A good task chair is the most important part of any home office. Sitting is the most efficient way to work on a computer or documents, but some people think that they can eliminate the need for a task chair by working at a high table and standing. Of course, having a height-adjustable desk is a kind of trend; however, it’s not necessarily a good one. A standing work posture is generally healthy, but you shouldn’t do it for too long and limit it to 25% of your overall working day, i.e., around two hours.
Our bodies experience much more stress when we stay in any one place for a long time, not just when we sit for too long. That’s why the Ergonomic Formula suggests:
- Sit on an ergonomic chair for 50% of working time
- Spend 25% of working time in a standing posture
- Spend 25% of working time in motion
This means we can’t ignore that having a good ergonomic chair will help us to reduce pressure on our back, shoulders, neck, etc. But how do you select an appropriate chair that will be truly healthy? It’s not an easy task, as there are thousands of different cheap and shoddy products that are allegedly ergonomic, so don’t get duped.
There are two key things that a real ergonomic chair must do:
- It should help us to maintain a correct sitting posture so that we don’t slouch.
This is only possible when the chair fits you perfectly; however, we are all different and have different body proportions. A task chair is not like clothes, they don’t come in different sizes. That’s why a chair must be adjustable, so that it can fit you as perfectly as a tailor made suit, and support your body by helping to maintain a correct sitting posture.
Adjustability checklist:
- Seat height adjustment
- Seat depth adjustment
- Adjustable armrests (at least in height)
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Forward tilt
2. It should provide Dynamic Sitting.
A chair must make it possible to move, lean back and tilt. This aids blood circulation, increases oxygen supply, reduces pressure on spine discs, opens the diaphragm, and enables you to breathe more deeply. A synchronised mechanism that is adjusted to your weight is the best way to support Dynamic Sitting and provide maximum comfort.
We recommend that you only choose a task chair from a reputable manufacturer. There is only a handful of well-known global companies that produce genuinely high-quality ergonomic chairs — so beware of the thousands of copycats and cheap fakes. They may claim to have the sort of ergonomic features described above, but they don’t work in the way that an ergonomic chair should, and won’t provide the support your body needs.
When you are in the market for a new chair, you should make time to try it before you buy it. If you need any assistance in selecting a good product, or any other aspect of ergonomic consultancy, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will be happy to help you pick the right chair for you that will not only be healthy, but which will look good and complement your home office environment.