Certain chairs are equipped to be more ergonomically sound.
Merriam Webster says Ergonomics is defined as an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.
The way you sit in your chair is crucial to the Ergonomics equation.
- You should be able to sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor and your thighs and calves making a 90 degree angle.
- Your torso and thighs should also have approximately the same 90 degree angle.
- The chair should also support a variety of posture changes.
- A chair should be designed with all of these elements in mind for healthy sitting.
- The lumbar area (lower back) of the spine should have a concave curvature with the pelvis in a slightly forward position and people should be resting fully back–not in the “turtle” position where people lean forward to meet the screen.
We need to get a chair that will support comfort and correct body alignment. For over 60 years, manufacturers have been developing chairs that are better for the worker’s health, productivity and overall comfortability.
You may have heard of Lumbar Support in many chairs; however, in addition to this, furniture manufacturers are now including PostureFit to support the sacral region–the area that connects the spine to the pelvis–to get that perfect “S-shape” to the spine. Woven suspension, hybrid and molded materials on chairs help to evenly distribute weight across the chair to keep an individual from feeling excessive pressure in one area.
These chairs also cater to our natural pivot points–our hips, knees and ankles. The necessary resistance and movement in alignment with our body’s pivot points help us enjoy a better recline. With advanced tilt adjustments, the recline should make you feel like you’re floating.
A chair should be designed to make you feel practically weightless.
You should be unaware of what you are sitting in because when you’re aware of your seat, chances are, you are noting areas of discomfort or incorrect alignment with your mind moving away from your work. With an ergonomically sound chair, employees experience many improvements in their workday.
Workers sitting in a proper chair for their body have noted reduced muscle stress, improved productivity, the ability to stay on task and an overall more pleasant feeling at work.
Physical and mental well-being can certainly be achieved with the proper office furniture.