user's spine; This chair allows people to adjust the back of the chair to the curve of their spine.
7.Rotation capability:
Rotation is another important and necessary feature in ergonomic chairs. Rotation helps maneuverability and allows access to different parts of the table without the need for much pressure.
8. Suitable neck pad:
An employee who sits in a chair for at least eight hours during the day, in addition to moving the spine, should also be able to support the neck; The proper ergonomic seat pad fills the empty space behind the neck and the seat and removes the weight of the head from the neck vertebrae.
9. Quality material:
A good ergonomic chair should be made of the right materials; These materials should not cause excessive heat and sweat on the user's back. However, the material used in the chair can be different from fabric to leather, etc. High quality ergonomic chairs are made of velvet or leather.
10. Suitable cycles:
Wheels on ergonomic office chair bases will vary in hardness and softness depending on your job and office environment: for example, if your office is carpeted, the wheels should be stiff so that you can move more easily, but if your chair is on a hard floor like ceramic It is better to have soft plastic wheels.
The following is a table to help you choose the right chair height for your height.
Adjust the appropriate height of the chair according to the height | |
User height (cm) | Ideal seat height (cm) |
149 |
40.2 |
154 |
41.5 |
159 |
42.9 |
164 |
44.2 |
169 |
45.6 |
174 |
46.9 |
179 |
48.3 |
184 |
49.6 |
189 |
51 |
194 |
52.3 |
199 |
53.7 |
204 |
55 |
209 |
56.4 |
214 |
57.7 |
FAQ
Prolonged sitting in an inappropriate office chair causes many physical problems such as pain in the lower back, neck, etc .; Therefore, using an ergonomic chair is an essential need of every employee.
The mechanism of the ergonomic chair is that it can be adjusted to fit the dimensions of the user's body, but ordinary office chairs have limited adjustability and are usually all produced in a standard size for all users' suffering.
In case of using an inappropriate office chair, in addition to spine and shoulder problems, the user suffers from fatigue and lack of concentration.
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