The word 'Ergonomic' is much used when talking about about back problems in the workplace.
You've more than likely heard it many times yourself - 'got to get an Ergonomic this' or 'an Ergonomic that'! But what does it really mean?
The word holds an almost mystical quality that arouses our curiosity in our own well-being.
Quite simply it is an item that has been designed to minimise effort and discomfort in the workplace.
Many of the bad posture problems caused when we sit down is because we all slouch when sitting in one place for a period of time.
There is no one magical chair that is going to cure all peoples back pain - however if you simply find a chair that encourages movement during the working day, supports the lower back and the natural curve of the spine you will certainly be providing the essentials. After all, we did not evolve to be sitting all day and worse that sitting is sitting still! Standing up to work is not an option.
A mechanism that gives a slight forward tilt to the seat which in turn gently rotates the pelvis, encourages the spine to adopt a more curved healthier 'dynamic' position just as if we were standing up.
This can either be locked in on the chair or left in a free float position which also helps hydrate the spine without getting that stiff back feeling.
What features do I need in an Office Chair- and what are they?!
INDEPENDENT SEAT & BACK TILT
With this mechanism you can set the angle of the seat to suit yourself.
The back rake adjusts independently on a separate lever.
SYNCRO ACTION
With this mechanism the seat and back tilt move in tandem with each other in 1 to 3 ratio.
The tension can be adjusted to suit the body weight of the user which encourages movement
throughout the working day hydrating the spine.
What about arms?!
I often hear from people that they need a really big chair with a very high back because they have pain and stiffness around their shoulders and neck.
Really, the size of the chair is relatively unimportant, the bigger the chair does not mean it is more comfortable or compatible.
If there's nowhere to rest your elbows, you are basically holding your arms out unsupported in a type of interrogation position for most of the day, with only your fingers tapping lightly on the keypad. After a full seven to eight hours of that, there is little wonder you have a stiff neck at best, if not pain down the top of each shoulder!
Your upper arms need supporting and a set of adjustable arms that can be raised or lowered to the desired height by lifting a button and released to lock is the best means of doing so!
We have a large range of ergonomic chairs on our website, with the designs needed to relieve back pain and discomfort. If you need any help on what chair is best for you, all you need to do is call us- and Duncan will sort you out!
